Rafizi's 'candidate hunt' set to trigger another rebellion in PKR amid concerns of data harvesting

A new online campaign described by PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli as a "political innovation" is set to trigger a fresh rebellion in the party at a critical juncture, with insiders warning that this time the impact will be felt more than the 2020 exodus of MPs which saw it ejected from power.
At least a dozen PKR branch chairmen as well as current assemblymen expressed shock at the recent announcement by Rafizi to invite members of the public to pitch themselves as candidates for the 15th general election (GE15), with many saying it showed his ignorance about the cascading nature of power and influence in a political party "from the local to the federal level".
Some also played down the campaign, describing the move as a ploy for "some other goal".
"Of course it is political innovation," said one senior member of a branch in Petaling Jaya who spoke to MalaysiaNow in exchange for anonymity over fears of reprisal from the central leadership.
"It's a very clever innovation, not only to increase membership by baiting them with candidacy, but also to fish for tonnes of invaluable personal data," he said.
A branch chairman in Klang agreed.
"It's no surprise. This is not the first campaign by Rafizi to collect data from the public. He is concurrently behind many other similar websites for various pretexts, whether for election or flood volunteer drives," he said.
No data protection assurance
Last Thursday, Rafizi introduced a new website, calonkeadilan.org, where anyone from the public could nominate themselves to represent PKR at the next polls.
Individuals are asked to provide extensive personal data, including their occupation and income, academic qualifications, Facebook account, family members' particulars and even bank details such as current loans and account numbers.
There is no assurance from the site that the data will not be resold for commercial or other purposes, or if it is protected under the Personal Data Protection Act.
Applicants, in this case nominees, need only fulfil the usual conditions to become an election candidate in Malaysia, with the added requirement that they are registered as PKR members.
This is despite the fact that the Election Commission allows non-members to contest under party banners.
The move has been met with mixed reactions on social media, with some making sarcastic posts and others saying they are ready to nominate themselves.
"I will register as Keadilan member this Tuesday 11th October 2022 at 1pm (during lunch hour) at Keadilan HQ.
"I will then proceed to apply at calonkeadilan.org," said a Twitter post from Dr Noraishah Mydin Abd Aziz.
Rafizi, who is PKR's election director, said he expects some 10,000 applications from those eager to become candidates, each of which he says will be assessed by him and party president Anwar Ibrahim.
The duo will shortlist five applicants for each constituency based on their "social standing" and "social media influence".
Recipe for another split?
While many branch leaders dismiss Rafizi's latest campaign as impossible to implement, others have expressed anger that the former Pandan MP was allowed to "bulldoze through his unworkable strategies in spite of past failures".
"No party works this way, and for Rafizi to do this could be interpreted as a deliberate move to sideline Anwar and party veterans in matters of candidates.
"If indeed this new system is implemented, it could backfire quite badly for the party," said a veteran member in Pasir Gudang, Johor, who when told about the plan, said he had never heard of it.
He said a political party's strength is measured by the support it enjoys at the local level.
"And this is how the parliamentary institution operates, where people are represented by constituencies through organic political activity. Not through some campaign riding on digitally-acquired data."
Rafizi, the brain behind the failed Kajang Move devised by PKR in 2014 to install Anwar as the Selangor menteri besar, has always branded himself as guided by data.
In August, he said that the party would rely on data before setting its focus on any state at the coming polls.
Yet in 2018, Rafizi, relying on his data analytics firm Invoke, famously predicted that PAS would not win a single seat in the general election that year. The Islamist party went on to win 18 federal seats, sweeping the votes in Malay heartlands, maintaining its hold on Kelantan and taking Terengganu.
Only three of five PKR MPs whom MalaysiaNow contacted agreed to respond, all under condition of anonymity.
One of them, an MP in Selangor, said the plan was a "sure recipe for disaster".
"GE15 is around the corner and we should not fiddle with these experiments at the cost of party unity.
"This latest plan by Raifizi will only lead to another crisis like we had in 2020. There will be a rebellion not only from the incumbents but also the rank and file including those who built this party from the beginning and who are not pitching as candidates," the MP said.
Another MP said anyone who nominates themselves to stand as candidates should be the "last person for the job".
"In the end, Rafizi will only succeed in signing up people who are in the party just to become candidates."


Cinemas nationwide to reopen for the fully vaccinated

Cinemas nationwide will be allowed to reopen at 50% capacity for fully vaccinated customers, the government said today in announcing a further easing of restrictions in the creative industry for states still under Phase One of the National Recovery Plan.Indoor busking, performances and art galleries will also be allowed subject to certain conditions, as well as in-studio and outdoors filming.Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the agreement to ease restrictions was contingent on the SOPs set by the National Security Council including its application only to those who have been fully vaccinated, and subject to limits depending on the capacity of premises.“This flexibility is also given based on the fact that some states have fully vaccinated 80% of their adult population or achieved the level of herd immunity,” he said in a statement.The full list of activities allowed is as follows:1. The development and broadcasting of creative content, live or recorded;2. Broadcasts whether live or through recording to present information and entertainment with the presence of fully vaccinated viewers limited to 30% of studio capacity;3. Indoor and outdoor filming;4. Indoor busking;5. Performances at hotel lounges;6. Cinema activities;7. Live performances on a pre-registered basis including art theatres, musicals and comedies limited to 30% of premise capacity; and8. Art galleries at halls, museums and galleries by appointment limited to 30% of premise capacity.


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Why grant Zahid permanent access to passport but not Rosmah, asks Arau MP

Arau MP Shahidan Kassim asked why deputy public prosecutor Abdul Malik Ayob said he was "instructed" not to object to the appeal by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for the permanent return of his passport in the Court of Appeal today.
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat, Shahidan also questioned what he described as the special treatment given to Zahid despite the string of criminal charges against him in court.
He said if Zahid was allowed the return of his passport, former prime minister Najib Razak's wife, Rosmah Mansor, should be given the same treatment.
A three-man panel of judges had granted Zahid permanent access to his international and diplomatic passport for the purpose of carrying out his official duties abroad.
His passports were surrendered to the court as an additional bail condition after he was charged with 47 counts of corruption, criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving Akalbudi Foundation funds.
Rosmah, meanwhile, was allowed temporary access to her passport last week for travel to Singapore.
"Why did the deputy public prosecutor say he had received instructions not to object?" said Shahidan.
"He said in court that he had received instructions not to object. Please answer, I don't understand.
"If we allow this for the deputy prime minister, we should do the same for Rosmah. Rosmah only got temporary access to her passport.
"Why is it that the deputy prime minister can get his passport back, but not Rosmah?"
Shahidan also urged the government to be fair and not to make selective decisions.
"I say this should be given to everyone," he said. "This is Madani."


