Singapore commission apologises for comedian's MH370 joke

The Singapore High Commission in Malaysia has apologised to Malaysia on behalf of the city-state for remarks on Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 made by a stand-up comedian from the republic during a performance in New York.
Jocelyn Chia had made the comments as part of a joke about Malaysia's ties with Singapore.
"Now Malaysia, you're trying to come around like, hey, Singapore, you're looking good lah.
"And we're like, I know. But why haven't you visited me in 40 years? And you're like, yeah, I tried, but you know, my airplanes cannot fly.
"What, Malaysia Airlines going missing not funny, huh? Some jokes don't land," she said in a video clip posted on her social media on June 6.
Vanu Gopala Menon, the Singapore high commissioner to Malaysia, said he was "appalled" by Chia's "gratuitously offensive comments", adding that the Singapore government does not condone words of actions that cause harm or hurt to others.
"Chia, who is no longer Singaporean, does not in any way reflect our views," he said.
"I sincerely apologise to all Malaysians for her hurtful remarks."
MH370 went missing from radar on March 8, 2014, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. The plane and its 239 passengers has yet to be found despite an extensive ocean search involving several countries.
Vanu said in his statement that Singapore and Malaysia enjoyed a strong and multi-faceted relationship, with deep and cross-cutting ties.
"We also have unique historical and close people-to-people ties," he said.
"Comments such as those made by Chia are unhelpful and undermine the close trust and friendship that both our countries and peoples enjoy."
Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir meanwhile said that Chia had shown a lack of sensitivity and empathy towards Malaysians and the families of those on board MH370.
"This video also clearly depicts behaviour that is contrary to the values of Asian countries that are known for their manners and morals.
"I believe this is not a stance or action accepted by any country let alone one that reflects the official stance of any government," he said in a statement.


France, Britain ease lockdowns as second wave subsides

Britain and France on Tuesday announced their intention to ease coronavirus restrictions in the run-up to Christmas, as a second wave of infections subsides following weeks of lockdowns in Europe.In a televised evening address, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that shops could reopen this Saturday and that nationwide stay-at-home orders would be lifted from Dec 15.“We will be able to travel without authorisation, including between regions, and spend Christmas with our families,” Macron said, while warning that some restrictions would stay in place to avoid a third wave.A country-wide curfew from 9pm to 7am will start on Dec 15, while restaurants and bars will remain shut until January.The British authorities also announced on Tuesday that restrictions on social mixing and travel would be eased across the UK over Christmas, with up to three families allowed to mix over the festive period.“As 2020 draws to a close, we recognise it has been an incredibly difficult year for us all,” a joint statement form the governments of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland said.Germany’s 16 states have also agreed to slightly loosen limits on social contact over Christmas, according to a draft deal seen by AFP.State leaders agreed to cap gatherings to 10 people over the Dec 23 to Jan 1 holiday – double the limit for the rest of December. These compromise measures reflected calls by some less-affected regions for lighter restrictions.Care homes first in lineHopes for an end to the pandemic also received a further boost on Tuesday when the Russian developers of the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine said it had proved 95% effective in a second interim analysis of clinical trial data.They said it can be stored at between two and eight degrees Celsius, instead of the temperatures below freezing required for some other vaccines.They did not specify the number of cases used to make the calculation, however.Western experts have in the past expressed concern over Russia’s vaccine, fearing that its development could have been rushed.There are now several possible vaccines internationally that have undergone or are undergoing clinical trials, some already seeking US and EU approval for emergency use – Candidates by Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca/Oxford University are leading the pack.Optimism sparked by the vaccines have given a boost to virus-weary citizens across the globe in recent days, as well as pushing up stock markets.The Dow surged past 30,000 points for the first time ever Tuesday as receding US political uncertainty and hopes for virus vaccines offset worries over spiking Covid-19 cases.Scramble for dosesIn Brussels, the EU announced it was concluding a sixth contract to reserve doses – this time for up to 160 million from US giant Moderna.“Every member state will receive it at the same time on a pro rata basis,” European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said.France’s Macron, in his address Tuesday, said he hoped that the first Covid vaccines would be available for use by the end of December or in early January.Austria said it would acquire more than 16 million doses of the vaccine through the EU and could start a vaccination campaign in January.The government in Spain, one of the worst-hit countries in Europe, also said vaccinations could start in January and care home residents would have priority, followed by medical workers.Even once a vaccine becomes available, any return to normality for a global economy ravaged by the pandemic seems a long way off.The boss of Australia’s Qantas airline, Alan Joyce, on Tuesday said proof of vaccination would likely become the only way people will be allowed to fly.Aviation’s global industry body Iata said Tuesday it estimated that airline revenue this year would plunge 60%.Easing rules for ChristmasAlthough governments in Europe and North America are keen to preserve end-of-year festive cheer, experts are worried about the contagion risk from the upcoming holidays.The US – by far the worst-hit nation – celebrates Thanksgiving on Thursday, and many Americans plan to spend the holiday with extended family despite official warnings.Nearly 258,000 people have died nationwide and the caseload is edging towards 12.4 million, according to Johns Hopkins University.Stopping short of issuing an outright ban, the US government’s health protection agency has for the first time called on Americans not to travel for the annual holiday, which sees families get together over turkey, yams and cranberry sauce.


Over 11,000 evacuees still at flood relief centres

A total of 11,306 flood victims were still at 98 relief centres (PPS) in five states last night, a drop from the 16,281 victims at 107 PPS yesterday afternoon.The victims were in Pahang, Selangor, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka.In Pahang, the Social Welfare Department’s (JKM) Info Bencana application reported that 8,796 people were at 75 PPS. The victims were from Bentong, Temerloh, Bera, Maran, Kuantan and Pekan.The Meteorological Department forecast that there would be no rain in any of the affected districts.In Selangor, Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari said on Twitter that 2,387 flood victims were still housed at 19 PPS as of 8pm.In Kelantan, the number of flood victims dropped to 54 people from 15 families as of 9pm, compared to 68 people from 21 families in the afternoon, at the SK Tok Deh PPS in Pasir Mas.The Drainage and Irrigation Department’s official portal reported that no major rivers in Kelantan were at the danger level.In Negeri Sembilan, state Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) director Mohd Syukri Madnor said the number of flood victims continued to drop to 43 people from 14 families at two PPS, compared to 53 individuals from 17 families yesterday afternoon.In Melaka, state APM director Cuthbert John Martin Quadra said the number of flood victims was unchanged at 26 people from eight families of 8pm, at the SK Penghulu Benteng PPS in Jasin.


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Palau seeks more US patrols of its waters after Chinese incursions

The Pacific island nation of Palau has asked the US to step up patrols of its waters after several incursions by Chinese vessels into its exclusive economic zone, President Surangel Whipps Jr told Reuters in an interview.
Whipps Jr said he would also welcome a bigger US military presence in the country, with troops stationed alongside existing coastguard and civil action teams, as Washington and Beijing vie for influence in the strategic region.
"No matter what, we're going to be in the centre of whatever's happening, so it's important that we're protected," Whipps Jr said during a visit to Tokyo on Wednesday, adding that "to get peace, you have to project strength".
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Asked about the incursions on Thursday, China's foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said the vessels had taken shelter in the relevant waters and had not conducted any surveys or investigations. "Security cooperation between countries should not target third parties," he added.
Palau, a remote archipelago of coral and volcanic islands in the western Pacific home to just over 20,000 people, has a decades-old pact with Washington whereby the US retains responsibility for its defence and provides economic assistance - a legacy that has its roots in World War Two.
The US also has such pacts with the Pacific island states of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands, and struck a defence cooperation agreement with Papua New Guinea in May.
China has also been seeking to bolster its security presence in the Pacific, and last year penned a security pact with the Solomon Islands that alarmed the US, Australia and New Zealand.
Regional forum pledged to take united position
Palau identified Chinese vessels in its waters as recently as last month, when a ship appeared to be surveying an area near fibre optic cables vital to the country's communications, Whipps Jr said.
He said he would raise the issue of the incursions at the regional Pacific Islands Forum leaders' meeting in November. The group has previously said it would take a united position on dealing with major powers, and last year rejected a push by China to sign a security and trade deal with 10 of its 18 members.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin praised "small island states" like Palau in a speech in Singapore earlier this month and, in a 2021 meeting with Whipps Jr, expressed deep appreciation for the US-Palau partnership.
Palau has previously hosted US military exercises and the US plans to install over-the-horizon radar in the country by 2026.
During the multi-day trip to Japan, Whipps Jr also visited the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant, which experienced a triple core meltdown from a tsunami triggered by a massive earthquake in 2011.
Japan is set to release a million tonnes of water starting this summer from the nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. The water will have most of its radioactivity removed and be diluted to internationally approved levels but will still contain traces of tritium, an isotope that is difficult to separate from water.
The plan has been criticised by some local fishermen and neighbouring countries, including South Korea, China and some Pacific island nations.
But Whipps Jr said he was not opposed to the plan and that he sensed regional resistance was also waning.
"We've made a decision that what they're doing is right and we should support them," he said.


