Govt urged to help as bosses brace for longer maternity leave

When Mohd Azfar Zahari had his first child four years ago, he took no leave at all but continued working as usual at a pharmacy in the capital city.
This year, he and his wife are expecting their second child and he is torn over whether to take paternity leave this time around.
He is worried about how his wife will handle things without his help but does not know if an application for paternity leave will be approved.
"It will depend on my boss," he said. "If I really want time off for the baby, I might have to take unpaid leave."
But going five days to a week without salary will take a heavy toll on his monthly income.
In June, the human resources ministry said the Employment (Amendment) Act 2022 would take effect from September onwards.
Changes include an extension of maternity leave from 60 to 90 days, restrictions on the retrenchment of pregnant workers, and the introduction of paternity leave for male employees.
These amendments had been eagerly awaited, especially by couples and working parents.
And with the maximum number of weekly working hours expected to drop from 48 to 45, Malaysia could also see itself removed, at least to some extent, from its position as one of the countries with the most weekly working hours in the world.
'No choice'
The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) said employers would have no choice but to implement the changes laid out in the provisions of the act.
MEF president Syed Hussain Syed Husman said this would involve higher costs due to the increase granted for sick leave, maternity leave and paternity leave, and the reduction of working hours.
"Employers will also have to bear the costs of workers taking emergency leave, unpaid leave or skipping work without reasonable cause, which will result in a drop in productivity and financial losses," he told MalaysiaNow.
The cost of the 90-day maternity leave, for example, would be fully borne by employers, he said.
In other Asean countries, he said, the cost was shared with social security organisations.
In Thailand, for instance, for maternity leave exceeding 45 days, up to 50% of the cost is borne by the social security organisation for a maximum of two births.
"The same goes in Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia where social security groups take on part of the cost of maternity leave," Syed Hussain said.
In Singapore, meanwhile, for the first two births, the cost of maternity leave for 60 days is borne by the employer and the remaining 28 days by the government.
For subsequent births, all 12 weeks of maternity leave are borne by the government.  In the Malaysian contest, Syed Hussain said, it would help if the government considered funding part of the cost for maternity and paternity leave through the social security system or the Employment Insurance System.
Ready for amendments?
Analyst Lee Min Hui of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies said the amendments to the Employment Act were an important step towards ensuring a "family-friendly" work environment.
However, she acknowledged concerns that the act, if not correctly implemented, would hamper the intended progress.
When employers bear the full cost of maternity leave, Lee said, they might decide against hiring or promoting female workers due to their perceived burden of obligations.
A lack of workplace or organisational support could also hinder fathers from taking paternity leave due to the fear of hurting their careers, she said.
She said both forms of discrimination were the norm in many countries, even those seen as more progressive.
"If Malaysia wants to see real progress on this front, it should establish laws to prevent discrimination in recruitment, to keep women from being discriminated against prior to employment," she said.
"The government should also ensure the proper enforcement of the Employment Act. Explore new ways of financing parental leave to ensure sustainability, especially for smaller companies.
"The new laws may be progressive, but poor implementation on the ground could hurt employees, both women and men."


DAP leader hits out at Noor Hisham over ‘personal preferences’, ‘blind spots’

A senior DAP leader has criticised Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, suggesting that the health director-general has shown weaknesses in the country’s war against Covid-19.“To make matters worse, Noor Hisham’s blind spots and personal preferences – such as his aversion to using rapid test kits, not testing contacts without symptoms and focus on a health ministry-dominated approach – have become even more apparent amid the latest wave of contagion,” said DAP central committee member Liew Chin Tong in an opinion piece published by the South China Morning Post, attacking the government’s handling of the latest surge of infections.Last year, Noor Hisham cautioned that rapid test kits to detect the virus could produce false results. Last week, he said such a method should be performed within the first five to seven days following the onset of symptoms for best results.Liew, who was made a senator in 2018 following his election defeat in order to be appointed as a deputy to then-defence minister Mohamad Sabu, also claimed that the government’s “over-dependence on Noor Hisham” had contributed to the problems in fighting the pandemic.He also said Malaysia’s war against Covid-19 “was not as aggressive as some of its neighbours” in trying to procure vaccines.He added that Noor Hisham’s leadership in the early stages of the pandemic had resulted in “performance legitimacy” to Prime Minister Muhiyiddin Yassin.Liew said Noor Hisham had been “lukewarm” about using rapid test kits for mass testing, adding that the authorities still do not test contacts without symptoms.“Due to the recent spike and constrained by limited human resources, it has also practically abandoned contact tracing,” he said.He then referred to Malaysia’s administrative structure, which does not decentralise matters of health to state governments.“Hospitals across the country are under the stewardship of one man: the health director-general,” he added.Last year, Chinese international channel China Global TV Network picked Noor Hisham as one of three leading doctors in the worldwide fight against Covid-19, along with his counterpart from New Zealand Ashley Bloomfield and US presidential adviser on health, Dr Anthony Fauci.


Umno to use 'dacing' symbol for state polls

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has confirmed that party candidates will use the "dacing" symbol for the elections in six states.
The deputy prime minister said the other parties in the coalition government would be using their own symbols for their candidates.
"Nonetheless, we will be mobilised as one machinery among the parties in the unity government," he told reporters after in Kuala Nerus yesterday.
On the allocation of seats, Zahid, who is also Barisan Nasional chairman, said Umno had yet to formally discuss the matter with other parties in the government.


UK economy rebounds by record 7.5% from pandemic in 2021

Britain’s economy grew by a record 7.5% last year on easing Covid curbs after a pandemic-driven collapse, official data showed Friday, but analysts warned that sky-high inflation clouds the 2022 outlook.The expansion, which was the fastest since records began in 1948, followed a record 9.4% slump in 2020, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) added in a statement.Economies across the world were slammed in 2020 by the deadly pandemic, which sparked lockdowns and other public health restrictions that have since been largely removed.The ONS added Friday that the UK economy increased by 1.0% in the fourth quarter despite the emergence of the Omicron Covid variant, matching its expansion in the third quarter.December hit by OmicronHowever, gross domestic product dipped 0.2% in December on fallout from the rapid spread of Omicron – which is widely regarded as less dangerous than previous variants but hit the travel sector.“GDP fell back slightly in December as the Omicron wave hit, with retail and hospitality seeing the biggest impacts,” said ONS director of economic statistics Darren Morgan.“However, these were partially offset by increases in the Test and Trace service and vaccination programmes.“Despite December’s setback, GDP grew robustly across the fourth quarter as a whole with the NHS (National Health Service), couriers and employment agencies all helping to support the economy,” added Morgan.December activity held at its February 2020 level, before Covid struck.Yet the fourth quarter of 2021 was slightly below that of the same period in 2019.‘Remarkably resilient’British Finance Minister Rishi Sunak welcomed the data.“The economy has been remarkably resilient; with the UK seeing the fastest growth in the G7 last year,” he said in a statement, noting it was boosted by the government’s vast stimulus measures and speedy vaccination drive.“I’m proud of the resolve the whole country has demonstrated, and proud of our incredible vaccine programme which has allowed the economy to stay open.”The UK government is plotting the nation’s full emergence from the long-running health emergency.England will scrap the legal requirement to self-isolate after testing positive for Covid-19 later this month if infection levels remain stable, Prime Minister Boris Johnson unexpectedly announced Wednesday.The proposed move would be one of the most dramatic easings of coronavirus rules taken by any country so far in the pandemic, as Johnson doubles down on a strategy of trying to “live with Covid”.England in late January lifted almost all remaining Covid restrictions that had been reimposed in early December to tackle Omicron.Cost of living crisisDespite Friday’s bright data, economists warn the UK outlook is darkened by a cost of living crisis that has been fuelled by rocketing domestic energy costs.Economies worldwide are battling decades-high inflation that is forcing central banks to lift interest rates, including the Bank of England which this month raised its key borrowing cost for the second time in a row.Britain is experiencing the highest rate of annual inflation in nearly 30 years, while the cost of living is set to soar further from April owing to a tax hike on UK workers and businesses plus increases in energy bills.“While the downside risks from Omicron have receded, the recovery now faces the more conventional economic challenge of high inflation,” said EY ITEM Club economist Martin Beck.“Consumers (are) facing the biggest squeeze on spending power in more than a decade,” he added.UK annual inflation struck 5.4% in December, stoking fears of a cost-of-living squeeze as wages fail to keep pace.The BoE this month hiked interest rates to 0.50% – and forecast inflation would peak at 7.25 percent in April.