Indonesia flash floods kill at least eight

Indonesian rescuers scrambled Friday to find survivors under mud-swamped hillsides after flash floods on Java island killed at least eight people, the disaster agency said.Torrential rains on Thursday unleashed flash floods in Malang and the highland city of Batu, inundating houses with mud and debris, while a wall of water destroyed local bridges.Six people were pulled from the detritus alive, while rescuers found a half dozen bodies in Batu and two more victims in Malang.On Friday, teams raced to find several more people unaccounted for in Batu, according to Indonesia’s national disaster mitigation agency, as the dead were placed in body bags.“Until now, we are still trying to find three people still missing,” the agency’s chairman Abdul Muhari said in a statement.Fatal landslides and flash floods are common across the Southeast Asian archipelago during the rainy season, which started in September.The disasters are often caused by deforestation and poor mitigation planning, according to environmentalists.Seven people were killed in a landslide triggered by torrential storms in Sumatra last month.In April, more than 200 people were killed in a cluster of far-eastern islands in Indonesia and neighbouring Timor Leste as Tropical Cyclone Seroja turned small communities into wastelands of mud and uprooted trees.


Travel bans a form of justice, not violation of rights, tax body says

The Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) today defended its practice of imposing travel restrictions on those with outstanding tax arrears, calling it a form of justice for taxpayers who submit their taxes according to schedule.
"If seen from a negative perspective, the act of restricting people from travelling abroad will certainly invite all sorts of reactions from various parties," it said.
"Some consider it a violation of the right to free movement, as enshrined in Article 9 of the Federal Constitition. But we must look at the enforcement of travel restrictions from a positive angle."
In a statement, it said that it would not be fair for unscrupulous people or those who fail to pay their taxes to be given the freedom to travel abroad without first paying their dues.
"They should help generate national income through tax payments before spending the rest in foreign countries," it added.
LHDN said travel bans were also a form of education for taxpayers, to encourage them to ensure that their records are up to date and organised.
"Their enforcement can also increase the rate of tax compliance in Malaysia," it added.
"As the saying goes, 'prepare an umbrella before it rains' – taxpayers should check on their travel status before taking any further action."
LHDN said that travel bans could be enforced in a number of situations, including where taxpayers, whether Malaysian or foreign, might leave Malaysia without paying their taxes.
Restrictions can also be placed on company directors who might leave Malaysia without paying their company taxes, or individuals who have applied for a judicial review with the exception of cases in which a stay of proceedings has been issued by the court.
Taxpayers who will be or have been prosecuted for civil offences for tax collection purposes could also face travel bans.


UN warns of ‘perfect storm’ as childhood vaccination plummets

The UN warned Thursday that a “perfect storm” was brewing, with a raging pandemic disrupting access to routine vaccinations, leaving millions of children at risk from measles and other deadly diseases.A full 23 million children missed out on basic childhood vaccines last year, as routine health services were hit worldwide by restrictions aimed at controlling Covid-19 and many parents shunned the clinics that were open for fear of exposure to the virus.It marks the highest number in over a decade and 3.7 million more than in 2019, according to data published Thursday by the World Health Organization and the UN’s children’s agency Unicef.And the sharp decline in routine vaccinations comes as many countries have begun loosening restrictions even as the pandemic is far from over.This has the potential of not only driving up Covid transmission, but also of allowing otherwise vaccine-preventable diseases to begin spreading.That is because the restrictions in many countries have until now also provided a buffer protecting unvaccinated children against exposure to childhood diseases.“In 2021, we have potentially a perfect storm about to happen,” Kate O’Brien, head of WHO’s vaccines and immunisation department, told reporters.‘Ringing the alarm’She warned there was now “an accumulation of children who are not immune because they haven’t received vaccines, and more and more transmission because of too early release of public health and social measures”.“This is the sort of perfect storm we’re ringing the alarm bell about right now,” O’Brien said, stressing WHO’s “high concern about these very outbreak prone diseases”.“We need to act now in order to protect these children.”The data published Thursday revealed that rising numbers of children across all regions missed first vital vaccine doses last year while millions more missed later vaccines.Compared with 2019, 3.5 million more children missed their first doses of the three-dose diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine (DTP) while three million more children missed their first measles dose, the data showed.Even more concerning perhaps, as many as 17 million children, mainly living in conflict-affected communities or in under-serviced remote areas or in informal slum settings, likely did not receive a single vaccine in 2020.“The Covid-19 pandemic and related disruptions cost us valuable ground we cannot afford to lose,” Unicef chief Henrietta Fore said in the statement, cautioning that “the consequences will be paid in the lives and wellbeing of the most vulnerable”.She said even before Covid, “there were worrying signs that we were beginning to lose ground in the fight to immunise children against preventable child illness”.“The pandemic has made a bad situation worse.”‘Catastrophic’Global coverage for all three DTP doses had for instance stalled at 86% over recent years, but then slumped to 83% in 2020, meaning 22.7 million children missed out.As for measles, which is highly contagious and requires vaccination uptake of at least 95% to avoid spread, the first-dose vaccination rate slipped from 86% to 84% last year, while only 71% received a second dose.The situation meanwhile varies greatly, with the data showing a particularly sharp drop in vaccination rates in Southeast Asia.In India, which has been ravaged by a devastating second Covid wave, the number of children who missed their first DTP dose more than doubled to over three million last year from 1.4 million in 2019.Coverage for all three DTP doses in the country meanwhile fell from 91% to 85%, the data showed.Pakistan, Indonesia and the Philippines also saw the number of unprotected children rise significantly.In the Americas, meanwhile, the UN agencies warned that “a troubling picture is also emerging”, although not necessarily due to the pandemic.They warned that funding shortages, vaccine misinformation and other factors were continuing to push down the rate of children who have received all three DTP shots, which fell from 91% in 2016 to just 82% last year.Mexico was among the countries where the number of children missing their first DTP dose is rising the fastest, swelling from 348,000 in 2019 to 454,000 in 2020, according to the data.The UN has warned against sacrificing routine childhood vaccines in the rush to roll out Covid jabs.“Even as countries clamour to get their hands on Covid-19 vaccines, we have gone backwards on other vaccinations, leaving children at risk from devastating but preventable diseases like measles, polio or meningitis,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned in the statement.“Multiple disease outbreaks would be catastrophic for communities and health systems already battling Covid-19, making it more urgent than ever to invest in childhood vaccination and ensure every child is reached.”