BN launches election manifesto minus pomp and ceremony

Barisan Nasional (BN) launched its election manifesto online today with its chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi reading the coalition's pledges in a video streamed live on Facebook, in a departure from its previous manifesto launch at a ceremony attended by thousands of supporters in Kuala Lumpur four years ago.
Instead of concentrating on individual states, the BN manifesto comprised 99 items covering general issues such as cash assistance, education, and employment.
Zahid also spoke of two main matters, namely political stability and prosperity, in an echo of previous campaigns for the Melaka and Johor elections.
He said basic assistance would be given to households with incomes of less than RM2,208, as well as free early education for children aged six and below.
"This is a top-up or an additional monthly income to ensure that all households across the country have at least RM2,208 a month, and to ensure that no more households are forced to live below the poverty line," he said.
"In other words, after this, absolute poverty will be a thing of the past in Malaysia."
Other matters in the manifesto included amendments to the constitution regarding the right to citizenship of children born overseas to Malaysian women.
The manifesto also included several policies practised by BN for decades, including the appointment of key positions such as the commissioners of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and Election Commission through a special parliamentary committee.
BN also vowed to abolish all import permits for electric cars, and offered free tertiary education for the B40 group in addition to the provision of learning without textbooks at schools.
"BN will introduce a schooling system without textbooks which will see learning done with the use of laptops or personal computers," Zahid said.
He also pledged the enactment of a law on the care of the elderly, and an injection of RM105 million a year for NGOs that operate care centres for the disabled and senior citizens.


Ex-minister Xavier, too, under graft investigation

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is also investigating former minister Xavier Jayakumar, following the arrest of his close associate MA Tinagaran last week.“It is up to them to tell anything, but I can confirm that both men are under investigation,” Azam Baki, the anti-graft body’s chief commissioner, was quoted by Malay daily Utusan Malaysia as saying during his session with Malay language news editors.Tinagaran was released yesterday after he was remanded by MACC over a graft investigation believed to be linked to sand mining projects awarded by the water, land and natural resources ministry, which Xavier headed under the Pakatan Harapan government.MACC said it had also arrested two company directors, adding that cash worth RM1.2 million and a luxury car were also confiscated during the operation.The commission also froze individual and company bank accounts worth some RM77 million.Yesterday Tinagaran, who is the Perak PKR deputy chairman, claimed that MACC had only seized cash worth RM17,000, adding that investigators had acted professionally.“I hold to the principle of ‘innocent until proven guilty’, I have confidence in the ability of my lawyers,” he said in a message to party members after he was released on RM20,000 bail.Xavier has since admitted that Tinagaran was a close family friend, but denied that he acted as a special officer for him during his time as a minister.


Anger, mutiny talk at 4-hour Umno meeting in KL forced Zahid’s U-turn

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s about-turn today came on the back of strong protest from Umno leaders who gathered at the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur to discuss a letter he sent to the Agong expressing support to Anwar Ibrahim, MalaysiaNow has learnt.The Umno president’s call for a “political ceasefire” was also seen as preparing the party for a proposal to postpone party elections due to be held next year.This afternoon, there was tension at the Putra World Trade Centre, with many state Umno chiefs angry at their top leader for unilaterally backing Anwar’s plan to topple the Perikatan Nasional government, of which Umno is a part.“Zahid has sensed a movement to oust him, and as a result issued the statement to assuage the growing anger,” one of several individuals who attended the nearly four-hour meeting of top Umno leaders told MalaysiaNow.Zahid’s statement calling for a “political ceasefire” came days after the revelation that he and his predecessor Najib Razak had written to the Agong to back Anwar as prime minister.The former deputy prime minister, who is facing multiple corruption charges, also claimed that “a number of Umno MPs” would back Anwar to topple Muhyiddin, but did not give details of the MPs in question.The revelation sent shock waves through the Umno leadership, with several leaders including key Umno ministers distancing themselves from Zahid.But in his statement today, Zahid said his party would now help the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government focus on rebuilding the economy in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.“The cooperation of all parties in PN should be strengthened in order to ensure political stability at a time when the country is faced with the threat of Covid-19 and economic uncertainties,” he said.“Zahid has sensed a movement to oust him, and as a result issued the statement to assuage the growing anger.”It is learnt that today’s meeting was held after pressure from state Umno leaders, who have been waiting for an explanation from Zahid since the contents of his letter to the Agong were revealed by MalaysiaNow last week.The party’s Supreme Council meeting was however postponed twice after several parts of the country came under conditional movement control order, making it difficult for leaders to travel to Kuala Lumpur.“Zahid hoped that his statement urging Umno to focus on the fight against Covid-19 would calm the state liaison chiefs,” the same source said.Earlier today, MalaysiaNow reported that Zahid could be among some half-dozen Umno leaders facing corruption charges who could derail next month’s budget.A person privy to intense discussions among officials weighing options to avoid a pandemic-season general election said there were fears that the group of MPs could trigger the collapse of the government by not voting to pass the budget.Meanwhile, a source said Zahid is planning to propose that the Umno elections due next year be shelved.In the last party polls in 2018, the first in 30 years that Umno had held for its top posts, Zahid defeated former Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and veteran leader Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, to fill the presidential seat vacated by Najib following his fall from power.


Azmin reaffirms commitment to Bersatu

Mohamed Azmin Ali today reaffirmed his commitment to Bersatu, putting to rest rumours of an impending exit following the move by his former PKR colleague Zuraida Kamaruddin to quit the party last month.In a statement, he said the ideals and principles of Bersatu’s struggle were also his own.“We will continue to move together with all Bersatu members to develop a government that is clean and transparent, with integrity and committed to the principles of good governance and the fight for social justice for the common prosperity of all,” he said.Azmin and Zuraida were among a dozen PKR MPs who left the party in 2020. They joined Bersatu under the Perikatan Nasional coalition led by Muhyiddin Yassin.They were both appointed to the Bersatu Supreme Council, the party’s highest decision-making body.Zuraida however announced on May 26 that she had quit the party to join Parti Bangsa Malaysia instead.She also said she would meet with Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob as soon as possible to discuss her resignation as plantation industries and commodities minister.Describing Bersatu’s image as dynamic, progressive and inclusive, Azmin said the party was in line with the aspiration to develop a united Malaysia able to face the ongoing challenges.“The idealism behind the Bersatu struggle which includes the norms of life as well as policies that uplift the dignity of the people has succeeded in generating prosperity for the well-being of the people,” he said.


‘Natives’ should include all of Sarawak’s third generation, any race, says DAP

Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen has proposed that a new schedule to be tabled at the legislative assembly sitting include the third generation of any race under the definition of natives of the state.Speaking at a press conference in Kuching today, Chong said this was to ensure that the state constitution upholds the principle of inclusivity.He also said that the interpretation of the word “native” in the Interpretation (Amendment) Bill 2022 should not discriminate or make distinctions between any race.“My proposed amendment is in effect that third generation Chinese, Indians or any race – third generation Sarawakians of any race should be regarded as natives of the state.“Clause 2 of the bill should be amended by inserting the words ‘Chinese, Indian or any race not stated herein and the person of which race is born in Sarawak and whose natural parents or either one of the natural parents is also born in Sarawak’,” he said, adding that he would put this forward during the debate tomorrow.This follows the amendments to four articles in the Federal Constitution relating to the rights of Sabah and Sarawak, which were unanimously passed in the Dewan Rakyat on Dec 14 and came into force on Feb 11.The amendments were made to the list of states in the federation in Clause 2 of Article 1; the definition of the federation and the new definition of Malaysia Day in Clause 2 of Article 160; the indigenous races of Sarawak in Clause (6)(a) of Article 161A; and the removal of Clause 7 of Article 161A.Previously, the definition of ethnic groups deemed native to Sarawak in Article 161A of the constitution listed 28 groups as indigenous to the state.Sarawak natives were regarded as citizens belonging to one of these ethnic groups or of mixed ethnicity deriving exclusively from those groups.The amendments give Sarawak the power to decide on the definition of “native” or indigenous people through state laws, through its own constitution.The new Sarawak bill, which seeks to amend the Interpretation Ordinance 2005, is one of five to be tabled at the state’s special legislative assembly sitting.The new bill will substitute the schedule in the Ordinance with a new one to which includes the additional races to be considered as indigenous to Sarawak.The new schedule under Section 3 of the Interpretation Ordinance (Amendment) 2022 outlines 31 races that are native to Sarawak including the Bidayuh or the Land Dayaks, Bukitan, Bisayah, Dusun, Ibans or Sea Dayaks, Kadayan, Kelabit, Kayan, Kenyah (including the Sabup and Sipeng), Kajang (including the Sekapan, Kejaman, Lahanan, Punan, Tanjong and Kanowit), Lugat, Lisum, Malay, Melanau, Murut or Lun Bawang, Penan, Sian, Tagal, Tabun, Ukit and any mixture of these races.It will also include a person who is a citizen and the natural child of a parent of a race indigenous to Sarawak and who satisfies the conditions and requirements imposed by the Sarawak Cabinet for the recognition of such a person as a native of the state.


Umno ready to hear PAS ‘formula’ for peace with Bersatu

Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan today said the party respects the efforts of PAS leaders to play the middle man in restoring ties between it and Bersatu.However, he said Umno would have to hear PAS’ “formula” for this before coming to a decision.“Try and make peace, we will see how it goes,” he said at a press conference after officiating the Umno general assembly in Kuala Lumpur.“We want to hear their formula. That’s our stance for now. Umno is ready to listen,” he added.Several PAS leaders had previously voiced concerns about Umno’s ties with Bersatu which are set to end at the 15th general election (GE15).They also urged Umno to be rational in making any decision about its cooperation with Bersatu, which is led by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.Some of them said they would work to ensure that the relationship between the two Malay parties is restored before GE15.PAS and Bersatu are both part of Perikatan Nasional (PN), the coalition formed in the wake of Pakatan Harapan’s collapse last year.Umno however decided to stay out of the coalition although its 30-odd MPs form the ruling bloc in Parliament.Despite their party’s support, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his predecessor Najib Razak have been at the forefront of attacks against the PN government.At the heart of their grievances is that Muhyiddin, who formed the splinter party Bersatu after his fallout with Najib in 2015 over the 1MDB scandal, had sidelined Umno for key government posts.Zahid, Najib and a section of veteran Umno leaders aligned with them have urged PAS to ditch PN, reminding it of the Muafakat Nasional charter it signed with Umno in 2019 when the two parties were in the opposition.