Najib-Anwar debate just unnecessary limelight for a ‘future prisoner’?

Analysts have played down tonight’s debate between Najib Razak and Anwar Ibrahim, saying it will only give the duo unnecessary attention, especially former prime minister Najib who has been found guilty of corruption and is appealing his conviction.The two, who had been trading blows on social media over Sapura Energy Bhd, are slated to debate on the troubled oil and gas services company as well as “the future of Malaysia” in a live-streamed event.This was after PKR’s Rafizi Ramli criticised Najib for proposing that the government help Sapura, which recently announced a loss of RM8.9 billion, including in the form of a takeover of the company by national oil firm Petronas.MalaysiaNow previously reported that the prospect of a debate appeared to have stirred little excitement, with observers questioning the relevance of such a discussion given the duo’s political trajectory.Najib has been convicted and sentenced over RM42 million related to SRC International channelled into his private accounts.Anwar, meanwhile, has been seen as losing his influence in PKR and Pakatan Harapan (PH) following his party’s poor performance at three consecutive state elections in Melaka, Sarawak and Johor.His candidacy as PH’s prospective prime minister has also caused division among the coalition’s component parties.Political observer Azizi Safar described the debate as an opportunity for both politicians to gain attention and shore up their support.“A comeback? Not for Najib, as long as his jail sentence is not lifted by the court,” he told MalaysiaNow.“Anwar, on the other hand, has not held real power since he was sacked as deputy prime minister by Umno in 1998,” he added.Azizi, the former Penang Barisan Nasional executive secretary, does not believe that many will bother following the debate.“One former prisoner, another future prisoner – their status is not relevant,” he said.“This debate is happening because of Najib’s haste in dragging Anwar into his problems with Rafizi.”He added that Najib should have sent his one-time officer Isham Jalil to debate with Rafizi instead of bringing in Anwar, who had been waiting for an opportunity to take on the former prime minister.Najib, during his time in Putrajaya, had dodged a challenge to debate ahead of the general election, saying debates were not part of Malaysian political culture.Political analyst Mujibu Abd Muis however took a different view of the matter. Speaking to MalaysiaNow, he said the debate and the sentence handed to Najib were two different things.He said the debate would lead to an exchange of ideas and opinions on the topic at hand.“A Najib-Anwar debate would be the best given their experience, credibility and authority as leaders who have held the positions of finance minister, prime minister and deputy prime minister,” Mujibu, of Universiti Teknologi Mara, added.Muis also said it was up to individual politicians whether they wished to associate themselves with Najib.Across the way in Sarawak, the upcoming debate appears to have made barely a ripple.Parti Bumi Bersatu vice-president Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said it would only involve “peninsular politics”.“I can’t comment much on it,” he added. “If they feel that a debate will help their political struggle, by all means.”For their part, Karim said, Gabungan Parti Sarawak would not side with either leader.Parti Rakyat Sarawak youth leader Snowdan Ladan agreed, saying Sarawak has difficulty understanding politics in the peninsula.“I’m just going to sit back with some popcorn,” he said.


Dr M says Pejuang won’t sign ‘bribery’ deal with govt

Pejuang chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad says his bloc will not join Pakatan Harapan (PH) in signing the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government as there are elements of “bribery” in the agreement.The Langkawi MP said opposition parties should be free to criticise the government in the democratic system.“We find it inappropriate to participate in this because we will get certain things in return, as this appears to have elements of bribery in it – we support you if you give us such and such,” he said at a press conference in Langkawi today.“It would be a different story if we had a unity government. A unity government is not an agreement but everyone has the same power.”The MoU was signed by MPs from PN and PH in a move described by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob as “consultative democracy”.The agreement was signed by Ismail and top PH leaders Anwar Ibrahim, Mohamad Sabu, Lim Guan Eng and Upko’s Wilfred Madius Tangau.However, Pejuang and Sabah-based Warian rejected the agreement, saying they had not been consulted ahead of time.Mahathir’s remarks followed those of DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang who yesterday urged Pejuang, Warisan and Muda to join PH in signing the MoU.Kit Siang also stressed the need for a “political ceasefire” to reset the focus on winning the battle against Covid-19.Mahathir said today that if the government wishes to provide facilities of any sort, these should be given to all MPs in the opposition.“Don’t only choose those who have promised their support,” he said. “This is why Pejuang decided that we will not involve ourselves in this.“We will remain independent and we will be the opposition, and there will be no quid pro quo agreement with the government of we give, they give,” he added.


'We didn't want to overthrow govt', Wagner leader says in first comments since mutiny

Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Monday that a one-day mutiny by his Wagner force had been intended not to overthrow Russia's government but to register a protest over what he said was its ineffectual conduct of the war in Ukraine.
In his first public comments since ending the mutiny late on Saturday, Prigozhin repeated his frequent claim that Wagner was the most effective fighting force in Russia "and even the world", and that it put to shame the units that Moscow had sent into Ukraine on Feb 24, 2022.
He said the way it had been able to seize the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don without bloodshed and to send an armed convoy to within 200km of Moscow had been testament to the effectiveness of his fighters.
"We showed a master class, as it should have been on Feb 24, 2022. We did not have the goal of overthrowing the existing regime and the legally elected government," he said in an 11-minute audio message released on the Telegram messaging app.
Prigozhin renewed an allegation, so far unsupported by evidence, that the Russian military had attacked a Wagner camp with missiles and then helicopters, killing about 30 of its men, and said this had been the immediate trigger for what he called a "march of justice".
Averting bloodshed
Wagner stopped its advance towards Moscow at the moment when it realised that it would have to confront waiting Russian troops, and that blood would inevitably be shed, he said, reiterating an assertion he made on Saturday.
Prigozhin, a former close ally of President Vladimir Putin, stressed that Wagner had not spilt a drop of blood on the ground during its northward march, but regretted that his fighters had had to kill Russian servicemen who attacked their convoy from helicopters.
He also once more complained about a military order that all volunteer units including Wagner are meant to sign by July 1 placing themselves under the control of Russia's Defence Ministry.
Fewer than 2% of Wagner's men have signed up, Prigozhin added.
"The aim of the march was to avoid the destruction of Wagner," he said.
In the recording, Prigozhin did not address any of the questions still surrounding the agreement brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko that brought the mutiny to an end.
The Kremlin said on Saturday that the deal had included dropping a criminal case against Prigozhin and his moving to Belarus.
Prigozhin, who was last seen in public being driven in a sport utility vehicle out of Rostov-on-Don on Saturday evening, did not say where he was when he recorded his statement.