PN slams fake photos of cash bribes

Perikatan Nasional (PN) today denied claims that it has been handing out cash bribes to woo the support of voters ahead of the Melaka state election this weekend.Its information coordinator in Melaka, Badrul Hisham Shaharin, said the pictures making the rounds of money being put into envelopes bearing the PN logo were slanderous and irresponsible attempts to tarnish its image.“Even the way the pictures were taken is enough to show that they are the work of PN’s enemies,” he said in a statement.“The pictures don’t show any faces, and the way the person is holding the money is exaggerated.“The question is, why put our logo there? So that people will believe it is PN’s money?”Badrul said PN had from the start been the target of false propaganda attacks believed to be part of efforts to discredit the coalition.“Before this, fake statements were also issued with PN’s letterhead,” he said.“These are all efforts by our enemies to try and divert attention.”


Once in prison, always a jailbird?

Once a month, every month, Ravindran Vengadasamy puts on a freshly ironed shirt, a tie, long pants and a pair of leather shoes.After breakfast, he sets off. His destination: Kajang prison in Kajang, Selangor.At the entrance, he is greeted by the guards on duty who walk him through a number of other doors leading into the jail itself.There, he spends the day catching up with the inmates. He speaks cheerfully, asking if there is anything they need.After 12 years of working as a prison counsellor, he is familiar with each of the prisoners there. Once in a while, he does a double take. “You again? When did you get sent back to jail?”Ravindran Vengadasamy has worked as a prison counsellor for 12 years now, most recently with death row inmates with whom he has spent the past six years.For him, the fact that inmates are ending up back in their cells despite having been freed is telling. In his opinion, it shows that prison in and of itself is not enough to change the attitudes of those sentenced to time behind bars.The first time he ever set foot in a prison, Ravindran was struck by the aura of loneliness and isolation that shrouded the building.On death row, where he is currently assigned, the atmosphere is even heavier as inmates await their appointment with the gallows, clinging to the hope of receiving a pardon before then.While he is uncomfortable with the grim climate of prison, Ravindran acknowledges its necessity.“We have to understand that it’s a place for rehabilitation, not a place for them to rest and socialise,” he told MalaysiaNow in a recent interview.“As a member of the public, I think it must remain this way. Don’t let them have fun and get comfortable there. They need to fear and hate prison.”Recalling his long years of working with prisoners, Ravindran estimates that only 30% to 40% of them succeed in turning over a new leaf. The rest eventually fall back into their old ways and end up in jail once more.He believes that Malaysian prisons need a holistic approach to dealing with prisoners that will have a comprehensive impact on those doing time for their wrongdoings.The current programmes prepared by prison officers, he says do not effectively help the prisoners.“Some of the programmes are completely useless,” he said. “They only do what those in authority tell them.“Of course, some of the programmes will amount to nothing. They just recycle them over and over again.”The situation is even worse in the women’s block, he said. There, the programmes are weak and do nothing to help the inmates improve their lot in life.“They need goal-oriented programmes,” he said. “Then, they will get results.“Prison is a very closed-off space,” he added. “If they want results, they will have to open up a little to outsiders.”MalaysiaNow has contacted the prisons department for a response.Nevertheless, Ravindran said the prison personnel and officers are very helpful and always assist him where they can in carrying out his counselling duties.“They respect us very much,” he said.From bad to worse in jailA former inmate who asked to be known as Gurunanthan said the years he spent in prison did not lead to a change of heart. Instead, he continued committing the same offences.Former inmate Gurunanthan managed to turn his life around and now spends his time helping others who have been released from prison as well.More often than not, he said, prisoners were instead taught to commit worse and more extreme crimes that would provide greater financial returns.“Say a ‘big brother’ gets sent to jail and he meets with a snatch thief,” he said.“After a few months, the snatch thief gets out of jail and now, he’s good at robbing banks, too. Who taught him? The big brother.”Other inmates become slaves to these “big brothers”, he added.“They bring them trays of food, and this and that. All sorts of things. This is the problem. The prison needs to separate them. Don’t let them meet.”Gurunanthan himself had a long history of crime and spent years following gangs, stealing, and selling and possessing drugs.He was finally sentenced to jail for the possession of drugs. But after serving his sentence, he said, he went back to doing the same thing.It took a great deal of perseverance for him to change his ways but today, he no longer leads a life of crime. Instead, he runs his own rehabilitation centre in Petaling Jaya called “Seeds of Hope”.There, he looks after and supervises about 40 ex-convicts from all walks of life. Some of them had been sentenced to death for crimes such as murder and only escaped capital punishment by the skin of their teeth.At the centre, Gurunanthan conducts a variety of programmes in addition to skill classes and social activities such as chess games.“Some of them are working, some of them are ill. They take care of each other,” he said.Back in prison, it has been six years since Ravindran worked with inmates in regular cells. Now, he only sees those who have been sentenced to hang.Throughout those six years, Ravindran claims he has never seen anyone from the government come to meet with the prisoners.“I’ve never met any other counsellor,” he said.He urged the prisons department to hold discussions with the relevant parties to ensure that inmates receive the necessary support to help them forge a new life.“When people lose their lives, they know how important and valuable it is,” he said.“If we don’t give them the correct guidance, they will sink again and again.”


Anti-party hopping bill not on agenda for Sabah state assembly sitting

The Anti-Party Hopping Bill is not on the agenda for the coming Sabah state assembly sitting scheduled from May 22 to 25.
Sabah state assembly speaker Kadzim M Yahya said he had yet to be notified by the state government on the tabling of the bill.
"The state government may decide the matter tomorrow. They are having a Cabinet meeting tomorrow," he told a press conference in Kota Kinabalu yesterday.
If the bill is not tabled at the coming sitting, Kadzim said a special sitting would likely be held for the tabling of the bill to accommodate the many members of the house who would want to debate the bill. However, Kadzim said he had received a request to table a private member's bill on anti-party hopping and had forwarded the matter to the state government.
"The government is going to table it, so I don't see the necessity for a private member's bill to be tabled," he said.
 The Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin is scheduled to open the state assembly sitting on May 22, during which three bills will be tabled.
In April, Warisan president Mohd Shafie Apdal said the party would file a private member's bill on anti-party hopping in the next state assembly sitting.