India’s Covid death toll passes 200,000

India’s coronavirus death toll passed 200,000 on Wednesday with more than 3,000 fatalities reported in 24 hours for the first time, official data showed.A total of 201,187 people have now died, 3,293 of them in the past day, according to health ministry data, although many experts suspect that the true toll is higher.India has now reported 18 million infections, an increase of 360,000 in 24 hours, which is a new world record. This month alone the country has added almost six million new cases.The explosion in cases, blamed in part on a new virus variant as well as mass political and religious events, has overwhelmed hospitals with dire shortages of beds, drugs and oxygen.The crisis is particularly severe in New Delhi, with people dying outside packed hospitals where three people are often forced to share beds. Clinics have been running out of oxygen.India has so far administered 150 million vaccine shots and from Saturday the programme will be expanded to include all adults, meaning 600 million more people will be eligible.However, many states are warning that they have insufficient vaccine stocks and experts are calling on the government to prioritise vulnerable groups and badly hit areas.


Rental cars, the vehicle of choice for drug smugglers?

Yusree and her friend Jue were taken aback when they received a phone call one day in April, informing them that a rental car belonging to them had been found in the parking lot of a commercial building in Sungai Buloh, Selangor.
They had been trying to track down the car to no avail since February, when they rented it out to a foreigner for half a day.
It was only discovered after they took their search to social media.
Upon arriving at the building, though, they found the car in suspicious condition.
"It was very dirty and covered in dust, and the windows had been tinted black without my knowledge," Yusree said.
"We had handed the car over to the renter at the airport with an advance payment of RM100."
Worried that the vehicle had been used for criminal activities, they agreed to call the police before touching it.
Relating their experience in an interview with MalaysiaNow, Yusree said monthly rental vehicles had become the target of some for drug smuggling activities, as no personal records are involved and the cost of rental is usually affordable.
A recent series of arrests by the police in raids against drug syndicates around the Klang Valley had found the same trend of rental vehicles being used as a means of transporting the illegal goods.
Man Buang, the owner and operator of a car rental business in Kuala Terengganu, said he was facing the same problem as Yusree.
In November last year, he rented a Toyota Innova to a local man for a day. But after two days, the car had not been returned.
He tried to call the man but could not reach him. More than four months later, he was contacted by a lawyer who told him that the car was at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters along with a number of other seized items.
The man who rented it had been arrested by the police for the possession of drugs.
Man Buang was told that his vehicle had been seized during the man's arrest and kept on suspicion of being used to carry out illegal activities.
He was also told that he could reclaim the car by filing a claim in court.
It took him four attempts before he finally regained his car.
The man, meanwhile, is still in jail, awaiting his next case mention.
After that experience, Man Buang decided he would only accept customers from among his own family members, locals, and those who could provide a copy of their identity cards before renting his cars.
He has also increased the deposit payments to discourage anything like that from happening again.
"I can't stop renting out cars altogether," he told MalaysiaNow. "This is how I earn a living.
"And I still have many loyal customers who look for me whenever they come to Terengganu."
Back in Selangor, Yusree and Jue have many colleagues in the car rental business who have found their vehicles abandoned in the parking areas of apartment blocks and condominiums.
Some had been stripped of their tyres and accessories by the time they were discovered.
The vehicles are believed to have been abandoned after the renters completed their jobs.
"It's easy enough to find them," Yusree said. "Just put up a Facebook post, and in a few days, someone will contact you with the vehicle's location."
For her, this is a matter that all rental car operators should be aware of.
"Don't just accept any customer off the street," she added.
A facility manager at an apartment in Cyberjaya 1, Selangor, confirmed the situation.
He said the management keeps a record of all of the cars owned by the residents for the purpose of issuing access cards.
"The cars that are abandoned in the parking lot are not in the system," he said, requesting anonymity.
"But legitimate visitors will come and go in a matter of hours. At most, they will spend the night before leaving."
Meanwhile, any vehicles left in the parking area for more than three months will have their tyres clamped, with their owners told to pay a fine if they wish to claim them.


As GPS rides high in Sarawak, no sign of opposition joining forces

Sarawak’s Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) is bent on contesting all state seats when polls are called, rejecting any cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH) parties in the state despite the risk of three-cornered fights that would benefit the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).Wong Soon Koh, PSB’s president, is also adamant that his party should stick with the policy of seeking independence from federal politics.Wong has been critical of GPS, the coalition that he was briefly a part of, saying it should remain a kingmaker, dangling its support for whomever in the federal government on the basis of what it can offer to Sarawak.PSB is said to be eyeing support in Dayak-majority seats in addition to Chinese-majority urban seats, most of which are held by DAP.“We are now going into the Iban and Bidayuh seats while moving strongly to penetrate the Malay and Melanau seats,” Wong told MalaysiaNow recently.With GPS on strong footing, mainly due to what is seen as its success in securing billions of ringgit worth of income from petroleum extracted in Sarawak, any failure by the state’s opposition to force a one-on-one fight will likely boost its chances of remaining in power.PSB is said to be eyeing support in Dayak-majority seats in addition to Chinese-majority urban seats, most of which are held by DAP.Adding to this is the continued bad blood between PSB, seen as a local party with formidable support in Sarawak, and PH.Like many Sarawak-based politicians, Wong does not see cooperation with PH as a viable option, even if it means ensuring straight fights with the mighty GPS.He questioned a much talked-of plan by Sarawak PH chief Chong Chieng Jen for the opposition to follow a seat distribution formula of 70% for PH and 30% for PSB in the next election in order to ensure straight fights against GPS.“This means we can only contest in fewer than 30 seats, which is very unfair to us,” Wong said, adding that such a formula had not been formally laid down by Chong.He also questioned Chong, the state DAP chairman, saying he had not been forthright on formula discussions with PSB.“We only talked about how to avoid three-cornered fights, particularly in the urban areas,” he said.He said he had initially agreed to discuss with PH the coordination of seat distribution within the opposition.But he said he had been “turned off” by PH, and that for now, he is bent on contesting all 82 seats.“No more talk,” the former senior state minister added.PSB is seen as more likely than PH to pose a threat to GPS, owing to the failure of the former federal coalition to fulfil its promise to return Sarawak’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), the document which saw Sarawak as an equal partner under the Malaysian federation.“The struggle for a fair and equitable society to safeguard Sarawak’s interests resonates well with Sarawakians.”But with billions of ringgit in oil money owed to Sarawak by national petroleum company Petronas now finally in the hands of the state government, analysts are predicting a landslide victory for GPS in the next polls.There is also the image problem for PH, which is seen as a squabbling coalition with a bad track record in Sarawak over its 22 months in federal power.This provides an opportunity for parties like PSB which is banking on the popular call to prioritise Sarawak in all of its dealings with Putrajaya.“The struggle for a fair and equitable society irrespective of race or religion, to safeguard Sarawak’s interests, resonates well with Sarawakians,” analyst Lee Poh Onn of Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute told MalaysiaNow.He also spoke of a trust deficit among Sarawakians for PH, which is headquartered in the peninsula.“The manifesto pledge of the then-ruling PH to pay Sabah and Sarawak 20% of oil and gas royalties instead of the current 5% has not borne fruit, and the pledge to return 50% of tax revenue collected from Sarawak was unfulfilled.”Lee agreed with the general sentiment on GPS’ strong position.He said GPS had carried out policies that have been beneficial to Sarawakians.But even so, he is not altogether ruling out any chance for PSB.In the 2018 general election, he said, there had been a trend of an increase in support for Dayak leaders.“With many capable Dayak leaders now in PSB, this may swing Dayak support towards PSB when the forthcoming state election takes place. They would not need to join forces with PH.”Still, this might not be enough to dislodge GPS.Beyond DayakismSeasoned Sarawak politics observer Jayum Jawan said there had been no clear strategy from opposition parties other than to accuse GPS of not doing enough.“This might or might not work. Opposition parties, including PSB, must put up a viable policy and programmes that are clear and effective to bring about better distribution and benefits of development to plural Sarawak, not just Dayaks,” the Universiti Putra Malaysia professor told MalaysiaNow.He added that more than half of the population are non-Dayaks.“Any party that wants to win must also appeal to non-Dayaks such as the Chinese, Malays and Melanau.”Wong meanwhile insisted that his party would not be dictated to by politicians from the peninsula.“PSB is a local-based party, seemingly fighting for local causes and issues. But it is also the new kid on the block.”“We are unlike GPS as they are working within Perikatan Nasional together with Umno and PAS. They are no longer independent.“PSB is a local, Sarawak-based, multiracial party that has no affiliation with any political parties,” he said.For now, Wong is confident of “change” in the state.But Jayum is not convinced.“PSB is a local-based party, seemingly fighting for local causes and issues. But it is also the new kid on the block,” he said.He said PSB, too, has an image problem due to its past affiliation with Barisan Nasional.He said some of its leaders had been in the previous government at the federal and state levels.While parties may promote Dayakism, he added, there would be questions raised about what they have done for the community which makes up about 45% of Sarawak’s population.“What do they have to show to back this claim?”For now, Jayum believes that any thought by the opposition of making gains in the coming polls is a dream.“The reality that opposition parties do not want to admit is that they are not strong.“They think that what they have on their plate is sellable.”