Despite world-beating growth, India's lack of jobs threatens its young

On a hot summer afternoon, 23-year old Nizamudin Abdul Rahim Khan is playing cricket on a muddy, unpaved road in the Rafiq Nagar slum in India's financial capital, Mumbai.
Here, there is scant evidence of India's fast-growing economy. Bordering what was once Asia largest garbage dumping ground, Rafiq Nagar and surrounding areas are home to an estimated 800,000 people, most living in tiny rooms across narrow, dark alleys.
The young men and women in the area struggle to find jobs or work, and they mostly dawdle the day away, said Naseem Jafar Ali, who works with an NGO in the area.
India's urban unemployment soared during the Covid-19 pandemic, reaching a high of 20.9% in the April-June 2020 quarter, while wages fell. While the unemployment rate has fallen since, fewer full-time jobs are available.
Economists say more and more job-seekers, especially the young, are looking for low-paid casual work or falling back on unreliable self-employment, even though the broader Indian economy is seen growing at a world-beating 6.5% in the financial year ending in March 2024.
India is overtaking China to become the world's most populous nation with over 1.4 billion people. Nearly 53% of them are under 30, its much-touted demographic dividend, but without jobs, tens of millions of young people are becoming a drag on the economy.
"Unemployment is only the tip of the iceberg. What remains hidden beneath is the serious crisis of underemployment and disguised unemployment," said Radhicka Kapoor, fellow at economic research agency ICRIER.
Khan for instance, offers himself as casual labour for home repairs or construction, earning just about US$122 (about RM560) a month to help support his father and his four sisters. "If I get a permanent job, then there will be no problem," he says.
The risk for India is a vicious cycle for the economy. Falling employment and earnings undermine India’s chances to fuel the economic growth needed to create jobs for its young and growing population.
Economist Jayati Ghosh calls the country's demographic dividend "a ticking time-bomb."
"The fact that we have so many people who have been educated, have spent a lot of their own or family's money but are not being able to find the jobs they need, that's horrifying," she said.
"It's not just the question of potential loss to the economy... it is a lost generation."
Small business collapse
Unemployment is far more acute in India's cities, where the cost of living is high and there is no back-up in the form of a jobs guarantee programme which the government offers in rural areas. Still many in the army of rural unemployed flock to the cities to find jobs.
While urban unemployment was at 6.8% in the January-March quarter, the share of urban workers with full-time jobs has declined to 48.9% as of December 2022 from an already low 50.5% just before the start of the pandemic, government data shows.
This means that of the estimated urban workforce of about 150 million, only 73 million have full-time jobs.
For people in urban areas with full time jobs, average monthly wages, adjusted for inflation, stood at US$212 in the April-June 2022 quarter - the latest period for which government data is available.
This was a modest 1.2% higher than the October-December 2019 period, before the start of the pandemic.
But for the self-employed, incomes have fallen to US$178.67 in the April-June 2022 quarter, according to research by Ghosh and CP Chandrashekhar, both at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. It was at 15,247 rupees in the October-December 2019 quarter.
"The big thing that has happened is the collapse of small businesses, which were the backbone of employment," said Ghosh.
Since the Indian government's decision to demonetise 86% of the country's currency in circulation in 2016, there have seen continuous attacks on the viability of small business, with the pandemic being the latest, she said.
Over 10,000 micro, small and medium enterprises shut in 2022-23 (April-March) alone, the government said in parliament in February. In the previous year, over 6,000 such units had shut. But the government did not specify whether any new enterprises were set up in those periods.
Graduate painter
Many families in Khan's neighbourhood, typical of the urban sprawl in the city of 21 million, have been hit by job losses and lower incomes in recent years. Young workers are particularly vulnerable.
Arshad Ali Ansari, a 22-year-old student, said he saw his brother and sister lose their jobs soon after the start of the pandemic.
Sitting in a single-room with a kitchen attached, where his family of eight lives, Ansari said they survive on his 60-year old father's earnings of about 20,000 rupees a month.
His brother, who was a graduate and had worked in a bank, lost his job during the pandemic and had to join their father in painting houses.
"My brother had education, he had experience," Ansari said.
His sister, once a social worker, also lost her job and has given up hope of finding one.
India will need to create 70 million new jobs over the next ten years, wrote Pranjul Bhandari, chief India economist at HSBC, in a note earlier this month. But only 24 million will likely be created, leaving behind "46 million missing jobs."
"From that lens, a growth rate of 6.5% will solve a third of India’s jobs problem," Bhandari wrote.


91.5% of adults, 67.8% of population fully jabbed

A total of 22,146,626 people or 91.5% of the adult population had been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as of yesterday.Meanwhile, 24,715,782 or 95.1% have received at least one jab, including of the single-dose CanSino vaccine.In terms of total population, 67.8% are fully vaccinated while 75.7% have received at least one dose.Kelantan and Sabah remain below the 80% full vaccination level for adults at 75.1% and 67.5% respectively.A total of 128,347 doses of vaccine were administered yesterday, taking the cumulative number of jabs given under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme to 46,761,751.


Google it, Khairy tells Najib as he answers claims of ‘slow vaccination’

The minister in charge of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) today denied claims by former prime minister Najib Razak that Malaysia is lagging behind other countries in achieving herd immunity.Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin also rejected an assertion by Najib that the government had made an about-turn in allowing the private sector to help authorities in administering the vaccines to the masses.“From the very beginning, PICK had planned to involve private health services. This is also stated in the PICK handbook. Perhaps you did not read the guidebook to the end.“I have also stated this repeatedly through briefings, press releases and media conferences. You can Google if you have overlooked,” Khairy said in a response posted on Najib’s Facebook page.Najib, who frequently criticises government policies through Facebook posts, had predicted that based on the current rate of vaccination, Malaysia could only achieve its target of 80% herd immunity by March next year.He cited as examples the vaccination drives in Singapore and Indonesia, as well as the US and Britain, saying they had managed to cover far more people than Malaysia.But Khairy said Najib’s statement contained several factual errors, including the total number of days since the launch of Malaysia’s vaccination programme.He said the slower rate for the first phase of the vaccination programme was because the bulk of those receiving the shots are frontliners.“Therefore, the administration of vaccines to this group should be done in stages to ensure no disruption to their essential duties,” said Khairy.He said the vaccination drive is expected to accelerate in subsequent phases, alongside an increase in the number of vaccination centres, more deliveries of vaccines and approval by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency.Still, Khairy said, Malaysia’s average daily vaccination rate is 12,797 people, higher than Singapore’s 9,906, based on the number of days since the two countries rolled out their immunisation programmes.“As such, your comparison is unfair as it does not take into account the number of days the vaccination programme has taken place,” said Khairy.On Najib’s call for the government to speed up vaccination by having drive-thru centres, Khairy said this was already in the pipeline.“So don’t worry, this plan is already in place,” he said, adding that authorities must also take into account factors such as the after-effects of immunisation, logistics and varying protocols for different types of vaccines.


Maskless World Cup scenes spark anger in zero-Covid China

Images of maskless crowds at the World Cup in Qatar have sparked anger in China, where people worn out by harsh Covid-19 restrictions are questioning their government's exceptional approach while the rest of the world lives alongside the virus.
China is the last major economy still attempting to stamp out the domestic spread of Covid-19, and has continued to shut down entire cities, seal off neighbourhoods and impose mandatory tests on millions.
Driven by the fast-spreading Omicron variant, daily cases in the country hit 29,157 on Wednesday – low compared to most other countries but nearing the domestic record set earlier this year.
Authorities have put more than a quarter of the Chinese population under some form of lockdown as of Tuesday, according to Nomura analysts – a contrast with the raucous World Cup crowds that have infuriated many Chinese social media users.
"Some people are watching World Cup matches in person with no masks, some have been locked at home for a month, locked on campus for two months without even being able to step out the door," a Guangdong-based user on the Twitter-like Weibo platform wrote on Wednesday.
"Who has stolen my life? I won't say."
Another Weibo user from Shaanxi province said they were "disappointed" in their country.
"The World Cup has allowed most Chinese people to see the real situation abroad, and worry about the economy of the motherland, and their own youth," the user wrote.
An open letter questioning the country's Covid-19 policies and asking if China was "on the same planet" as Qatar spread on the popular WeChat messaging app on Tuesday, before censors removed it from the platform.
World Cup matches are aired in China by state-owned CCTV – the same broadcaster that has bombarded domestic audiences with negative reports of mass deaths and chaos caused by Covid in geopolitical rival the US.
"Nigeria's anti-epidemic work has clear results... we don't learn from Nigeria, and only look at US data, what is the real meaning of this for our epidemic prevention?" the open letter asked.
Public anger over the seemingly arbitrary restrictions and sudden disruptions has recently erupted in rare protests, including in southern China's Guangzhou this month where hundreds of residents took to the streets in defiance of a compulsory lockdown.


US court suspends Biden vaccine mandate for businesses

A US federal appeals court Saturday halted a vaccine mandate by President Joe Biden’s administration that is intended to push millions of workers at businesses with more than 100 employees into getting Covid-19 shots.The New Orleans-based US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit said that because petitioners “give cause to believe there are grave statutory and constitutional issues with the Mandate, the Mandate is hereby STAYED pending further action by this court.”The traditionally conservative court ordered the government to reply to the motion for a permanent injunction by 5pm Monday.Petitioners include five strongly Republican US states – Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina, Utah and Mississippi – as well as several private companies and religious groups.If upheld, the suspension would represent a stunning setback to one of Biden’s most far-reaching and high-impact efforts to secure the widespread immunisation of American workers ahead of a winter when a resurgence of Covid-19 is expected.‘Abuse of authority’There was no immediate reaction from the Biden administration.But Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a conservative Republican who has opposed mask and vaccine mandates, applauded the decision in a post on Twitter.“Emergency hearings will take place soon,” he said. “We will have our day in court to strike down Biden’s unconstitutional abuse of authority.”Vaccine mandates have a long history in the US, but have generally been issued by cities or states.At issue here is the constitutionality of a US president issuing such a sweeping nationwide mandate.Texas attorney general Ken Paxton, among those filing suit to block the Biden mandate, said Saturday on CNN that the president had exceeded his authority.“The fight is not over,” Paxton tweeted earlier, “and I will never stop resisting this Admin’s unconstitutional overreach!”Where mandates workedAround 58% of the total US population was fully vaccinated as of early November, up from half in August as mandates began to be announced.Biden on Thursday had set a Jan 4 deadline for employees in large companies to be fully vaccinated – a rule the administration said would affect more than two-thirds of the country’s workforce.“Vaccination is the single best pathway out of this pandemic,” he said.“Businesses have more power than ever before to accelerate our path out of this pandemic, save lives, and protect our economic recovery.”Mandates announced earlier by several major employers have had impressive results.They included United Airlines, which told its 67,000 US-based staff to get the jab or face termination.By Thursday, 2,000 had sought medical or religious exemptions and all but a handful of the rest had complied.Tyson Foods, one of the biggest meatpacking companies in the world, announced in August that all of its 120,000 staff would need to be vaccinated.Around 96 percent have fallen into line, the New York Times reported.The US military, which has told all serving personnel they must be vaccinated – or face consequences – reports rates above 95 percent in all services.