BioNTech-Pfizer say Covid vaccine 100% effective on 12 to 15-year-olds

BioNTech-Pfizer said Wednesday their vaccine showed 100% efficacy against the coronavirus in 12 to 15-year-olds, as they eye approval for adolescents to get the jabs before the next school year.Phase 3 trials carried out on 2,260 adolescents in the US “demonstrated 100% efficacy and robust antibody responses”, the companies said in a statement.“We plan to submit this data to (US regulator) FDA as a proposed amendment to our emergency use authorisation in the coming weeks and to other regulators around the world, with the hope of starting to vaccinate this age group before the start of the next school year,” said Pfizer chief executive Albert Bourla.Chief executive of German company BioNTech said the results showing high protection for teens were “very encouraging given the trends we have seen in recent weeks regarding the spread of the B.1.1.7 UK variant”.The BioNTech/Pfizer shot is based on novel mRNA technology and was the first Covid-19 vaccine to be approved in the West late last year.Both the US and the European Union have approved its use for people aged 16 and above.Since then, it has been used in millions of adults in more than 65 countries.A real world study involving 1.2 million people in Israel found it to be 94% effective.With the world scrambling to inoculate, BioNTech said Tuesday it was on track to manufacture 2.5 billion doses of its vaccine this year.The higher output was driven by the recent launch of a new production site in the German city of Marburg, which is now one of the world’s largest mRNA vaccine manufacturing plants, it said.The vaccine is also being produced at a Pfizer plant in Belgium and at three sites in the US.BioNTech said improved efficiency and new cooperation agreements with outside partners had also helped lift its vaccine target, as had the regulatory nod allowing vaccinators to extract six instead of just five doses from a single BioNTech/Pfizer vial.BioNTech and Pfizer last week began studies of the jab on children, with the first group of five-to-11 year olds getting the vaccine.A younger cohort of two-to-five year olds are expected to get their first dose next week in the study which will also cover children as young as six months old.


LHDN denies data leak involving 4 million Malaysians

The Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) has denied the leak of personal data belonging to millions of Malaysians through a government platform under the purview of the National Registration Department (JPN), saying all data and information in its care is protected by recognised security technology.In a statement, it said an internal investigation had found no such leak, adding that the agency is working with JPN, the National Cyber Security Agency and the National Security Council to review all possibilities in connection with the claim.“For your information, LHDN is only a user and not the owner of the myIDENTITY system,” it added.Earlier today, an IT expert claimed on Twitter that the personal data of four million Malaysians being kept by JPN was apparently put up for sale online for about RM35,000.Adnan Shukor also shared a screenshot showing the seller offering the data leaked through LHDN.The tax agency is one of 10 government bodies on a shared platform called myIDENTITY where data from JPN is shared.According to the screenshot, a total of 32GB of data in 19 files contain the information of those born between 1979 and 1998, with details such as addresses, mobile numbers and photographs, as well as race, religion and MyKad identification numbers.LHDN said it regretted the claim which it added could erode public confidence in the security of their information and data.It also warned the public to be cautious about such claims and not to reject the possibility that they were made by irresponsible parties with the intention of confusing and lying to the people.


Syed Saddiq, 12 others to file fresh application over Muda’s rejection of appeal for registration

Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and 12 other individuals will file a fresh judicial review application to challenge the decision of the home minister and Registrar of Societies (RoS) rejecting the appeal to register Muda as a political party.Lawyer Lim Wei Jiet, representing Syed Saddiq and the 12 others, said this when contacted by reporters today.“In today’s proceedings, we withdrew the previous judicial review application against the home minister and RoS on the grounds that it is academic because on Aug 12, the home minister had made a decision on the appeal.“The court granted our application with no order as to costs. However, we will file another suit today or tomorrow to challenge the minister and RoS’ decision to reject Muda’s appeal,” he said when contacted after the online proceedings before High Court judge Noorin Badaruddin.Syed Saddiq, who is the founder of Muda, and 12 others, filed the application on April 26 and obtained leave to initiate a judicial review’s application on May 25.In the application, they sought a mandamus order for the home minister to reach a decision under Section 18 of the Societies Act 1966 on their appeal against the RoS’ decision in refusing to register Muda as a political party on Jan 6.


New cases jump to 6,437 with 107 more deaths

Another 6,437 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 745,703.Selangor recorded 2,299 cases, Kuala Lumpur 1,361, Negeri Sembilan 700, Kedah 284, Johor 271, Melaka 252, Pahang 250, Sarawak 242, Perak 184, Sabah 178, Kelantan 131, Labuan 117 and Penang 115.Putrajaya recorded 32 cases and Terengganu 21.Active cases stand at 62,844 with 905 in the ICU and 455 in need of respiratory assistance.Another 5,298 patients were discharged, bringing total recoveries to 677,751.However, 107 more deaths were reported, pushing the virus toll to 5,108.


'Big possibility' of pardon for Najib, says Mahathir

Dr Mahathir Mohamad today said there was a "big possibility" that former prime minister Najib Razak, who began serving a 12-year jail sentence this week for the misappropriation of RM42 million in SRC International funds, would receive a royal pardon.
In a statement, he also spoke of corruption cases which he said had been delayed due to Najib's SRC International case which continued in court for four years before the Federal Court verdict on Aug 23.
"Many cases of theft, abuse of power and corruption involving many political leaders were postponed and not brought to court.
"Some offenders have even passed away," he said, citing the proverb "justice delayed is justice denied".
Under Article 42(1) of the Federal Constitution, the Agong may grant convicts royal pardons or reprieves for any legal punishment.
Najib was sent to Kajang Prison on Tuesday after the Federal Court upheld his conviction and sentence in the SRC International case in a historic decision which made him the first former prime minister to be sent to jail.
While he can apply for a review of the decision, a reversal of any verdict by the nation's top court is rare.
He could also apply for a pardon which would allow him to return to active politics, as was the case with PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim who received a pardon days after Pakatan Harapan's victory in the 2018 general election.
However, Najib still faces four other cases related to the 1MDB scandal, including the bribery and money laundering trial ongoing at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
Mahathir said these, too, would take a long time.
"I believe the judges are ill at ease with so many delayed cases," he said.
"These delays have been made all the worse because of Najib's behaviour with his lawyers. All sorts of excuses have been used to obstruct the trial."
Adding that many reports had been made about serious corruption cases that have yet to go for trial, he said there was "a big likelihood that criminals will escape punishment for the crimes they have committed".
"The English proverb 'justice delayed is justice denied' is true," he said.
"For Najib, there is a big possibility that he will be pardoned after having been jailed."