Without strong Malay ally, PH to face toughest fight in Selangor since 2008

Pakatan Harapan (PH) may have to work hard to maintain its hold on Selangor as the direction of the Malay vote shows no sign of change from its pattern at the 15th general election (GE15), analysts say ahead of the state polls to be held this year.
While PH has held Selangor for 15 years since 2008, analysts who spoke to MalaysiaNow expected a tough fight between PH and its new-found ally Barisan Nasional (BN), and Perikatan Nasional (PN) on the federal opposition front.
Hisommudin Bakar said PH and BN had yet to finalise any form of political cooperation for the elections to come.
Hisommudin, of think tank Ilham Centre, said both sides appeared to be hoping for a transfer of vote banks from one to another.
"In other words, BN would get the support of the non-Malay voters by virtue of the fact that they support PH in areas contested by BN," he said.
"The same would hold true for PH, which is hoping to gain the Malay votes for BN."
Selangor has long been seen as a PH stronghold, although PN in November succeeded in winning a number of seats previously held by BN and PH, including Tanjung Karang, Hulu Selangor and Kapar.
The state polls to come will mark the first time that PH has faced an election in Selangor without an established Malay partner.
Its component parties PKR and DAP worked with PAS during their time under Pakatan Rakyat, and were allied with Bersatu at the 14th general election in 2018.
Analyst Kartini Aboo Talib said even without a strong Malay partner, PH still stood a good chance of winning again in Selangor.
"The general openness in Selangor will show that PH can still win comfortably, even without PAS or Bersatu in its coalition," she said.
But Kartini, of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, said that Umno might not be allocated many seats.
"Even if Umno is allocated seats, it will not be used as an excuse for Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to threaten or ask for more," she said, referring to the Umno president.
"Umno is at the weakest position right now."
Veteran political observer Zin Mahmud meanwhile said that PN might succeed in winning more seats in the state assembly.
However, he said it would be difficult to topple PH in Selangor as it holds sway in mixed constituencies.
PH currently holds 42 seats in the state assembly. PN holds seven, while Pejuang holds three.
The five seats held by BN were previously in the opposition but joined the government after GE15.
Selangor PAS commissioner Ahmad Yunus Hairi previously said that PAS and PN were targeting 37 state seats comprising more than 55% Malay voters.
Zin said PAS had once won due to the additional votes from PKR and DAP supporters.
"In the same way, PKR and DAP got more votes from PAS supporters," he said.
Hisommudin however said that the Malays who support BN and PN would find it difficult to switch allegiance to PH.
PH supporters, on the other hand, were more open to backing BN, he said.
Nevertheless, he said the turnout of non-Malay voters for the state polls might not be as large as it was at GE15.
He also noted the number of voters which is expected to increase after the latest gazetted list in March.
"These voters might not follow the same trend as was seen at GE15," he said.
"PN has an advantage in Malay constituencies in Selangor. PH and BN will have to work hard to make sure that the wave which occurred last time does not happen again."


Torrential rains lash NZ for third day, hundreds evacuate homes

Torrential rain slammed the west and north of New Zealand's South Island for a third straight day on Thursday, forcing hundreds to evacuate their homes and triggering road and school closures and land slips.
Coming top of weeks of damp weather, the latest rainstorms are worsening conditions in New Zealand's already sodden landscape. Experts have attributed the unseasonably wet weather to a narrow stream of water vapour, or an 'atmospheric river', sitting above the country.
Weather forecaster Metservice's data showed part of the north of the South Island had received well over 300 millimetres of rain (11.8 inches) in the past 24 hours. It has heavy rain warnings in place for parts of the west of the South Island and in the north of the North Island.
Metservice data showed Nelson city on the South Island had received 106 millimetres of rain since midday on Tuesday - well above its average rainfall for the whole of August of 80 millimetres.
On New Zealand's North Island, the country's largest city, Auckland, is under a heavy rain and winds alert, with minimal disruption reported so far.
Authorities said more than 230 homes in Nelson, a city with a population of more than 50,000, have already been evacuated with many public facilities and roads are closed.
A statement on Nelson City Council's website warned continuing rain could mean more land slips, flooding and evacuations.
Nelson's Mayor Rachel Reese told New Zealand television show AM that while the city had made it through the night without any major incidents, infrastructure was under pressure.
"We are dealing with a lot of wastewater overflows," she said.
On the west coast of the island Buller District Council said in a statement people from 160 homes evacuated over the last day were able to return to their residences to assess damage. But it warned further rain was expected and it was possible that they would have to evacuate again.
"Right across the district I believe we got away relatively unscathed," Buller Mayor Jamie Cleine told a news conference streamed online.


AstraZeneca makes US$275 million in sales from Covid vaccine

British pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca reported on Friday US$275 million in sales from its Covid vaccine in the first three months of the year.It is the first time that the company discloses figures from sales of one of the world’s leading vaccines.AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 jab was developed with the University of Oxford and has been key in Britain’s rapid vaccination drive. The company is selling it at cost price.However, public confidence in the jab has taken a blow over worries of links to very rare blood clots, and the company is in a legal fight with the EU over delivery shortfalls.The company made the disclosure in an earnings statement showing that net profit doubled in the first quarter to US$1.56 billion, compared with $780 million a year earlier.Revenue jumped 15% – or 11% at constant exchange rates – to US$7.32 billion in the reporting period.Excluding the contribution from the Covid jab, revenues rose by 11% – or 7% at constant rates – to US$7.045 billion.AstraZeneca added Thursday that its quarterly performance was boosted by strong sales of new cancer drugs.The firm cautioned however that the Covid pandemic had a “negative impact” on both the diagnosis and treatment of other conditions aside from Covid.“We delivered solid progress in the first quarter of 2021 and continued to advance our portfolio of life-changing medicines,” said chief executive Pascal Soriot in the earnings release.“New medicines contributed over half of revenue and all regions delivered encouraging growth,” Soriot said.“This performance ensured another quarter of strong revenue and earnings progression, continued profitability, and cash-flow generation, despite the pandemic’s ongoing negative impact on the diagnosis and treatment of many conditions.”The results come at the end of a turbulent week after the European Union (EU) launched legal action against AstraZeneca over Covid-19 vaccine delivery shortfalls that hampered efforts to kickstart inoculations across the bloc.The EU is suing AstraZeneca on the basis of breaches of an advanced purchase agreement, but the firm has dismissed the legal action “without merit” and stated that it will strongly defend itself in court.AstraZeneca said it is due to have delivered about 50 million doses to Europe by the end of April, but that is far lower than the amount Brussels insists should have come.The commission says overall the firm is set to deliver only a third of the 300 million doses it had promised by June.The EU-AstraZeneca court hearing has been set for May 26, a Belgian court said Wednesday.


Cops release mugshot of accused US supermarket shooter

Colorado cops released the mugshot on Tuesday of accused supermarket killer Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, the day after the shooting rampage that killed 10 people.Alissa, a 21-year-old Syrian native, is being held on 10 counts of first-degree murder after allegedly strolling into a King Soopers grocery store in Boulder on Monday afternoon and unleashing a hail of bullets at workers, customers and cops.The suspect surrendered at the scene after the carnage – with video and photos showing him half-naked and bleeding as he was hauled away in handcuffs.He had stripped off half his clothes before being arrested. When he was being taken away, he asked to speak to his mother, the police said.When contacted by local media, Alissa’s brother said he was mentally ill, the New York Post is reporting.It has also surfaced that he once ranted on Facebook about “Islamophobic people” and re-posted someone else’s “Islamophobia” post lamenting the attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2019 that left 51 people dead.“The Muslims at the #christchurch mosque were not the victims of a single shooter,” the posting said. “They were the victims of the entire Islamophobia industry that vilified them.”Court documents have revealed that Alissa bought a gun a week before the shooting.


Muhyiddin made chairman of National Recovery Council with minister status

Former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin has been appointed as chairman of National Recovery Council (MPN), a position that comes with ministerial status.Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Zuki Ali said the decision was made in a Cabinet meeting on Sept 1, adding that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has been informed of the appointment.“This appointment was also made based on the government’s confidence in Muhyiddin’s ability to lead the country’s recovery strategy, in order to achieve the best economic impact and to restore the lives of the people which have been severely affected by Covid-19,” he said in a statement.Muhyiddin had previously chaired the council, which was established during his administration to monitor the implementation of the National Recovery Plan.After taking over as prime minister, Ismail Sabri Yaakob invited the opposition to be part of the council as well as the Special Committee on Covid-19.He said then that political stability must be attained as quickly as possible through unity and cross-party cooperation.MalaysiaNow reported today that opposition leaders had requested for more details from Ismail before coming to any decision on working together.


Mahathir announces new Malay alliance to go head-to-head with Umno

Dr Mahathir Mohamad today announced a new political alliance focused on the Malay-Muslim agenda, dubbed "Gerakan Tanah Air".
The Pejuang chairman said the pact would only involve Malay members including political parties, academics, NGOs and professionals.
"We have only invited Malays, not because of racism, but because our efforts are focused on opposing Umno, the Malay party that has gone astray," he said at a press conference in Putrajaya today.
"If we are not a Malay party, the Malays will not support us."
Voicing hope that the alliance would receive the support of the people, he said this did not necessarily mean joining up as a member.
"It's more towards those who are worried about the future of our country," he said.
The former prime minister said Gerakan Tanah Air had already been joined by four Malay-based parties: Pejuang, Putra, Berjasa and Iman.
He said the movement would also work to reduce the poverty gap among the Malays.
He said the gap between the urban Malays and those in the rural areas was significant and must be addressed to prevent political imbalance or rebellion.
"This is why we formed a Malay movement, so that they can resolve the problems that they face, and work to get their share in this multiracial country," he added.
However, Mahathir said this did not mean that the Malays would usurp the rights of the non-Malays.
On the contrary, he said, it was an attempt to correct the position of the Malays in their own country.
Gerakan Tanah Air is expected to submit its registration documents and constitution to the Registrar of Societies (RoS) as soon as possible.
Mahathir said he hoped the RoS would be generous in considering the application.
He said the movement would contest 120 seats at the 15th general election, targeting areas in the peninsula which it was confident of winning.
When asked if the alliance would allow the participation of other Malay political groups, Mahathir said it would not get involved with any party embroiled in corruption or the court cluster, a reference to Umno leaders facing criminal charges.
"Those who are with us have no corruption cases," he added.