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PN MP apologises after linking Menu Rahmah to diseases

Kapar MP Dr Halimah Ali today apologised if her statement on Rahmah Menu in the Dewan Rakyat had been misleading or misunderstood.
Halimah, who is an MP of Perikatan Nasional, delivered her statement in the form of a poem before the debate session on the Supply Bill 2023.
"Kalau ada jarum peniti, jangan disimpan di dalam peti, andai ada ucapan disalah erti, saya menyusun 10 jari, niat di hati suara rakyat saya juarai, semak imbang kerajaan Madani, biar integriti, bukankah itu peranan hakiki.
"As elected representatives of the people, please refer to the Hansard on pages 134 to 137 on Feb 14," she said.
Dr Kelvin Yii (PH-Bandar Kuching) had raised the issue under Standing Order 36 (12), following Halimah's remarks on Feb 14 when debating the motion of thanks for the royal address, in which she had linked Rahmah Menu to several diseases, especially cancer, autoimmune diseases and autism.
Yii said the statement was untrue and irresponsible as it was not based on facts or science and could result in misunderstanding or the stigmatisation of people with disabilities.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul said the statement read by Halimah had been agreed upon between them both, adding that the case was considered closed.


1MDB set up as BN political fund, ex-top civil servant tells Najib trial

Former chief secretary to the government Mohd Sidek Hassan told the Kuala Lumpur High Court today that according to his understanding, strategic investment company 1MDB was set up as a political fund for the ruling party at the time, Barisan Nasional.Sidek, 71, said that as such, he had never asked former prime minister Najib Razak or any party in 1MDB about the problems in the company.He said the issues that troubled 1MDB were only known to him through the mass media such as newspapers and the internet, adding that he was aware that they were related to allegations of misuse of funds.“I was also aware from newspaper reports that investigations into 1MDB were being conducted by local agencies such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), but I was never briefed or given further details on them.“I can confirm that Najib, as prime minister (then), never informed me of issues in 1MDB although I had been appointed as a member of the 1MDB board of advisers.“I also never asked Najib why there were no 1MDB board of advisers meetings held throughout my time as a member and (why) no 1MDB representatives had reported to me on operations and investments made by the company,” he said.Sidek said this when reading his witness statement during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Mustaffa P Kunyalam at Najib’s trial over the misappropriation of RM2.3 billion in funds from 1MDB.Meanwhile, the 19th prosecution witness said he was of the opinion that his appointment as a member of the 1MDB board of advisers was only to supplement his income as chief secretary to the government, which he said according to Najib was considered low.“When Najib was prime minister, he once asked me about my salary as chief secretary to the government, and he felt that it was quite low,” Sidek, who held the post of chief secretary to the government from September 2006 to June 2012, added.On his appointment as a member of the 1MDB advisory board, Sidek said it was made official through a letter issued by Najib dated Aug 30, 2012.“Although I was appointed as a member of the 1MDB advisory board, I was never involved in any meetings or discussions on the company’s issues and was never invited to attend 1MDB’s annual meetings.“I also never asked Najib or 1MDB to be appointed as a member of this advisory board,” he said.Sidek said he received an allowance of RM30,000 per month throughout his initial tenure as a member of the 1MDB advisory board.“After I retired as chief secretary to the government, I was still receiving an allowance of RM10,000 per month until I no longer held this position in June 2015,” he said.Sidek said that on June 2, 2016, he received a letter from 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy informing him that the 1MDB advisory board had been dissolved.“I was not informed through this letter about why the 1MDB advisory board was dissolved and I also did not know why it was dissolved. I did not ask Najib and 1MDB why the advisory board was dissolved,” he said.Najib, 68, faces four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.


Dozens dead in IS militant assault in Mozambique

Dozens of people are dead following an attack on the town of Palma in northern Mozambique, according to a spokesman from the country’s defence department.Seven were killed trying to escape a siege on a hotel, said Omar Saranga, and hundreds of others, both locals and foreigners, were reportedly rescued.The area has been under attack by Islamist militants since Wednesday. Witnesses have described hiding out while waiting to be rescued by boat, on a beach strewn with headless bodies.The attacks in Palma started just hours after the French energy company Total announced that it would resume work outside the town on its huge natural gas project at Afungi, near Mozambique’s northeastern border with Tanzania, the Associated Press reports.Rebel attacks prompted Total in January to suspend work on the project to extract gas from offshore sites.The Mozambican army has been fighting the rebels in several locations to regain control of Palma, Omar Saranga, a defence ministry spokesman, said Sunday in the capital of Maputo.Marine traffic websites showed many vessels around Palma, and the port of Pemba to the south, as people tried to escape by sea on any boat they could reach.One local told the BBC many who escaped the hotel in convoys hid at the beach overnight on Friday and were evacuated by boat on Saturday morning.One source close to the rescue operation said a boat with about 1,400 people on board had arrived in the port town of Pemba, about 250km south of Palma, on Sunday afternoon.Aid agencies said several more small boats packed with displaced people were en route to Pemba and likely to arrive overnight or on Monday morning.The exact number of casualties in Palma, a town of about 75,000 people in Cabo Delgado province, is unclear. Many are still unaccounted for.The town and beaches are strewn with bodies “with heads and without”, according to a private security firm contracted by the Mozambique police in the area.Hundreds of people fled the fighting, running into forests, mangroves or nearby villages.More than 100 Total workers and civilians took refuge in the town’s Amarula Palma hotel.Some tried to escape the hotel in a convoy of vehicles on Friday, aiming for a nearby beach. At least 20 people were reportedly flown to safety in helicopters, but others were ambushed outside the hotel.Northern Mozambique has been torn apart by an insurgency since 2017.Militants linked to the Islamic State group are behind the conflict in the predominantly Muslim region of Cabo Delgado. The fighting has left more than 2,500 people dead and 700,000 displaced.


Syed Saddiq, a one-hit wonder?

Back in February, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman announced that he would be leaving for Singapore to complete his studies. This meant that he would not be able to serve his constituents in Muar for the foreseeable future. In an attempt to reduce the backlash and appease the people, he also announced that he would not be taking his monthly salary as an elected representative and would donate it to the people of Muar.A noble act, indeed. But is it enough? Ever since he set foot in Singapore, he has been posting consistently on his social media accounts of luncheons and meetings with various Singaporean political and corporate figures. One can only wonder what sort of conversations are going on, and if they are relevant to his studies.It is suspicious, to say the least, that these meetings would take precedence over his studies, as if he were trying to show off that he had the support of these politicians. Of course, this would be pointless as he is not an elected member of the Singapore Parliament.The bigger question is why does it look like he is on a month-long or maybe even longer holiday? The people have put their hopes and trust in Syed Saddiq, only for him to run off to Singapore and have a gala time. It is very worrying to see an elected representative at such a young age begin to shirk his responsibilities and instead enjoy the trappings of fame and status.Of course, being an elected representative is nothing glamourous. It is all tough work and despite all the effort, not everyone will be pleased. But surely this is what Syed Saddiq must have understood upon deciding to run for office. Perhaps he is no longer able to take the heat and has no choice but to retreat to a place where he can forget about his duties on the pretext of furthering his studies.This month, the youth in the country were dealt a severe blow when the Election Commission announced that the implementation of Undi 18 had been delayed to after September 2022. Politicians and activists from all sides came out to speak against the delay. This would have been a fantastic opportunity for Syed Saddiq to propel himself back into the limelight along with Muda.Instead, he was in Singapore posting about his daily runs and making friends with the otters of Marina Bay. Disappointing, to say the least, that the one person best positioned to fight for Undi 18 was nowhere to be found aside from a meagre social media post is something that will not sit well with the youth.It is time for other youth to rise up. The youth need a more assertive leader, someone who is more inclined and in-sync with their aspirations. Better yet, it would be a breath of fresh air to see the youth take up more seats in Parliament after the next general election. Forget Syed Saddiq, he is no more than a rehash of the old ways and simply a one-hit wonder.The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