Umno says may amend constitution again in line with anti-hopping law

Umno has not ruled out the possibility of amending its constitution again to bring it in line with the amendments to the Federal Constitution on anti-party hopping, the party's secretary-general Ahmad Maslan says.
However, he said the matter would be referred to the party’s legal adviser for a decision.
"We will discuss with Umno's legal adviser to see if any clause or article of the party constitution needs to be amended to be consistent with the Federal Constitution amendments.
"In other words, there is a possibility that the Umno constitution may be amended again but we will seek the advice of Umno's legal adviser," he told a press conference after a meeting of the party's Supreme Council in Kuala Lumpur last night.
Last week, the Dewan Rakyat approved amendments to the Federal Constitution to create provisions to prohibit MPs from switching parties.
The Constitution (Amendment) Bill (No. 3) 2022 was passed with a majority of more than two-thirds after the 209 members present voted in support.
Ahmad said last night's meeting, chaired by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, also decided that there would be no election for posts at any level, including at branch and division delegates meetings, at the coming Umno general assembly.
He said the Supreme Council also set the Umno general assembly for Nov 23 to 26; branch meetings from Aug 15 to Sept 18; Wanita, Youth and Puteri division meetings on Oct 7, 8 and 9; and divisional delegates meetings on Oct 14, 15 and 16.
Ahmad said the council recorded its thanks for the Registrar of Societies’ approval of Umno's constitutional amendments with some changes effective July 29.
"The minor amendments involve not holding an election for 18 months and requiring one election to be held for every general election term effective July 29.
"We have held an election after the 14th general election (GE14), so the next election will be after GE15. (Election) must not be later than six months after GE15," he said, adding that this was what the party had been hoping for, to ensure stability.
The meeting also decided that states under the administration of Barisan Nasional should take steps to amend their state constitution or enactments after the federal law on anti-party hopping is gazetted.


Asia’s slow aviation recovery to cast shadow over Singapore Airshow

The Asia-Pacific aviation industry’s slow recovery from the pandemic amid government restrictions will cast a shadow over the Singapore Airshow next week, though there are nascent signs of improvement as concerns over the Omicron variant recede.The biennial event has bookended the pandemic, with the 2020 edition disrupted by the virus emerging from China and the latest show coming as the industry attempts to plot a way out of its biggest-ever crisis.International passenger travel in the region was down 93% from pre-pandemic levels last year, leaving airlines heavily reliant on freight for revenue, and the Chinese outbound tourism market remains closed.But there are signs of a rebound this year, Skyscanner booking data shows, as countries such as Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam and Australia reopen to more vaccinated tourists without quarantine.Military purchase intentions are also picking up as regional economies recover from pandemic-induced slumps and countries look to bolster their capabilities, as highlighted by Indonesia’s US$8.1 billion order for 42 Rafale fighter jets on Thursday.Smaller showMajor manufacturers such Airbus, Boeing and Lockheed Martin will send senior executives to the Singapore Airshow from Feb 15-18, using it as an opportunity for now-rare face-to-face meetings with key commercial and defence customers.But there will be around two-thirds fewer exhibitors than 2020 at Asia’s biggest aerospace gathering, with the challenges of holding the show mirroring travel difficulties.Some industry executives decided not to attend, concerned about restrictions including daily testing, no intermingling during mealtime, mandatory masks in the tropical heat as well as hotel isolation if they test positive.Singapore-based aviation analyst Brendan Sobie said he expected a quiet, locally oriented gathering with many of the overseas executives holding meetings in the city centre rather than at the more distant show site.“The concern from many exhibitors is a lack of customers visiting,” Sobie said of the show.Few ordersThe Asia-Pacific region accounts for 35% of the world’s commercial aircraft fleet but only 4% of order announcements at air shows over the last decade were made in Singapore, according to broker Jefferies, partly because the event is held before shows in Europe and Dubai.During the pandemic, most Asian airlines have focused on deferring deliveries and handing back planes to lessors rather than placing fresh orders, though Singapore Airlines in December signed a preliminary deal with Airbus for 7 A350 freighters that would involve reducing orders for passenger planes.Boeing last month launched a freighter version of its 777X widebody that will compete against the A350 freighter.The new generation planes will help cut carbon emissions, an important focus for the industry as it targets “net zero” emissions by 2050 through biofuels and improvements in engine technology.US-China rivalryThe show comes as Southeast Asia is a key stage for a rivalry between the US and China, the world’s two biggest economies.China’s extensive territorial claims in the South China Sea, which it says are based on historic maps, have put it at odds with Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam, which have competing claims to islands and features.Collin Koh, a research fellow at Singapore’s Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, said there was interest from military buyers in big-ticket purchases such as new generation fighter jets, though costs could be a mitigating factor after the pandemic-related economic slump.“Drones, fixed- and rotary-winged transports, maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, for example, would be more sought after given the utility of these assets for a whole range of peacetime purposes,” he added.