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Khairy hails 90% milestone for partial teen vaccination

Malaysia achieved a significant milestone in Covid-19 vaccination today with 90% of the adolescent population having received at least one dose of vaccine, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said.“For seniors, get your booster as soon as it’s available,” he said in a Twitter post.A total of 2,830,449 individuals or 90% of adolescents had received one dose of Covid-19 vaccine as of 11.59pm yesterday.According to the CovidNow portal, 2,721,784 individuals or 86.5% of teenagers have completed their Covid-19 vaccination.As for the adult population, a total of 22,722,055 individuals or 97.1% have completed their vaccination while 23,049,440 individuals or 98.5% have received at least one dose of vaccine.A total of 54,517 doses of vaccine were administered yesterday, with 1,713 as first doses, 2,605 as second jabs and 50,199 as booster shots.This brings the cumulative number of vaccine doses administered under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme to 54,091,375.In another post, Khairy said the infectivity rate (Rt) in Malaysia was increasing and reminded the public to ensure compliance with Covid-19 prevention SOPs and to always practise TRISS (test, report, inform, isolate and seek).“Rt is nearing 1.0 again. Two weeks ago when it exceeded 1, all of us played our role to bring down the Rt. Believe that we can. Face masks, physical distancing, avoid congested places, booster shots, protect your parents and #TRIIS,” he said.


Clear SOP needed for govt’s move on statelessness

We refer to the recent statement by the home minister that his ministry will be giving stateless persons one year to make an application for citizenship.We have long called for serious and effective action by successive governments to resolve the problems of statelessness in Malaysia. We welcome this move by the ministry as an indication that the government is finally serious in resolving this longstanding problem, which has caused untold suffering to those wrongfully denied citizenship.Though details of this move have yet to be announced, we caution the minister to ensure that the mechanism for said applications must be clear and unambiguous. A proper SOP must be configured, and the information must be accessible to prospective applicants.The home ministry must be clear on what kind of documentation is needed for the application; a proper checklist must be in place and the National Registration Department (NRD) must be tasked to give the necessary advice and guidance to any stateless person who comes forward to make an application.Most importantly, the documentation required must be reasonable. Stateless persons generally lack any proper and formal form of identification. Any documentation required must be in line with the provisions of the Federal Constitution, i.e. the documents needed must only pertain to what is necessary to prove the qualification for citizenship under the relevant provisions of the Federal Constitution.If it is clear that the applicant is entitled to citizenship as of right, lack of documentation cannot be a bar to confirming the citizenship of the applicant. This would be the case for example, where a person was born and has lived in Malaysia all their life, but has no formal documentation.In this regard we are glad that the home minister specifically stated that apart from valid documentation, “other evidence” will be accepted.A common problem that we have previously faced is the NRD’s failure to distinguish between those making an application for citizenship and those who qualify for citizenship as of right under Article 14 of the Federal Constitution.Those under the latter category are usually refused the right to make an application under Article 14 despite fulfilling the criteria under said provision. Therefore, it is pertinent that the mechanism introduced by the home ministry must make clear the NRD’s role in receiving these applications.We sincerely hope the upcoming announcement by the home ministry will provide a holistic mechanism that would effectively solve the issue of statelessness in Malaysia. Without proper procedures and execution, this move will ultimately be for naught.Zaid Malek is coordinator of Lawyers for Liberty.The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


After Langkawi, govt eyeing Genting, Tioman and Melaka for tourism bubble plan

Putrajaya is considering making Genting Highlands, Melaka and Tioman the next travel bubble destinations after the pilot project in Langkawi as efforts continue to restore the tourism sector which was heavily hit by the Covid-19 crisis.Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Nancy Shukri said her ministry would table a proposal to the prime minister at the meeting of the Special Committee on Tackling Covid-19 tomorrow.Speaking at a press conference after the Covid-19 Ministerial Quartet meeting at the Parliament building, she said SOPs for travel to these locations would be carefully studied, especially for Melaka which has a wide area of coverage.She said industry players in these places have been told to be ready to receive visitors.“We have been given two weeks for these new destinations to make preparations before resuming business operations on Oct 1.“However, this decision is not exclusive and we will gradually propose more tourist destinations to be opened,” she said.She referred to the pilot project in Langkawi which she said was a good example as no Covid-19 cases have been recorded from among the tourists there.“The decision to make it compulsory for travellers to undergo screening for Covid-19 before departure has shown a positive outcome,” she said.She added that 6,622 tourists had arrived by plane and another 3,483 by ferry.


Get back in line, Khairy warns after cases of politicians cutting vaccine queue

There have been cases of state exco members and ministerial officers being listed as vaccine recipients in the first phase of the government’s Covid-19 inoculation programme despite being ineligible for the jab, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has revealed.He said the cases of queue-jumping had happened despite the registration process where individuals are given a specific date and time to be present at a vaccination centre.He said incidents had occured at the launch of some state-level vaccination programmes, adding however that these were few in number and had occurred due to a lack of clarity.“So people just decided to try their luck.”Khairy said he had also received complaints about some politicians and ministry officers being registered to get the vaccine despite not being considered as frontliners.“Don’t cut queue, get back in line,” Khairy said in a joint press conference with Health Minister Dr Adham Baba today, adding that his ministry would recommend that the health ministry slap compounds on those who flout the rules.“Officers of ministers, state excos, menteris besar and political secretaries are not included in Phase 1. They cannot jump the queue.“Family members of ministers or state excos or elected representatives are also not on the list.”He said only elected representatives are among the frontliners eligible to receive the vaccination under the first phase.


Rais Yatim elected as Dewan Negara president

Former information, communications and culture minister Rais Yatim was today elected as the new president of the Dewan Negara, the upper house of Parliament.He replaces SA Vigneswaran whose term of office ended on June 22.Rais, 78, was elected as the 18th Dewan Negara president through secret ballot.He was one of three candidates proposed for the post. The other two were Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff and Theodore Douglas Lind. However, Lind withdrew at the last minute.Rais obtained 45 votes while Yusmadi secured 19.


Sarawak to continue with MM2H programme

Sarawak says it will continue to offer the Sarawak-Malaysia My Second Home (S-MM2H) programme to foreigners despite the federal government’s decision to suspend the programme until year-end.State Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said interested candidates were welcome to apply, adding that they should comply with the new regulations and requirements that came into effect on Sept 1.“The S-MM2H programme will not be affected by the federal government’s suspension of the MM2H programme,” he said in a press conference to announce the enhanced S-MM2H regulations and requirements in Kuching today.He said MM2H was temporarily suspended as the federal tourism, arts and culture ministry needed to review and reevaluate the programme which began in 2002.“As part of the response to post-Covid-19 recovery, Sarawak needs to actively continue to diversify its tourism beyond leisure tourism by looking at the potential of S-MM2H in recent years to bring in quality visitors,” he added.He said the global outbreak of Covid-19, coupled with the enforcement of movement restrictions and border control had caused a sharp drop in travel and leisure activities, resulting in an unprecedented impact on Sarawak’s tourism sector.“The promotion of high-yield quality tourism like through the S-MM2H programme for longer stays will certainly benefit the tourism sector in Sarawak through the potential expenditure revenue and residential investment,” he said.Karim added that the ministry expects 1,000 new S-MM2H participants, generating an estimated RM8.34 million in revenue and RM31 million in investments by 2030.“The newly revised S-MM2H programme will certainly benefit all stakeholders, in particular through the use of registered agents to create new jobs and boost economic growth in Sarawak,” he said.


PAS man in last-ditch plea for ‘unity’ as Umno leaders gather

A PAS leader has made a last-ditch appeal to Umno as top leaders and delegates of the Malay party gather tomorrow to decide whether it should work with Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s Bersatu at the next general election.Awang Hashim, a member of the PAS Central Committee, said the Islamist party which has close ties with both Umno and Bersatu would go to great lengths to ensure that the warring Malay parties mend their ties in time for the next polls.Awang said he is optimistic of a solution that will satisfy both parties, saying this lies in them putting the people’s interest ahead of their own.“If Umno is willing to work with Perikatan Nasional (PN), PAS will do anything for the sake of Muslim unity,” the deputy human resources minister told MalaysiaNow.PAS and Bersatu are component parties of PN, the coalition formed in the wake of the collapse of Pakatan Harapan (PH) last year.Awang HashimUmno meanwhile decided to stay out of the coalition although its 30-odd MPs form the ruling bloc in Parliament.Despite their party’s support, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his predecessor Najib Razak have been at the forefront of attacks against the PN government.At the heart of their grievances is that Muhyiddin, who formed the splinter party Bersatu after his fallout with Najib over the 1MDB scandal in 2015, has sidelined Umno in filling key government posts.Zahid, Najib and a section of veteran Umno leaders aligned with them have urged PAS to ditch PN, reminding it of the Muafakat Nasional charter it signed with Umno in 2019 when the two parties were in the opposition.Awang, the MP for Pendang, said PAS has always prioritised Muslim unity in its political decisions, adding that it is not after positions.He warned Umno that any move to work with PKR and its leader Anwar Ibrahim would undermine efforts towards Malay unity.He said the experience of Malay leaders in the previous government including Dr Mahathir Mohamad showed that any move to work with parties such as PKR and DAP would end in failure.He said even if Umno enjoys strong Malay support, it would not be able to ward off DAP.“This was proven when Mahathir led PH for 22 months, but failed to rein in DAP, so much so that many things were done secretly without consultation with him as the prime minister at the time,” said Awang.He added that PAS would keep looking for ways to bring Umno and Bersatu to the negotiation table, even if the coming general assembly decides that Umno will cut ties with PN.He also reminded Umno that it would be taking a big political risk if it thinks it still enjoys the support of Malaysians.He said Umno had been in a state of decline since the end of the Mahathir era in 2003, whether under Najib or his predecessor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.He said the party had also lost its two-thirds majority in 2008, while support further thinned in 2013 before its leaders were dealt their shocking defeat in the 2018 election.Any hopes that Umno could rise again under Najib have been dashed, he added.“We thought it would improve but Umno has only been going downhill. Its graph is on a decline.”