Beijing shuts roads, playgrounds amid heavy smog after coal spike

Highways and school playgrounds in Beijing were closed Friday due to heavy pollution, as China ramps up coal production and faces scrutiny of its environmental record at make-or-break international climate talks.World leaders have gathered in Scotland this week for COP26 negotiations billed as one of the last chances to avert catastrophic climate change, though Chinese President Xi Jinping made a written address instead of attending in person.China – the world’s largest emitter of the greenhouse gases responsible for climate change – has ramped up coal output after supply chains in recent months were roiled by an energy crunch owing to strict emissions targets and record prices for the fossil fuel.A thick haze of smog blanketed swathes of northern China on Friday, with visibility in some areas reduced to less than 200m, according to the country’s weather forecaster.Authorities in Beijing blamed the pollution on “unfavourable weather conditions and regional pollution spread” as schools in the capital – which will host the Winter Olympics in February – were ordered to stop physical education classes and outdoor activities.Stretches of highways to major cities including Shanghai, Tianjin and Harbin were closed Friday due to poor visibility.Pollutants detected Friday morning by a monitoring station at the US embassy in Beijing reached levels defined as “very unhealthy” for the general population.Levels of small particulate matter, or PM 2.5, which penetrate deep into human lungs and cause respiratory illnesses hovered around 220 – far above the WHO recommended limit of 15.The smog is likely to persist until at least Saturday evening, according to city officials.China said earlier this week it had increased daily coal production by more than one million tonnes to ease an energy shortage that had forced factories to close in recent months.Rapid industrialisation has made China no stranger to air pollution, although severe smog episodes have become less frequent in recent years as authorities have increasingly prioritised environmental protection.Beijing has pledged to bring emissions of planet-heating carbon dioxide to a peak by 2030 and reduce them to net zero by 2060.China hit back Wednesday at criticism by Joe Biden, saying “actions speak louder than words” after the US president accused Beijing of not showing leadership to combat climate change.China generates about 60% of its energy from burning coal.


North Korea surged imports of Chinese masks, gloves before declaring Covid victory

North Korea imported more than one million facial masks and 15,000 pairs of rubber gloves from China in July, shortly before declaring victory over Covid-19, Chinese trade showed on Saturday.
Pyongyang last week declared victory over the coronavirus, ending a little-detailed fight against "fever" cases that had risen to 4.77 million. It has registered no new such cases since July 29.
Still, China exported 1.23 million facial masks to North Korea in July, worth US$44,307, surging from 17,000 the previous month, according to data released by Chinese customs.
From January to July, the last month for which data is available, the North bought more than 11.93 million masks from China, data showed.
North Korea did not import any Covid-19 prevention and control products from China in May, the data showed.
China's overall exports to North Korea surged to US$59.74 million in July from US$19.05 million in June.
Top exports were semi- or wholly milled rice, cigarettes, disodium carbonate and smoked sheets of natural rubber.
North Korea bought US$5.16 million worth of semi or wholly milled rice, US$1.98 million of soybean oil and fractions, and US$1.21 million of granulated sugar in July, the Chinese customs data showed.
China suspended cross-border freight train services with North Korea following consultations due to Covid-19 infections in its border city of Dandong, China's foreign ministry said on April 29.


Canada probes reports of Chinese 'police service stations' in Toronto

Canadian police said on Tuesday they were investigating reports of Chinese "police service stations" operating in the Greater Toronto Area for possible interference in Canadian interests and threats to national security.
Canada joins countries including the US and the Netherlands to launch such investigations after Safeguard Defenders, a Europe-based human rights organisation, published a report in September revealing the presence of dozens of Chinese police "service stations" in major cities around the world.
The stations are an extension of Beijing's efforts to pressure some Chinese nationals or their relatives abroad to return to China to face criminal charges, the report by Safeguard Defenders said.
It also linked them to activities of China's United Front Work Department, a Communist Party body charged with spreading its influence and propaganda overseas. China has denied the allegations.
"Our aim is to prevent intimidation, threats and harassment as well as any form of harm initiated on behalf of a foreign entity being applied to any community in Canada," the RCMP said in a statement. Greater Toronto Area is home to Toronto, Canada's financial capital and the most populous city.
The Chinese embassy in Ottawa did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
It has previously said that there are centres outside China run by local volunteers, not Chinese police officers, that aim to help Chinese citizens renew documents and offer other services that were disrupted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
While tensions between China and Canada have been running high for years, diplomatic strain came under a fresh spotlight recently when Chinese President Xi Jinping candidly called out the leaking of a conversation he had with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.


Bersatu man raps Ismail for 'cat and mouse game' over GE

Kedah Bersatu man Robert Ling Kui Ee today hit out at Ismail Sabri Yaakob over what he described as the "game of cat and mouse" the prime minister had played over the dissolution of Parliament when meeting with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong yesterday.
Ling, a state exco member, said Ismail should make up his mind about the issue.
Instead, he said, the prime minister had "played a fudging game of cat and mouse", distracting everyone from "the real business of government" to ensure economic stability and prepare for the end-year monsoon season in addition to the tabling Budget 2023 today.
"The prime minister should make up his mind and either dissolve Parliament or not," he said in a statement.
"If he wants to dissolve Parliament, then do it. Keeping everyone on tenterhooks is not governing. It is irresponsible and callous, and corrosive to our economy, our political stability and our nation's democracy.
"Ismail is the prime minister. He must start behaving like one and lead the nation, and stop playing cat and mouse."
Ismail, who has been under pressure from Umno leaders aligned with party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to dissolve Parliament and make way for the 15th general election, yesterday said that he might broach the topic during his audience with the Agong, fuelling further speculation about the prospect of early polls.
"Still unsure whether it will be brought up," he said. "If it takes too long to discuss Cabinet issues, it will be about Cabinet only."
He later had a 45-minute audience with Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, following which the palace issued a statement saying that it had been a routine weekly discussion to discuss government matters.


Mahathir discharged from hospital after elective procedure

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was discharged from the National Heart Institute (IJN) today, a week after being admitted for an elective procedure.IJN said in a statement that Mahathir had successfully undergone the procedure and was discharged at 3.45pm.“He will continue his recuperation and recovery process at home,” it said.Mahathir was admitted to IJN for the procedure on Jan 7, some three weeks after another admission for a full medical check-up.He was also admitted in 2013 and 2016 for the treatment of chest infections.


Agong’s signature not essential for revocation of ordinances, says former top judge

A prominent former Federal Court judge says it is not essential for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to sign off on a Cabinet decision to revoke the emergency ordinances, in what could be a constitutional solution to the current stalemate sparked by the palace’s refusal to consent to the move to end the state of emergency.Gopal Sri Ram said a precedent had been set in a landmark constitutional case some six decades ago.He referred to the 1963 case between the federal government and the state of Kelantan, where the presiding judge, then-chief justice of the Federal Court of Malaysia James Beveridge Thomson, had given his ruling which vested executive power in the Cabinet to act in the king’s name.“If you read carefully the judgment by Thomson in that case, it is clear that the Cabinet is vested with the ultimate authority in all things,” Sri Ram, who served in both the Court of Appeal and Federal Court where he delivered more than 800 judgments considered as leading legal authorities in Commonwealth courts, told MalaysiaNow.Yesterday in a statement to the media, Istana Negara revealed that the Agong had yet to give his consent to the Cabinet’s advice to revoke the emergency ordinances effective July 21, or the decision not to extend the emergency beyond the Aug 1 expiry date.The palace also said the Agong was disappointed that the government had announced the decision without putting the matter to debate in the Dewan Rakyat.In response, the Prime Minister’s Office detailed the series of meetings and communications involving the Cabinet and the Agong, rejecting claims that its revocation of the emergency ordinances were out of sync with procedures.The royal statement sparked calls by opposition leaders for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to step down, accusing him of committing “derhaka” or treachery.But Sri Ram said it would have no effect on the validity of the Cabinet’s decision in the event that the Agong still refused to sign off on it.“The Kelantan case says the signatures of three ministers are sufficient. It also holds that as the Cabinet executes in the name of the king, the formality of the king’s signature is not essential.”In the 1963 case, the state of Kelantan challenged the validity of the Malaysia Agreement (MA63), saying it should not be binding on it as it would abolish the earlier 1957 agreement which created the Federation of Malaya.Kelantan argued that MA63 had not obtained the consent of its ruler due to the changes in the constitution.In that case, Thomson held that MA63 was signed for the Federation of Malaya by the prime minister, the deputy prime minister, and four other members of the Cabinet.“There is nothing whatsoever in the constitution requiring consultation with any state government or the ruler of any state,” he said.