Govt announces extra RM100 cash aid for B40 households

The government today announced additional cash aid for the B40 or Bottom 40 income group of RM100 for households and RM50 for singles under the Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia (BKM) initiative.In a speech aired live today, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the additional assistance was meant to help the B40 group tackle the cost of living and the recent increase in price of goods.He said it would involve an extra RM630 million on top of the second phase of BKM payments, and would benefit almost 8.6 million recipients comprising four million households, 1.2 million senior citizens and 3.4 million single individuals.“Eligible recipients will begin receiving payments in stages from June 27, involving a total allocation of RM1.74 billion,” he said.Ismail also sought to clear the air over the matter of cooking oil subsidies, saying the subsidies introduced in 2007 for cooking oil in packets would remain in place.He said only the temporary subsidies programme for bottled cooking oil introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic would be discontinued.“During the Covid-19 pandemic, in August 2021, the government introduced the temporary subsidies programme for 1kg, 2kg, 3kg and 5kg bottled cooking oil,” he said.“This initiative was to help the Malaysian Family which at that time was affected by the pandemic.“It was only meant to be implemented for three months, at a cost of RM55 million per month.”However, Ismail said the government found that the subsidised cooking oil had been heavily misappropriated for industrial, commercial and smuggling activities.“Therefore, the government decided that from July 1 onwards, subsidies for bottled cooking oil would be discontinued as the early objective of this programme was to help those affected by the pandemic.“For this, only the subsidies for packaged cooking oil will continue, and the government is confident that the subsidy of 60,000 metric tonnes a month will be enough for the use of the Malaysian Family,” he said.Yesterday, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said that subsidies for bottled cooking oil would be discontinued from July 1, along with the price ceiling control for chicken and chicken eggs.However, he said that the subsidy for cooking oil in 1kg polybag packages offered to consumers at RM2.50 per packet would continue.He also said that chicken prices would be floated and would depend on market forces, while targeted financial aid would be given to those in need.


Hong Kong financial market trading starts after ‘black rainstorm’ delay

Trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange finally got underway on Monday afternoon after its morning session was cancelled due to extreme weather.The decision to open the market came after the government cancelled an earlier “black rainstorm” warning.The city has three levels of rainstorm warning, with black being the highest after amber and red.Landslides and flooding were reported in some parts of the Asian finance hub as it was hit with abnormally high amounts of rainfall in a few hours.Schools and Covid-19 vaccination services were also suspended due to safety concerns.The Hong Kong Stock Exchange announced that trading would start from 1.30pm local time after the black rainstorm warning was lifted as the extreme weather conditions eased.It was the city’s first black rainstorm warning this year, with more than 150mm of rain reported in the Western part of Hong Kong and the islands of Lantau and Lamma. Several other districts saw at least 70mm of rain.The storm delayed a flight carrying Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam and her delegation to Beijing for the Chinese Communist Party’s 100th anniversary celebrations by around an hour, according to the South China Morning Post.Many in the world of finance are wondering if Hong Kong will be able to weather the storm of an increasingly assertive Beijing in its internal affairs.Over the past two decades, as China has risen to become the world’s second-largest economy, Hong Kong has skillfully cultivated its role and become the most important international financial centre after New York and London, the Economist reported.China’s tech tycoons sell shares to Californian hedge funds, its state-run banks issue loans to fund Belt and Road projects and its authorities intervene to control its tightly managed exchange rate.Much of the financial business is denominated in the world’s reserve currency, the US dollar, organised by Western firms and overseen by independent courts and regulators that have more in common with their peers in the rich world than with their counterparts in Beijing or Shanghai.The continuing success of Hong Kong is and will remain a key part of China’s growing global dominance.


Former Bukit Aman CID director Zaman Khan dies

Former Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Zaman Khan Rahim Khan died at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur today. He was 80.Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani confirmed the news when contacted by Bernama.Meanwhile, former inspector-general of police Mohd Hanif Omar said Zaman’s remains would be taken to the Bukit Aman Mosque for funeral prayers, with the burial scheduled at the Bukit Kiara Islamic Cemetery after the asar (afternoon) prayers.Zaman was Bukit Aman CID director from 1989 to 1993 and had handled a number of high-profile cases including the cases of notorious robber Botak Chin (Wong Swee Chin) and gangster P Kalimuthu or Bentong Kali.He also served as the Selangor police chief from 1975 to 1978 and ended his service in the uniformed forces as the director-general of the prisons department in 1997.Prior to taking over as Selangor police chief, Zaman was also involved in handling the Japanese Red Army hostage situation in August 1975.


Shafee fails in bid to appeal against court’s refusal to expunge affidavit on RM9.5 million from Najib

The Federal Court today struck out lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah’s application to obtain leave to appeal against the Court of Appeal’s refusal to expunge an affidavit containing the allegation that he had received RM9.5 million from Najib Razak.A three-member panel led by Court of Appeal president Rohana Yusuf said the matters Shafee sought to raise in today’s proceedings could be raised at the main appeal hearing at the Court of Appeal in March.This was after Shafee’s counsel Harvinderjit Singh agreed to withdraw the leave to appeal application if parties were in agreement that the issue on the admissibility of the affidavit had not been determined.Lawyer Gopal Sri Ram, appearing for Anwar Ibrahim, and senior federal counsel Suzana Atan for the government, argued that Shafee’s leave to appeal application was premature as issues on the admissibility of the affidavit could be raised and determined in the Court of Appeal.The proceedings today before justice Rohana and Federal Court judges Nallini Pathmanathan and Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal were conducted virtually.Shafee had sought leave to pursue his appeal against the Court of Appeal’s refusal to expunge an affidavit by former attorney-general Tommy Thomas’s special task officer Siti Rahayu Mohd Mumazani and to cross-examine her.Siti Rahayu had filed an affidavit containing an allegation that RM9.5 million was paid to Shafee from the former prime minister’s bank accounts between 2013 and 2014.The Court of Appeal in 2018, however, allowed Shafee to intervene in Anwar’s appeal in relation to his civil action against the government over his sodomy conviction against his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.Anwar, who is Port Dickson MP, is appealing to the Court of Appeal against the Nov 8, 2017, decision of the Kuala Lumpur High Court to allow the government’s application to strike out his originating summons. The appeal is scheduled to be heard on March 5.In his originating summons filed against the government on June 9, 2017, Anwar claimed that he did not get a fair trial in the appeal against his sodomy conviction.In his affidavit, Anwar alleged that Shafee had received RM9.5 million from Najib to lead the prosecution team in the appeal over his sodomy conviction.He sought a declaration that his conviction by the Court of Appeal on March 7, 2014 was ultra vires the Federal Constitution and thus null and void. He also sought a court order that the Federal Court’s decision to uphold the Court of Appeal’s ruling was null and void.Anwar’s conviction and five-year jail term for sodomising Saiful were upheld by the Federal Court. However, he was given a full pardon by the king on May 16, 2018.Lawyer J Leela also appeared for Anwar while senior federal counsel Shamsul Bolhassan appeared with Suzana for the government.