Anwar to be questioned on majority support tomorrow

Bukit Aman has called PKR president Anwar Ibrahim to give his statement tomorrow on the list of 121 MPs who supposedly support him to form a new government.Criminal Investigation Division director Huzir Mohamed said police have so far received 113 reports on the matter.“The investigation is being conducted under Section 505 (b) of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act,” he said in a statement today.Anwar was initially supposed to be questioned on Monday. However, Huzir said police were informed by the PKR leader’s private secretary that he could only come on Oct 13, at 9am – two hours before he was expected to meet the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to present proof of his claim to having majority support.The appointment was subsequently postponed.Last week, Anwar said Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah had consented to a royal audience tomorrow, at which he would furnish details of his claim to having “formidable and convincing” majority support from MPs to form the government.However, the palace said after his audience on Tuesday that Anwar had submitted no names, only the number of MPs whose support he claimed to have.


Tourists stranded after Peru slams borders shut over virus worries

Hundreds of foreigners are trapped in Peru after it sealed its borders on Monday in an attempt to stop the spread of Covid-19.Foreign tourists who were visiting the country’s Inca ruins and Amazon rainforest were given little warning they should leave.Equally, Peruvians abroad had no time to get home before the closures.Peru’s defence ministry had announced it would completely shut down airports and border crossings on Sunday, prohibiting any future chartered flights from repatriating foreigners as the country attempts to slow the spread of the coronavirus.Health officials at the weekend confirmed more than 300 cases and five deaths in the Andean nation.President Martin Vizcarra’s government later issued a waiver allowing chartered flights to fly home Peruvians stranded abroad, and to allow foreign governments to repatriate their citizens.Argentina, Chile, Israel and Mexico all helped their citizens leave Peru. The UK government said it was talking with Peru to arrange flights to take out British nationals.“It is a bit scary,” Alison Clay-Duboff, an American stuck in the Peruvian Amazon near the city of Iquitos, told the Wall Street Journal. “We’re just here in the jungle waiting and anticipating. We are trying to come up with ways to keep everybody occupied.”Rich Levering of Philadelphia said he is trying to find his own way home. He has been organising other guests at his Lima hotel, while sharing information on WhatsApp and Facebook groups to discuss ways to get back to the US.One Facebook group, called Americans Stuck in Peru, has over 3,300 members.He said, “Everybody has their own little nugget of information and we’re using that to figure out how to get home.”


North, South Korea restore severed communications in surprise thaw

North and South Korea signalled a surprise thaw in relations on Tuesday, announcing a restoration of cross-border communications that were severed more than a year ago and revealing that their leaders had exchanged a series of letters.The North unilaterally cut off all official military and political communication links in June last year after threats over activists sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border.The suspension came with inter-Korean ties at a standstill, despite three summits between the North’s Kim Jong Un and the South’s President Moon Jae-in in 2018.But the two sides said all communication lines were restored on Tuesday.“According to the agreement made between the top leaders, the north and the south took a measure to re-operate all inter-Korean communication liaison lines from 10:00 on July 27,” North Korea’s official KCNA news agency reported.Kim and Moon have exchanged personal letters since April aimed at improving ties, the South Korean president’s office said in a statement, and agreed to restore the hotlines as the first step.“The two leaders also agreed to restore mutual trust between the two Koreas as soon as possible and move forward with the relationship again.”The dovish Moon is credited with brokering the first-ever summit between North Korea and a sitting US president in Singapore in June 2018.But Pyongyang largely cut off contact with Seoul following the collapse of a second summit between Kim and then-US president Donald Trump in Hanoi that left nuclear talks at a standstill.‘Kim’s first response’Since President Joe Biden took office, Pyongyang and Washington have adopted a wait-and-see attitude to relations following the diplomatic roller coaster ride under Trump that produced three summits but no agreement on dismantling the North’s nuclear arsenal.Kim said in June that Pyongyang needed to prepare for both “dialogue and confrontation” with Washington – but with a particular emphasis on the latter.The White House promised a “practical, calibrated approach” – including diplomatic efforts – in a recent review of its strategy to persuade the impoverished North to give up its nuclear weapons and missile programmes.Sung Kim, the top US diplomat in charge of North Korea negotiations, said in June that Washington was ready to meet with Pyongyang “anywhere, anytime, without preconditions”.But Kim Yo Jong – Kim Jong Un’s sister and a key adviser – dismissed the offer.Analysts said Tuesday’s restoration of the inter-Korean hotlines signalled Kim’s initial response to Washington’s talks offer.“It looks like he has decided that restoring inter-Korean relations is beneficial to the North’s both domestic and foreign policies and politics,” Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, told AFP.Despite the standstill in talks, Moon has relentlessly stressed the importance of restoring inter-Korean ties, he added.“This should be read as Kim Jong Un’s first response to Seoul and Washington,” Yang said.


Ex-Goldman banker Ng given discharge not amounting to acquittal pending conclusion of US trial

The Kuala Lumpur High Court yesterday issued former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng Chong Hwa a discharge not amounting to an acquittal for four counts of abetting the company in the sale of security notes and bonds worth US$6.5 billion belonging to 1MDB subsidiaries.
Judge Muhammad Jamil Hussin gave the ruling after deputy public prosecutor Zaki Asyraf Zubir made an application pending the sentencing phase at the Eastern District of New York court.
Zaki earlier said that Ng's criminal trial at the US court was complete and that the sentencing, which was supposed to be done in December last year, was postponed to this February.
"The prosecution is still interested in pursuing this case in the future, but for the time being to avoid any waste of time, the prosecution requests that the accused be given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal until all legal processes (in the US) are completed," he said.
Ng’s counsel Tan Hock Chuan, however, requested that his client be released and freed from all charges as the case had taken so much time. On April 8 last year,  Ng was found guilty by a US court of conspiring to embezzle hundreds of millions of dollars from 1MDB.
On Dec 19, 2018, Ng pleaded not guilty to four counts of abetting Goldman Sachs in the sale of security notes and bonds by omitting material facts and making false statements.
He was charged with committing the offences at the 1MDB office, eighth floor, IMC Tower, Jalan Sultan Ismail between March 19, 2012 and Nov 11, 2013.
On Sept 2021, the charges against Goldman Sachs International Ltd and two of its entities in Asia, Goldman Sachs (Asia) LLC and Goldman Sachs (Singapore), were dropped after High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan allowed the prosecution’s application to retract the charges.


Govt planning to increase land VTL quota to 2,100 travellers each way

The government is planning to increase the daily quota for Malaysian and Singapore citizens travelling through the Vaccinated Travel Lane-Land (VTL-Land) facility to 2,100 people each way according to developments in the Covid-19 situation.International Trade and Industry Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali said so far, no quarantine has been required due to the high vaccination rate in both countries.However, he said the government was constantly monitoring the current health situation, adding that the health ministry would provide appropriate advice if there are any indications related to Covid-19.“That is why we are opening the border carefully and not abruptly and the daily quota remains at 1,440 travellers each way. On Dec 20, if the situation permits, we will increase the quota to 2,100 travellers per day.“This proves that we are still monitoring the health situation so that the opening of the border will not burden any quarters in terms of health,” he said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Negara today.He was responding to a supplementary question from Jefridin Atan on whether the government plans to consider imposing quarantine orders on VTL-Land travellers as a precautionary measure to prevent the entry of the Omicron Covid-19 variant.On Dec 14, the international trade and industry ministry announced that all categories of travellers who are Malaysian and Singapore citizens will be able to enter both countries via the VTL-Land facility effective Dec 20 due to increased public demand.


Disney in Asia still magic, California Disneyland sacks 28,000

Disney’s theme parks in Shanghai, Japan and Hong Kong have now all been able to reopen and are doing a good trade with limited numbers of guests.Its Hong Kong theme park was permitted to reopen last week, two months after it was forced to shut down for a second time due to the coronavirus pandemic. Guests are now required to wear face masks and all indoor live performances have been cancelled. Paying for meals and other transactions are now cashless.In the US, Disney World Florida has resumed operations.Yet the original Disneyland in Anaheim, California, remains shuttered as the company struggles with authorities over a timescale for reopening in the pandemic.Now Disneyland says it is being forced to let go 28,000 employees.In a memo sent to employees on Tuesday, the company detailed several “difficult decisions” it has had to make in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, including ending its furlough of thousands of employees, reports CNBC.Disney has been haemorrhaging money since the pandemic began.The company has reported multi-billion losses due to the closure of its parks, hotels and cruise lines.