Twitter investors vote against re-electing Elon Musk ally to board

Twitter Inc investors blocked the re-election of an ally of Elon Musk to the board at an annual meeting on Wednesday that avoided the biggest question for the social media company: will it complete a US$44 billion sale to the billionaire.Investors voted against Egon Durban, the co-head of private equity firm Silver Lake, who partnered with Tesla CEO Musk on his abandoned bid to take the electric carmaker private.The rebuke of Durban, who joined the board in 2020, comes as uncertainty looms over the deal.Musk tweeted on May 13 that the Twitter deal was “temporarily on hold” while he sought more information about the proportion of fake accounts on Twitter.The company last week said it remained committed to the deal at the agreed price and on Wednesday said it would not answer questions about the deal at the virtual meeting.“The Twitter board has not embraced Elon Musk and his vision for Twitter. So the fact that his ally has been removed from the board is not surprising,” said Kim Forrest, chief investment officer at Bokeh Capital Partners in Pittsburgh.Twitter’s board initially voted to adopt a poison pill that limited Musk’s ability to raise his stake in the company, but later voted unanimously to accept his buyout offer.The vote could indicate skepticism among shareholders of Musk’s plan or his willingness to pay what he offered, but investors are expected to overwhelmingly approve the deal at another meeting yet to be scheduled.Some shareholders who filed proposals at the meeting appealed directly to Musk in their presentations.“Mr Musk, if you’re listening, we hope that you’ll join us in voting for this proposal,” said Ethan Peck, an associate at the National Center for Public Policy Research, which asked Twitter to commission an audit on its impact on civil rights.Investors voted in favor of creating reports on electoral spending and on risks of using concealment clauses, such as non-disclosure agreements, according to preliminary voting results from the meeting.Many advocates say that companies that aim to stop sexual harassment and similar issues should allow workers to discuss the matters in public, which is often impossible with concealment clauses.However, shareholders voted against annual elections for directors, or declassifying the board, which would make members more accountable to investor approval. The current terms are multi-year and staggered, preventing a sudden, major change.Shareholders followed management advice to vote against other proposals, including one that would commission a report on company lobbying expenditures.They re-elected Patrick Pichette, a general partner at Inovia Capital, to the board.


Life on death row in Singapore

It is appalling that Singapore wishes to execute prison inmates during the holy month of Ramadan. Yet this is nothing new. Last year, the Singapore Prison Service initially set the execution date for Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam when Deepavali was around the corner.There are other Malaysian inmates awaiting their death sentence in Changi prison. One of them is Datchana.Datchana was one of 12 inmates placed in a special punishment cell in 2019. Changi prison officers tricked him and the other death row inmates into shifting to another room by saying that they would be only placed in the smaller cells while a minor renovation took place. Therefore, the inmates agreed.Once they had shifted, the officers said they were not sure when the renovation would be over, and thus unsure of when they would be moved out from the punishment cells.These inmates are already traumatised by their death sentence, and the prison is making it worse by putting them in small, cramped cells.During this horrible time, Datchana’s health declined. His blood pressure increased, and his mind deteriorated. He was crying to his visiting family, saying that he couldn’t take it anymore and wanted to end his own life.These punishment cells are horrible. They are closed in by a solid metal door which gives no chance for these inmates to see or talk to other inmates. The estimated size of one punishment cell is only about 6×6 feet. The only fan available is outside the cells, in the corridor leading to the cells. Air can only come in through the food slot at the door. At night, the cell is very hot and humid.Inmates are only given one-inch thick blankets and a straw mat to sleep on. No mattresses and pillows are provided.There are two slots on the cell door and both slots are locked from the outside. The light bulb within the cells is yellow and dim. The cells are located in the middle of the building, thus there is no sunlight at all. In fact, the cell’s window is completely blocked by metal netting which allows no light from the outside to enter the cell.There is no hot water in the shower, and the shower water is also used for drinking.Datchana became mentally and emotionally distraught when he heard about the brutal execution method practised by the Singaporean government. Lawyers for Liberty, an NGO, has released a statement and filed an affidavit questioning the allegedly unlawful brutal execution methods but Singapore remains silent.These inmates are in danger of facing an unexpected painful death, but before that, it seems like their minds, body, and spirit will be broken into bits first.When Singapore lawyer M Ravi attempted to act on behalf of the death row inmates, the government of Singapore accused him of criminal charges, and now plans to confiscate his licence to practise in Singapore. Why can’t his questions be handled in a fair and sensible way?The stories of Datchana and the many others like him need to be known. Youngsters who might be easily swayed into crime need to know so that they don’t make the same mistake. The public and the government need to know so that they can demand reform and changes. At the very least, these stories should invoke sympathy and forgiveness for these inmates as they are victims who were manipulated into becoming drug mules.After all, forgiveness and mercy – isn’t that what every religion preaches?The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


High Court rules ex-AG Thomas did not charge Najib in bad faith

The Kuala Lumpur High Court has ruled that former attorney-general Tommy Thomas did not arbitrarily charge Najib Razak in bad faith but only upon receiving completed investigation papers from the investigating agencies.
Judge Ahmad Bache said only upon studying and satisfying himself of the evidence gathered did Thomas issue the consent to charge the former prime minister with 35 charges in four cases.
The cases involved 1MDB, International Petroleum Investment Company (Ipic), abuse of power under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and money laundering under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
Bache also said that the issue of "targeting the former prime minister or targeted malice" did not arise as it was Thomas' duty as the public prosecutor to charge Najib.
The judge said at the time that the suit was filed in 2021, the prosecution of the 35 charges in the four cases were still ongoing or pending, while Thomas had resigned on Feb 28, 2020. "Hence, he (Thomas) was not and will not be involved in the conduct of the proceedings of the 35 charges in the four cases in the first place, and there is no final determination on the four cases as yet," he said in his 37-page judgment dated Feb 28 in a suit filed by Najib against Thomas.
On Nov 25 last year, Bache allowed Thomas' application to strike out Najib's suit over alleged misfeasance in public office for prosecuting him on charges involving the 1MDB case.
The judge said to accede to the proposition that Thomas had committed all three torts or causes of action (misfeasance in public office, malicious abuse of process and negligence) in spite of his powers would also open the floodgates whereby all actions of the public prosecutor would be questioned.
He said it would also be open to public scrutiny, challenging the almost unfettered discretion conferred upon Thomas under Article 145 (3) of the Federal Constitution and his deputies to discharge their duties without fear or favour.
"Consequently, his deputy public prosecutors, too, would be afraid of preferring charges against suspects even though there might be overwhelming evidence, due to the risk of opening themselves up to civil suits.
"This would potentially lead to a significant escalation of criminal activities in the country. "Worst of all, it would invite an accused person to file a claim against the public prosecutor even before the proceeding commences or before they have been acquitted such as the present case before this court.
"This would obviously cause havoc and our criminal justice system would be in jeopardy," he said.
Bache said the public prosecutor and his deputies would then have to come to court in a full trial to testify and to explain each case, wasting his official time and public funds and seriously undermining the integrity of the institution of the attorney-general or public prosecutor altogether.
He said this was against public policy and in total contravention with established procedural laws and the Criminal Procedure Code.
"Hence, this should not be allowed and the claim should be struck out as it is frivolous, scandalous and vexatious.
"It will also set a bad and dangerous precedent whereby an accused person can file a claim against the attorney-general or public prosecutor for every acquittal," he said.
The judge said he was of the opinion that the act of the plaintiff in filing these claims could be seen as a collateral attack on the prosecution of the 35 criminal charges as the plaintiff was prematurely launching a civil action based on criminal charges which have yet to be determined in the criminal courts.
Bache said the court further opined that the claim should not be filed at all before the trials of the four cases are completed.
"It is akin to putting the cart before the horse. It has also created confusion and a transgression of jurisdiction between the civil and criminal courts' jurisdiction and this should not be allowed at any cost," he said.
He said the court was of the considered opinion that the causes of action of misfeasance in public office and the so-called malicious process were not sustainable and a non-starter as Thomas had not conducted or taken part in the prosecution of the four cases.
"It follows that even if Thomas had an agenda against the plaintiff (to which this court disagreed), he would not be conducting the prosecution of the plaintiff.
"How could he be said to have had committed misfeasance and the other torts? Hence, it follows that there is no necessity for this suit to go for a full trial and no reason for Thomas to come to court to explain, as the claims should be struck out ab initio," he said.
In the suit filed on Oct 22, 2021, Najib claimed that the charges against him were part of a move that had been planned in advance by Thomas, in line with the Pakatan Harapan government's plan at the time.
He sought a declaration that Thomas had committed misfeasance in public office as well as RM1.9 million in damages, including negotiation fees for the audit team to review the documentation for the preparation of facts to deal with the prosecution against him.