Covid-19 jeopardises a dream from Kuching slums

For as long as he can remember, Albert has wanted to be a doctor.It’s a challenging dream for the 16-year-old, made even more so by the arrival of Covid-19.As it is, he and hundreds of thousands of students across the country lost a significant chunk of the last academic year to disruptions which upended traditional classrooms and pushed lessons online.Although students sitting for public examinations were allowed to physically return to school this week, others like Albert will remain in the virtual classroom for now.For Albert, though, his home environment makes this harder than it would be for many of his peers.Albert lives in a squatter colony at Kampung Jalan Chawan 13, near the Kuching city centre. This effectively means that he and his family are camped on an illegal site.There is no solid waste management, no proper sanitation, no safe water supply and no electricity.Most of the houses there are in dilapidated condition. There is no solid waste management for this site, made plain by the rubbish strewn along the pathways and under the houses.There is also no proper sanitation, no safe water supply and no electricity.But none of this is enough to dampen Albert’s ambition.Although there is no electricity supply in his house, he makes do with what he has.“Usually I will do my homework at school,” he told MalaysiaNow. “Either early in the morning or after school ends.”At night, he revises his lessons by candlelight. Sometimes he uses a kerosene lamp or a battery-powered light.“But it’s difficult because if I read the book, I need to write notes. That’s why I prefer to do it in school.”Albert is determined to achieve his dream of becoming a doctor.Even simple things like charging a mobile phone requires a trip to a nearby shop where the shopkeeper charges about RM5 per hour.While Albert is determined to do what he can, others are less motivated.Senorita Choi, who has three children, told MalaysiaNow that the slow internet connection had caused many students there to lose interest in their lessons. The lag also means that they miss out on many parts of the class.She is worried about her own children who have been bringing home poor grades.“When others have already logged into their online class, I’m still here waiting for the line to stabilise.“If they miss their class, they have to ask their classmates,” she said.All of the families who live in the squatter colony make do without even the most basic of necessities.But internet connection is not the biggest concern as most of the settlers do not even have proper washroom facilities. Instead, they make do with makeshift toilets.The water meter is shared among several families who take turns to carry home their daily supply.Each family appoints a leader to collect payments and to draft the water-fetching schedule. The bill is then shared accordingly, Choi said.“We collect water in the morning because it can only be obtained for one or two hours.”


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Get booster shot by February or risk vaccination status, says health ministry

From February 2022 onwards, senior citizens above the age of 60 and those who have received two shots of the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine will need to have taken a third booster jab in order to maintain their status as fully vaccinated, the health ministry announced today.In a statement, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said this was in line with the proposal by the World Health Organization (WHO) through its Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation or SAGE.“This proposal was confirmed by the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force – Booster on Dec 8,” he said.“Accordingly, individuals in the aforementioned groups – those who have been fully vaccinated with Sinovac or individuals aged 60 and above, regardless of which vaccine they were initially given – must obtain a booster shot by February 2022 at the latest.“If they have not received their booster shots by February 2022, their vaccination status will be changed to incomplete, and they will not be eligible for the facilities accorded to those who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.”The government began administering booster shots for fully vaccinated people on Oct 13.As of Dec 15, a total of 4,107,585 booster jabs had been administered under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.Concerns have been raised about the low uptake of booster shots, with Khairy saying in November that some 40% of those given appointments were not showing up for their jabs.The Kelantan health department meanwhile said yesterday that only 7.3% of the state’s 1.2 million fully vaccinated adults had taken their booster shots.


Govt aiming to eliminate hardcore poverty by 2025

The government aims to eliminate hardcore poverty by 2025 by focusing on 2.9 million B40 households with monthly incomes of below RM4,850 in the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).According to the 12MP document issued by the Economic Planning Unit today, special attention will be given to the poorest districts and locations in urban and rural areas in order to eradicate poverty and reduce household inequality.In addressing poverty and building an inclusive society, the government outlined six priority areas namely addressing poverty and narrowing inequality from a multidimensional perspective; empowering the B40; supporting the M40 towards an equitable society; achieving an equitable outcome for the Bumiputera; enhancing the development of the Orang Asli community; and empowering specific target groups.Among the strategies for addressing poverty and narrowing inequality from a multidimensional perspective are increasing the income of the poor and addressing the quality of life of the urban poor.Through the strategies, a total of 50,000 poor households will benefit from the continuation of the housing assistance programme aimed at repairing dilapidated houses while an additional 500,000 affordable houses will be constructed to provide quality and decent housing for the group.During the 11MP, the country recorded an increase in the mean monthly income of B40 households from RM2,848 in 2016 to RM3,152 in 2019. However, the overall Gini coefficient increased to 0.407 from 0.399, reflecting a widening income inequality gap.According to the document, the multidimensional poverty index (MPI) which measures poverty based on four dimensions namely income, education, health and living standards, improved from 0.015 in 2016 to 0.011 in 2019.The 12MP also focuses on the M40 as one of the priority areas to create a just society by outlining four strategies: boosting income, improving access to quality and affordable education, encouraging health and employment protection, and increasing housing ownership.The document states that in line with the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030, concerted efforts will be made in support of the commitment to make Malaysia a developed and prosperous country with fair and equitable distribution of wealth.In the document, six strategies were also formulated to empower specific target groups, namely children, youth, women, the elderly and the disabled and families.