Turkey says no word on sailors taken by pirates off Nigeria

Pirates who seized 15 Turkish sailors and killed one when they stormed a container ship in West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea at the weekend have not yet made contact with Turkish authorities for a ransom.The Mozart was headed from Lagos to Cape Town sailing through the Gulf when armed seaborne attackers stormed it. Gulf waters border more than a dozen countries and is notorious for pirates raiding merchant vessels.“We have not yet received word from the pirates,” Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters in Ankara on Monday. He said Turkey is also in touch with other regional African countries where the pirates may be holed up with their hostages.Last year, pirates kidnapped 130 sailors in 22 incidents in the Gulf, accounting for all but five merchant seamen seized worldwide, according to an International Maritime Bureau (IMB) report.The pirates come from Nigeria’s wild Niger Delta, experts say. The region produces most of the nation’s petroleum, but is underdeveloped with some of the highest unemployment in the country.Gangs of men desperate for money engage in a variety of illegal activities, including kidnapping, stealing and refining oil, and piracy.The IMB has tracked a steady increase in kidnappings over recent years, affecting everyone from fisherman to international supertanker crews.Pirates who once stole cargo, or siphoned oil, discovered that some companies or even governments will pay large sums to ransom kidnapped crew.Max Williams, chief compliance officer for security firm Africa Risk Compliance, told Reuters: “Saturday’s attack took place 200 nautical miles offshore, reflecting increasing sophistication, as vessels further from shore are less likely to have naval protection.”Kidnapping and ransom insurance can cost shipping companies millions of dollars annually, though most refuse to discuss specifics due to fears it could make insured vessels a target.Most countries in the region bar international navies or armed private security staff from their waters, but naval ships from France, Spain and Italy, already patrol the region’s international waters.However, there is an urgent need for a coordinated international law enforcement operation, says Denmark’s Maersk, the world’s biggest container line.“International mandates were found to secure the Hormuz Strait and the Indian Ocean,” said Aslak Ross, Maersk’s head of marine standards. “So we ought to be able to find a solution in West Africa.”


PwC Australia says staff involved in tax leak face 'severe' consequences

PricewaterhouseCoopers Australia staff who are found to have acted improperly in a scandal over the leaking of government tax plans will face "severe" consequences, acting chief executive Kristin Stubbins told a state parliament inquiry on Monday.
In her first public appearance since her predecessor resigned over his involvement in the scandal, Stubbins said an investigation by two law firms would conclude "shortly" and the firm will name any staff found to have "done anything wrong".
"We have failed the standards we set for ourselves as an organisation, and I apologise on behalf of our firm," Stubbins said.
PwC Australia is under fire after a former partner who was advising the federal government on laws to prevent corporate tax avoidance shared confidential information with colleagues who then used it to pitch to multinational companies for work.
The firm has already placed nine partners on leave and named four former partners directly involved in the breach who have since left the firm. Two of those four have publicly denied any wrongdoing.
Stubbins faced a New South Wales state parliamentary inquiry a day after the firm announced plans to sell its government consulting business for US$0.67 (about RM3.15) and a further leadership shakeup as it responds to a scandal that has led government agencies and major pension funds to freeze work with PwC.
PwC's initial decision in May to ringfence its government consulting practice and set up a separate board "didn't go far enough", said Stubbins. PwC Australia would receive no financial benefit from the A$1 sale, she added.
Roughly 1,500 staff and over 100 partners would go across to the new entity, which will be set up as a corporation with the help of private equity firm Allegro Funds and launched around September.
The move will cut PwC Australia off from the "vast majority" of public sector consulting work, although some external audit work for government clients may stay, said Stubbins.
Stubbins took over from former chief executive David Seymour in May after he admitted he was one of at least 67 staff who received emails containing confidential government plans to curb multinational tax avoidance leaked by a former partner at the firm between 2014 and 2017.
She will remain in the role until Kevin Burrowes, currently Global Clients & Industries lead based in Singapore, relocates to Australia for the job.


Court views clips of bags being moved out of ex-top spy’s office

Several officers from the Prime Minister’s Department (JPM) were seen pulling black and red bags and suitcases to and from the floors housing the offices of former director-general of the Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation (MEIO), Hasanah Ab Hamid and her deputies.This was based on clips from 163 CCTV files screened for almost an hour at the High Court today, during Hasanah’s trial for criminal breach of trust involving US$12.1 million (RM50.4 million) when she was headed JPM’s Research Division.Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Farid Ahmad Kamal played the CCTV recordings during his examination-in-chief of Badri Azni, 37, an investigating officer at the Technological Forensic Division of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).The recordings showed several men moving the luggage using the lifts on levels 1 and 7, and car porch of Block B4, JPM, on April 30 and May 9, 2018.However, the court was not told of the contents of the bags.When asked by Hasanah’s lawyer Muhammad Ashraff Mohd Diah during cross-examination whether the accused was seen in the hundreds of files shown in court today, Badri, the eighth prosecution witness, said: “No.”Another witness, Norrashid Mahmud, 59, a former auxiliary policeman at JPM, said he could recognise all of the individuals seen in the CCTV recordings.“They are administrative and diplomatic officers at Block 4, JPM (Research Division),” the ninth prosecution witness said during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Mohd Fairuz Johari on the sixth day of the trial.When reading out his witness statement, Norrashid said he knew all of the officers and staff in the division because he had worked there for more than 20 years before retiring on Oct 20 last year.Hasanah, 64, is charged with CBT in her capacity as the director-general of JPM’s Research Division, involving RM50.4 million belonging to the Malaysian government.The charge under Section 409 of the Penal Code provides for a jail term of up to 20 years, and a whipping and fine upon conviction.The hearing before judge Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh resumes on Monday.However, the media and members of the public will not be allowed in court from April 12 to 16, as 11 prosecution witnesses will be giving evidence in-camera involving issues of national security.


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Health minister gets first Covid-19 jab in UAE

United Arab Emirates (UAE) Health and Prevention Minister Abdul Rahman al-Owais has become the first Emirati to be given the country’s approved Covid-19 vaccine.The official UAE news agency WAM reported on Saturday he received the dose just days after authorities approved the Chinese vaccine for emergency use for frontline health workers.According to the news agency, Rahman said, “The UAE aims to provide all safety means for the heroes working on the front lines and to protect them from any dangers they may face battling the coronavirus outbreak.”The vaccine has been developed by Chinese state-owned pharmaceutical company Sinopham and is “fully and completely compatible with laws and regulations,” the minister said.He also said the vaccine is effective and safe and has resulted in a “strong response” by generating antibodies in trial volunteers.A total of 31,000 volunteers of 125 nationalities participated in clinical trials held in the Gulf country of 10 million, a government official said during the press conference.Doctor Nawal al-Kaabi said initial results of the ongoing trial are encouraging and only “minor” side effects were detected in volunteers who developed antibodies.According to Nawal, health authorities have followed all quality control procedures and safety measures to ensure the efficacy of the vaccine.


Virus chaos in schools brings golden opportunity for private tutors

The Covid-19 pandemic still raging across the world has disrupted nearly the entire academic year for schoolchildren and university students alike, but enterprising undergraduates are proving that even the cloud of a global epidemic is not without a silver lining.From the movement control order (MCO) enforced in March which saw schools shut down for nearly four months to the return of a conditional MCO in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Sabah earlier this month, classes have been thrown into disarray as teachers and students struggle to adapt to the new normal.While tuition centres have been caught up in the wave of turmoil affecting much of the education sector, though, small-time private tutors have fared better.Undergraduates, in particular, forced to return to virtual lecture halls themselves, are finding themselves in high demand from parents anxious to ensure that children sitting for public examinations later this year will not be left behind in their studies.Farabi Halim, an applied science student at Universiti Teknologi Mara, told MalaysiaNow that he was now teaching 15 Form Five students in his neighbourhood additional mathematics and physics.It all began when a parent asked him to help check her child’s homework questions. From there, he began teaching the student twice a week.“After news of my classes spread, some other parents also asked me to teach their children who will be sitting for the SPM examination,” he said.“My schedule is now full, teaching these students, to the point where I have had to turn down others due to time constraints.”The income he receives from his tuition classes, while not exorbitant, has made a difference in his savings as well.“For a two-hour session, I am paid RM20,” he said, adding that he sees his fees as commensurate with his qualifications.“In a month there are four sessions, which means eight hours, so the average payment I receive is RM80 for one subject.”“It is very different with private classes. Students say they are more comfortable when classes are conducted physically, face-to-face.”This all adds up to about RM1,000 to RM1,200 a month, half of which he sets aside for his studies.Rabiatul Khalisah, a third-year education major at the International Islamic University of Malaysia, mostly teaches around the Gombak area and in Kuala Lumpur.She said she had experienced a sharp demand for English and biology classes since the MCO was enforced in March, going from 11 students to 35 in just a few months.“There were 10 more parents who contacted me, but I had to turn them down due to time constraints as I have to attend online lectures as well and complete my own assignments,” she told MalaysiaNow.Rabiatul teaches face-to-face at her students’ homes as well as online. Her fees start at RM18 an hour with as many as four classes per month. For biology tuition, she charges more: RM20 an hour with three classes per month.Time managementFarabi, too, finds it tricky balancing his time between teaching and attending his own course lectures. But his students’ parents are usually open to more flexible class schedules which allows him to stay on track.He says parents are generally anxious that the online approach taken by schools does not yield the best results in terms of learning. There are also concerns over the focus and emotional stability of students given the long periods of screen time involved.“It is very different with private classes,” he said. “Students say they are more comfortable when classes are conducted physically, face-to-face.“It helps them understand the syllabus better and their state of mind is calmer.”Of course, he take strict precautions to prevent any spread of Covid-19 during his tuition sessions, complying with SOPs such as physical distancing, temperature checks and the use of face masks and hand sanitiser.With new cases recorded every day, this may prove the norm for some time yet.Irma Nadia Morzailan explains the day’s lesson to her tuition students.Those who have been teaching private tuition for a while now have some advice for rookies who are just starting out.“Start with a low fee first for the purpose of gaining experience,” said Irma Nadia Morzailan who began running a home tuition service in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, in 2015 and now owns a company providing tutoring and module preparation services.Teach in your field of expertise is another piece of advice for greenhorns.In any case, demand for private tuition appears to be rising, and undergraduates are rising to meet the challenge.