New Zealand says differences with China becoming harder to reconcile

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday that differences between New Zealand and China are becoming harder to reconcile as Beijing’s role in the world grows and changes, reports Reuters.In a speech at the China Business Summit in Auckland, Ardern said there are things on which China and New Zealand “do not, cannot, and will not agree”, but added these differences need not define their relationship.“The differences between our systems – and the interests and values that shape those systems – are becoming harder to reconcile,” Ardern said.“This is a challenge that we, and many other countries across the Indo Pacific region, but also in Europe and other regions, are grappling with,” she added.The comments come as New Zealand faces pressure from some elements among Western allies over its reluctance to use the anglophone Five Eyes intelligence and security alliance, which includes Australia, Britain, Canada and the US, to criticise Beijing.Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta said last month she was uncomfortable expanding the role of Five Eyes.Beijing has accused the Five Eyes of ganging up on China by issuing statements on Hong Kong and the treatment of ethnic Muslim Uihgurs in Xinjiang.Ardern said New Zealand would continue to speak about these issues individually as well as through its partners. Managing the relationship with China is not always going to be easy and “there can be no guarantees”, she added.China is engaged in a diplomatic row with Australia and has imposed trade restrictions after Canberra lobbied for an international inquiry into the source of the coronavirus. Beijing denies the curbs are reprisals, saying reduced imports of Australian products are the result of buyers’ own decisions.Ardern said how China treats its partners is important.“We hope that China too sees it in its own core interests to act in the world in ways that are consistent with its responsibilities as a growing power, including as a permanent member of the UN Security Council,” she added.Wellington has been accused of becoming “too cosy” with Beijing by its allies.Under a deal signed in January, China is to open up sectors such as aviation, education and finance. In exchange, New Zealand will increase visa quotas for Chinese language teachers and tour guides.New Zealand was the first developed country to sign a free trade agreement with China in 2008, and has long been touted by Beijing as an exemplar of Western engagement.China is now New Zealand’s largest trading partner, with annual two-way trade of over US$21.58 billion.


Uproar in Dewan after PH MP accuses Muhyiddin of corruption

The debate on the Supply Bill 2023 descended into chaos today after an MP from Pakatan Harapan (PH) accused Pagoh MP Muhyiddin Yassin of involvement in a corruption scandal through the giving of a contract to his son-in-law.
Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka) said Muhyiddin, the Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman), had been reported in the news as being involved in the award of contract for the National Integrated Immigration System or NIISe.
Several MPs from PN then accused Khoo of being malicious and prejudiced against the former prime minister.
Pendang MP Awang Solahuddin Hashim also challenged Khoo to repeat his remark both within and outside of the Dewan Rakyat so that Muhyiddin could take legal action against him.
Khoo refused to retract his statement, and Pengkalan Chepa MP Ahmad Marzuk Shaary urged deputy speaker Alice Lau to issue a ruling in accordance with Meeting Rule 36 (5) and (6) which prohibits members of the house from making malicious allegations against each other.
"Kota Melaka said Pagoh," Marzuk said. "Retract it or repeat it outside if you are brave enough."
Muhyiddin himself described Khoo's statement as malicious slander against his credibility.
"This is a serious accusation aimed at tarnishing my reputation and that of my family just because he read a newspaper," he said.
"This is an assumption and slander. I wish to state clearly that this is untrue."
He added that if Khoo repeated his statement outside of the Dewan Rakyat, he would not hesitate to take legal action against him.
Lau then instructed Khoo to retract his statement, which he did.
Muhyiddin has repeatedly denied claims of his involvement in the award of the NIISe contract to Iris Corporation Bhd.
On Feb 15, he reiterated his denial once more in his reponse to Khoo during his debate on the motion of thanks for the royal address.
"From a legal point of view, this is defamation. I have not said that I want to take legal action because I want to give the new prime minister a chance.
"Not one sen was involved. What was mentioned was a stimulus package, not for us to get contracts," he said.


Sri Lanka's ousted president seeks entry to Thailand after weeks in Singapore

Former Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has requested entry into Thailand for a temporary stay in a second Southeast Asian country after fleeing his island nation last month amid mass protests, the Thai foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
Rajapaksa fled to Singapore on July 14 following unprecedented unrest caused by Sri Lanka's worst economic crisis in seven decades, and days after thousands of protesters stormed the president's official residence and office.
The retired military officer then resigned from the presidency, becoming the first Sri Lankan head of state to quit mid-term.
Rajapaksa is expected to leave Singapore and head to Thailand's capital Bangkok on Thursday, two sources said, asking not to be named. Sri Lanka's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Tanee Sangrat, a Thai foreign ministry spokesman, said Rajapaksa holds a diplomatic passport that allows him entry into the country for 90 days. He did not say when Rajapaksa intended to visit.
"The entry to Thailand by the former president of Sri Lanka is for a temporary stay," Sangrat said.
"The Sri Lankan side informs us that the former president has no intention for political asylum in Thailand and will travel to another country afterwards."
Rajapaksa has made no public appearances or comments since leaving Sri Lanka, and Reuters was unable to immediately contact him.
Singapore's government said this month that the city-state had not accorded him any privileges or immunity.
A member of the influential Rajapaksa family, the 73-year-old served in the Sri Lankan military and later as defence secretary.
During his time as defence secretary, government forces finally defeated Tamil Tiger rebels in 2009 to end a bloody civil war. Some rights groups now want accusations that Rajapaksa committed war crimes to be investigated. Rajapaksa has previously strenuously denied the allegations.
Some critics and protesters also accuse Rajapaksa and his family of mishandling the economy during his term as president, leading to the South Asian country's worst financial crisis since independence from Britain in 1948.
His elder brother, Mahinda Rajapaksa, is a former president and prime minister. Their younger sibling, Basil Rajapaksa, served as finance minister until earlier this year.
Rajapaksa's successor, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has suggested that the former president should refrain from returning to Sri Lanka in the near future.
"I don't believe it's the time for him to return," Wickremesinghe told the Wall Street Journal in an interview on July 31. "I have no indication of him returning soon."
If Rajapaksa came back to Sri Lanka, he might not be protected under law if any charges were filed against him, legal experts have said.


Pope’s risky trip to Iraq’s former IS strongholds pays off

Pope Francis’ visit to Iraq was fraught with dangers, from terrorism to Covid-19.But as his densely packed itinerary neared completion on Sunday, his gamble appeared to have worked, giving him the diplomatic and pastoral platform he has missed since the pandemic began, reports the Wall Street Journal.The pope’s determination to stage a high-profile international trip with the pandemic still raging makes him practically unique among world leaders at present.Defying fears and warnings about the trip’s timing, Pope Francis used a series of events, to promote his agenda of support for beleaguered Christians in the Middle East and outreach to Muslims.The daunting security threats in a country still racked by violence prompted Iraqi forces to guard the pontiff with utmost care, including a near total lockdown of Baghdad.Braving those dangers “doubles the value of the visit to Iraqis”, the country’s president, Barham Salih, told Francis when he arrived in Baghdad on Friday.In his meeting with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the most influential cleric in Iraq, the pope significantly broadened his campaign for better relations with Muslims to include Shiites. He also elicited a strong statement of support from Sistani for the civil rights of Christians.The Pope prayed among ruined churches in Mosul, the former IS stronghold, and celebrated Mass at a stadium in Irbil, the last big set piece of his visit, where he said Iraq would remain in his heart.Thousands of people attended the service despite Covid concerns, the BBC reports.Iraq, which has seen more than 13,500 deaths from Covid-19 and more than 726,000 cases, has recorded a sharp rise in infections over the past month.The 84-year-old leader of the Catholic Church and his entourage have all been vaccinated, but Iraq only received its first batch of doses last week.The four-day trip, which began on Friday, is the pontiff’s first international excursion since the start of the pandemic more than a year ago, and the first ever papal visit to Iraq.He said the exodus of Christians from Iraq and the broader Middle East had done “incalculable harm not just to the individuals and communities concerned but also to the society they leave behind”.Christian numbers overall have plummeted over the last two decades from 1.4 million to about 250,000, less than 1% of the country’s population.


'Can I advise you something' clip shows Rosmah controlled Najib, judge says

The Kuala Lumpur High Court yesterday ruled that Rosmah Mansor had dominated over her husband, Najib Razak, and had had control over the former prime minister.
In his 116-page judgment, judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan said it was clear from the audio recording that the accused gave instructions to Najib on government affairs.
The judge was referring to the "Can I advise you something" audio clip between Najib and Rosmah that previously went viral.
"In her witness statement, the accused did not assertively state that the voices in the audio recording were not of her and Najib. No fewer than three witnesses, namely Rizal Mansor (former aide of Rosmah), former education minister Mahdzir Khalid and the ministry’s then secretary-general Madinah Mohamed, have positively identified the voices in the recording as those of Najib and the accused.
"These three are familiar with the voices of Najib and the accused. I do not doubt that they were right. The accused attempted to downplay the conversation in the recording by relating it to a typical discussion between a husband and wife. However, it was no ordinary conversation between spouses, for it was about government affairs," said the judge. The judge said the accused’s tone was commanding and contrary to her contention that she had heeded Najib's stand on not meddling in government affairs.
"I say this with the greatest of respect, but it is apparent that the accused dominates Najib. She has control over him. She had no business interfering in Najib's duties or the government's affairs, but she did," said the judge.
He added that Rizal was telling the truth when he said that the accused had an overbearing nature and the ability to influence decisions in the civil service as he had worked with her for many years and would have been able to witness this personally.
"That the likes of Mahdzir, Madinah and education ministry secretary-general Alias Ahmad never questioned any queries or instructions from the accused or Rizal adds weight to this factor. The accused does not come across as someone Rizal could have taken advantage of.
"She has a steely character and would not hesitate to admonish anyone. It was also evident during the trial as she was not cowed when being cross-examined by the learned counsel for the prosecution, which I might add is no mean feat considering the learned counsel's eminence."
Zaini further said that Rosmah’s defence that she had never interfered in any government project was hearsay as Najib did not testify in court.
He said the accused emphatically denied interfering in any of the government's projects, especially a RM1.25 billion hybrid solar project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.
"She contended that Najib had reminded her not to get involved with any contractors and that she was to remain dutifully as his wife.
"The accused maintained that she feared Najib's wrath and would never attempt to influence him, let alone force or advise him on matters concerning government affairs," he said.
He said all of these statements attributed to Najib were hearsay and inadmissible as evidence, as Najib did not testify and only he could verify what the accused claimed he had said.
Zaini further said he acknowledged that Pekan Umno secretary Ahmad Aazmey Abu Talib had played a significant part in getting the minutes from Najib for Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd's benefit, but that the facts evinced that the accused, too, played a significant part.
"For instance, the accused told Madinah: 'You tengok skit pojek solar Jepak. Cepatkan sikit' (Look into the Jepak solar project. Expedite it) during one of Permata's events. There is no reason for Madinah to concoct a lie to implicate the accused. What would be her motive? If there was any, this was never put to her," he added.
The judge said the accused also claimed that Mahdzir and Alias had a vested interest in the project and that they had cast aspersions on the accused to camouflage their wrongdoings on the project.
He said he found  no credible evidence to prove that Mahdzir or Alias had attempted to profit from the project, adding that there were many accusations thrown at them during cross-examination, particularly Mahdzir.
"From my observation, Mahdzir steadfastly denied all the accusations. He never showed any signs of being nervous or apprehensive in refuting the negative aspersions cast during the cross. He was resolute," he said.
Zaini said in his opinion, Mahdzir had attempted to do the right thing.
"Bearing that Saidi Abang Samsudin, at that time managing director of Jepak Holdings, was a close friend (to Mahdzir) he could have easily cleared the path for Jepak's benefit.
"The evidence shows that Mahdzir wanted Jepak to go through the proper process. He did not want to circumvent the education ministry's procedure. He even went to the extent of trying to persuade Najib on two occasions personally," he said.
The judge said on the first occasion, Mahdzir had tried to convince Najib to use an open tender for the project instead of acting through direct negotiations with Jepak.
"Najib was adamant and told him to carry out his instructions. On the second occasion, Mahdzir advised Najib to defer the issuance of the letter of award to Jepak as the latter had not met many of the ministry's requirements," he said.
The judge said Mahdzir also complained to Najib of Saidi and his business partner Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah’s incessant harassment and disrespectful attitude toward him as a Mminister.
"Nevertheless, Najib again ignored his plea and instructed him to follow his instructions. It is indeed amazing that a contract worth RM1.25 billion could simply be awarded merely by penning minutes without going through the expected procedures that will serve to check and balance," he added.
Zaini said there were two incidents that stood out in proving the accused's active interference in the project.
"First, there was the occasion where Othman Semali from the finance ministry told off Rizal, at that time the special officer of Prime Minister’s Office, and Saidi when they came to see him with a letter that had Najib's minutes stating his agreement for the education ministry to negotiate directly with Jepak.
"In chastising the duo, Othman told them that he serves the public, not politicians. When the duo complained to Rizal, the latter, in turn, told the accused, who a few days later told Rizal that 'Aku dah cakap dengan laki aku dah' (I have already told my husband). A few days later, the finance ministry's approval was issued,” he said.
The judge said the second occasion was regarding Clause 11 of the letter of award that Saidi and Rayyan had issues with Mahdzir who did not relent when they came to see him and asked for the clause to be taken out.
"That changed when Saidi called Rizal and passed the phone to Mahdzir. Rizal told Mahdzir to do as he was told and reminded him that 'Mem', the accused, was aware of the project. That was enough to compel Mahdzir to instruct his officers to take Clause 11 out.
"This incident was after Mahdzir had met Najib twice. It was clear to Mahdzir that the accused was on 'Jepak's team'. He was not wrong," he added.


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UK reports 32 deaths from clots after AstraZeneca jabs

A total of 168 people have suffered rare blood clots after taking the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine in Britain, and 32 have died, the UK’s medicines regulator said Thursday.The figures for clots or “thromboembolic events” run up to April 14, by when 21.2 million people had received first doses of the vaccine, according to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).It represents a rise of 10 deaths compared to the period up to April 5, and an additional 68 cases.“On the basis of this ongoing review, the advice remains that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks in the majority of people,” the MHRA said.Acting on the regulator’s advice, the UK government this month agreed to offer most people under 30 an alternative to the AstraZeneca coronavirus jab if possible, due to concerns over blood clots.Of the 168 cases in the latest summary, cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST or blood clots in the brain) was reported in 77 cases, with an average age of 47.A further 91 cases had other “major thromboembolic events” along with thrombocytopenia – low platelet counts – with an average age of 55.Overall, 93 women and 75 men suffered clots after receiving the vaccine.“I would expect the true number of cases per million doses of vaccine to become clear fairly soon as these reports stabilise, but it is already clear that it is going to remain a very rare event,” University of Bristol paediatrics professor Adam Finn said.Britain has Europe’s highest death toll from the Covid-19 pandemic but since the mass vaccination drive began with the AstraZeneca jab in December, rates of infection, hospitalisation and death have plummeted.The coronavirus was no longer the leading cause of death in March, according to separate data released by the Office for National Statistics.It said that Covid-19 was the third leading cause of death in England last month, dropping from the top spot for the first time since October.