PTPTN loan for M40 (M1) group increased to 100%

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob today announced that the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan for students in the M40 (M1) group will be increased from 75% to 100%.
He said the government had also agreed to provide loans for the purchase of laptops to PTPTN borrowers in the M40 group.
Speaking at an event in Kuala Lumpur, he said the move was part of the government's efforts to protect the interests of students.
"Believe me, the government always looks after the interests of students... many more announcements will be made that will benefit them," he said when opening the Semarak Patriotik IPT 2022 at Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia.
Also present were Higher Education Minister Noraini Ahmad, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Maximus Ongkili, Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Zuki Ali and Malaysian Armed Forces chief Affendi Buang.
Ismail also said he was informed by Noraini that the Malaysian Family Cheap Sale programme would be held at every institute of higher learning from next month to address the rising cost of living for students.


Umno wanted polls to save criminals, Mahathir says after PM blames 'PN 12'

Pejuang chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad today responded to Ismail Sabri Yaakob's criticism of his Perikatan Nasional (PN) Cabinet members who had objected to the holding of polls this year, saying the component parties of coalition governments have the right to air their own views.
"There is no point blaming the PN 12," the former prime minister said.
"Although the prime minister has the right to make his own decision, in a coalition government, component parties have the right to give their views as well."
Ismail had on Oct 11 lashed out at his Cabinet members from Bersatu and PAS who had written a letter to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, voicing their opposition to the holding of polls during the monsoon season.
The 12 ministers also called for a focus on economic recovery following more than two years of the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, Ismail said the dissolution of Parliament on Oct 10 was to put a stop to those questioning the legitimacy of the so-called backdoor government by returning the mandate to the people.
"It was also part of a string of political developments whereby the 12 ministers behaved inappropriately by writing to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong," he said.
"The dissolution was done to prevent an outbreak of disharmony in the administration of the government."
He also said that by going to the king, the ministers had turned their backs on the institution of the prime minister, whose appointment he added had been approved by the Agong.
The 15th general election was not due until next year, but Ismail had been under strong pressure from a group of Umno leaders aligned with party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to dissolve Parliament ahead of its expiry of term.
In his statement today, Mahathir said it was Umno which had wanted a snap election.
"What of the floods," he added. "The important thing is for Umno to win and for criminals to avoid immediate punishment."


Britain gets in party mode with star-studded concert for queen’s jubilee

Britain revelled in celebrations Saturday for Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years on the throne as it staged a spectacular “party at the palace” featuring Diana Ross, Andrea Bocelli and Rod Stewart while Prince Charles led heartfelt tributes.The concert, the climax of the third day of public events to mark the 96-year-old monarch’s record-breaking Platinum Jubilee, saw 22,000 ticket-holders watch performers on a purpose-built 360-degree stage outside Buckingham Palace.Tens of thousands more thronged the city centre while millions watched on television as an array of performers dazzled and personal messages from household names in Britain and beyond were beamed onto the palace.“You have met us and talked with us, you laugh and cry with us and, most importantly, you have been there for us for these 70 years,” Charles said from the stage as the event drew to a close.“You pledged to serve your whole life – you continue to deliver. That is why we are here. That is what we celebrate tonight.”‘Happy Jubilee, ma’am’The country’s longest-reigning monarch did not attend the two-and-a-half-hour concert in-person but made repeated appearances in archive footage and clips of past comments and speeches, and was said to be watching on television in Windsor Castle.She had made two public appearances on the Buckingham Palace balcony on the first day of celebrations Thursday, but that left her in “some discomfort”, the palace said, amid persistent difficulties walking and standing.She withdrew from a Friday thanksgiving church service and missed Saturday’s flat-racing showcase The Derby for only the fourth time since 1952.As that night’s star-studded show started, the monarch made a surprise on-screen appearance in a comedic pre-recorded scene taking tea with Britain’s beloved children’s book and film character Paddington Bear.“Happy Jubilee, ma’am, and thank you. For everything,” the bear told her, as they jokingly shared their love for marmalade sandwiches.“That’s very kind,” the queen replied, before the pair began tapping out the drum beat to rock band Queen’s “We Will Rock You” on their tea cups and saucers with silver spoons.The short sketch was reportedly filmed at Windsor in March and kept top secret, with few members of the royal family even aware of it.‘Honoured’Queen, with singer Adam Lambert, opened the performances with stomping renditions of “We Will Rock You”, “Don’t Stop Me Now” and “We Are The Champions”.“It’s wonderful to be back,” guitarist Brian May told the BBC beforehand, in a nod to one of the most enduring images from the 2002 jubilee, playing “God Save the Queen” on the roof of Buckingham Palace.Italian opera star Bocelli then shone in a solo performance, while Motown legend Ross closed the event with her first stage appearance in Britain in 15 years, ahead of an appearance at Glastonbury Festival this month.Other performers included Rod Stewart, who sang the Neil Diamond hit “Sweet Caroline”, and the UK’s Eurovision 2022 runner-up Sam Ryder.Elton John pre-recorded a poignant rendition of “Your Song” while David Beckham, James Bond actor Daniel Craig and former US First Lady Michelle Obama were among others to record tributes.“I feel deeply honoured to have spent time with you over the years,” said Obama, recalling her own nervousness visiting Buckingham Palace and thanking the queen for “your remarkable example”.Harry absentThe palace was majestically illuminated through the evening, including with a message from natural history broadcaster David Attenborough and accompanying video featuring the queen.Charles, 73, and his eldest son, Prince William, 39, as well as William’s two eldest children, George, 8, and seven-year-old Charlotte, joined flag-waving dignitaries in the royal box at the concert.The Duke of Cambridge used his speech to commend the queen’s commitment to conservation and tackling climate change.Prince Harry and wife Meghan, who quit British royal life for California in January 2020 but are visiting for the jubilee, were notably absent.The couple marked their second child Lilibet’s first birthday Saturday.Sheeran SundayBritain made Thursday and Friday public holidays to mark the royal milestone, which has focused attention on the monarchy’s future without the queen.Longer pub opening hours, street parties and other celebratory events have temporarily lifted the gloom of a soaring cost-of-living crisis.Jubilee events began with Thursday’s pomp-filled Trooping the Colour military parade while Friday saw a traditional Church of England service led by senior royals – and included Harry and Meghan – in St Paul’s Cathedral.Sunday will see millions of people share food at “Big Jubilee Lunch” picnics and take part in a musical and creative public pageant with a cast of 10,000.Ed Sheeran will round off the celebrations Sunday, singing his 2017 hit “Perfect”.


Families flee Hong Kong for UK, fearing stronger Beijing crackdown

Thousands of Hong Kongers have already made the decision to leave behind their home and move to Britain since Beijing imposed a strict national security law on the Chinese territory last summer.The numbers are expected to soon swell to the hundreds of thousands.Some are leaving because they fear punishment for supporting the pro-democracy protests that swept the former British colony in 2019. Others say China’s encroachment on their way of life and civil liberties has become unbearable, and they want to seek a better future for their children abroad.Most say they don’t plan to ever go back.Five million Hong Kongers are eligible to apply for visas to Britain, allowing them to live, work and study there and eventually apply to become British citizens.Mike, a photojournalist who agreed to speak on the condition that he only be identified by his first name out of fear of official retaliation, said he plans to apply for the visa and move to Leeds with his wife and young daughter in April.His motivation to leave Hong Kong came after the city’s political situation deteriorated following the anti-government protests and he realised that the city’s police force was not politically neutral.Mike told the AP that moving to Britain was necessary as he believes the education system in Hong Kong will be affected by the political situation and it will be better for his daughter to study in Britain.Barriers to living in Britain are now extremely low, with no language or education qualification requirements. British National Overseas passport holders only need to prove that they have enough money to support themselves for six months and prove that they are clear of tuberculosis.Many have already arrived in Britain to get a head start.Cindy, a Hong Kong businesswoman and the mother of two young children, arrived in London last week. She told the AP it was important to move quickly as she feared Beijing would soon move to halt the exodus.Beijing has already said it will no longer recognise the British National Overseas passport as a travel document or form of identification, and criticised Britain’s citizenship offer as a move that “seriously infringed” on China’s sovereignty.China drastically hardened its stance on Hong Kong after the 2019 protests turned violent and plunged the city into a months-long crisis. Since the security law’s enactment, dozens of pro-democracy activists have been arrested, and the movement’s young leaders have either been jailed or fled abroad.“This is a really unique emigration wave – some people haven’t had time to actually visit the country they’re relocating to. Many have no experience of living abroad,” said Miriam Lo, who runs Excelsior UK, a relocation agency. “And because of the pandemic, they couldn’t even come over to view a home before deciding to buy.”