Tourism sector inches back to life with relaxed travel restrictions for some states

After nearly a year of inactivity due to border controls and travel restrictions thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, tour operators have found a second wind in the government’s decision to allow the resumption of domestic tourism among states under the recovery movement control order (RMCO).The green light for travel through licensed tour operators, seen as the first step towards the revival of the tourism industry following the latest string of lockdowns which began in January, has seen tour agencies coming back to life in the hope of recuperating some of the losses suffered so far.Siti Noraishah Ahmad, from Seroja Anggerik Travel & Tours, is now busy studying the SOPs laid out by the National Security Council to ensure that the packages offered by the agency are in line with government directives.“There are several SOPs that need to be followed, including getting police approval.Siti Noraishah Ahmad.“This makes us take seriously the health of our customers, whom we hope will also be honest in sharing details on their health,” she told MalaysiaNow.She said her agency is currently focused on offering group packages capped at 10 to 20 people.“For now, we will offer packages for small groups, with more privacy because we understand that approval has just recently been given,” she added.“And travel is only allowed between states under RMCO.”Senior Minister for Security Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the green light under the targeted travel bubble programme, beginning March 10, would be contingent on adherence to SOPs including the requirement to go through registered travel agencies under the tourism, arts and culture ministry.Likewise, only vehicles such as tour buses registered with the ministry are allowed, with travel in privately owned vehicles still prohibited.Perlis, Langkawi, Terengganu, Pahang, Melaka and Sabah were under RMCO as of March 10.N Subramaniam, president of the Malaysian Association of Hotels, said the latest development was a good sign for the tourism industry despite the continued restrictions on interstate travel across the rest of the country.“We understand the government’s care in trying to curb Covid-19 infections with this move,” he told MalaysiaNow.He also suggested that permission be given to those with confirmation of hotel bookings to travel by plane to states under RMCO.He said hotel managements would also prioritise safety and cleanliness, including those under the association.The tourism, arts and culture ministry recently voiced hope that tourists would adhere to the SOPs set by the government to curb the spread of Covid-19.“Let us work together and continue praying that the tourism industry and local culture no longer need to go through hard times due to the closure of activities, because this has a negative impact on the economic chain,” its minister Nancy Shukri said in a statement.She also thanked the government for allowing live events with audiences in states under RMCO and conditional MCO, subject to strict SOPs.


Daily caseload dips to 858 as another 3 deaths logged

Another 858 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 5,021,242.
There were 1,119 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,969,828.
There are now 14,590 active cases, of which 13,685 or 93.8% are undergoing home quarantine.
Meanwhile, 0 (0%) are at quarantine centres while 859 (5.9%) have been hospitalised.
A total of 46 are in ICU with 23 in need of respiratory assistance.
Three more deaths were reported, taking total deaths to 36,824.


Leaving BN a blessing in disguise, Sarawak CM says after Melaka return

Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg today said that the state would not have had a voice if Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) had remained in Barisan Nasional (BN), a day after the latter emerged victorious in the Melaka state election.Speaking at a groundbreaking ceremony in Kuching, Abang Johari said Sarawak leaders had had no choice but to comply with all orders from the federal government during their time under BN rule.“The political crisis at the federal level caused us to leave BN,” he said.“With BN’s basic principle that any decision must be agreed on by consensus, there was no space for us to bring up issues or to go against something we did not agree with.“That’s why we decided to quit BN. We can now speak out on any issue. We can take care of our state. Who else would know Sarawak better than us? No one can stop us, no one can say no to us. We will continue to fight for Sarawak’s rights.”GPS, comprising Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, Parti Rakyat Sarawak, the Progressive Democratic Party and the Sarawak United People’s Party, was formed following BN’s shock defeat at the 2018 general election.On the results of the Melaka election yesterday, Abang Johari said a clear message had been sent to political leaders.“Firstly, the people reject ‘frogs’. Secondly, the people want a stable government to focus on solving the econmic and health problems.”He also spoke of an “empty” party, believed to be a reference to PKR which lost in all of the seats it contested.“But come to Sarawak too,” he added. “So we have to learn from this lesson.”His comments follow a meeting by PKR president Anwar Ibrahim with party leaders and supporters in Sarawak yesterday.At the Melaka state election, BN had won 21 of the 28 seats in the legislative assembly. Umno won 18 seats, MCA two and MIC one.Pakatan Harapan meanwhile won five seats, four of which were won by DAP out of the eight which the party had contested.Perikatan Nasional won two seats.


Daily caseload dips to 4,360 as one more death logged

Another 4,360 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 4,918,917.
There were 3,429 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,846,897.
There are now 35,539 active cases, of which 33,874 or 95.3% are undergoing home quarantine.
Meanwhile, 0 (0.0%) are at quarantine centres while 1,592 (4.5%) have been hospitalised.
A total of 73 are in ICU with 53 in need of respiratory assistance.
One more death was reported, taking total deaths to 36,481.


Indonesian rescue workers race to find victims trapped by deadly quake

Indonesian rescue workers were racing on Tuesday to reach people still trapped in rubble a day after an earthquake devastated a West Java town, killing at least 162 people and injuring hundreds, as officials warned the death toll may rise.
The epicentre of the shallow 5.6-magnitude quake hit on land close to the town of Cianjur in a mountainous area of Indonesia's most populous province. The tremor on Monday afternoon prompted panicked residents to flee onto the streets as buildings collapsed.
Overnight a hospital parking lot in Cianjur was inundated with victims, some treated in makeshift tents, others hooked up to intravenous drips on the pavement, while medical workers stitched up patients under the light of torches.
"Everything collapsed beneath me and I was crushed beneath this child," Cucu, a 48-year-old resident, told Reuters, from the crowded hospital parking area.
"Two of my kids survived, I dug them up... Two others I brought here, and one is still missing," she said through tears.
On Tuesday morning, hundreds of police officers had been deployed to assist in rescue efforts, Dedi Prasetyo, national police spokesperson told the Antara state news agency.
"Today's main task order for personnel is to focus on evacuating victims," he said.
At least 162 people were killed in Monday's quake, many of them children, with more than 300 injured, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil said, warning some residents remained trapped in isolated places.
Authorities were operating "under the assumption that the number of injured and death will rise with time", he said.
The national disaster agency (BNPB) said it had confirmed the deaths of 62 people, but had not verified 100 additional victims.
Cianjur police chief told Metro TV news channel that 20 people had been evacuated from Cugenang so far, most of whom had died, with residents still reporting missing family members.
The area was hit by a landslide triggered by the quake that had blocked access to the area on Monday.
Rescue efforts were complicated by electricity outages in some areas, and more than 80 aftershocks.
The earthquake, which struck at a depth of just 10km (6.2 miles) and was felt strongly in the capital Jakarta about 75km away, damaged at least 2,200 homes and displaced more than 5,000 people, the BNPB said.
Straddling the so-called "Ring of Fire", a highly seismically active zone where different plates on the earth's crust meet, Indonesia has a history of devastating earthquakes.
In 2004, a 9.1 magnitude quake off Sumatra island in northern Indonesia triggered a tsunami that struck 14 countries, killing 226,000 people along the Indian Ocean coastline, more than half of them in Indonesia.


What fate for the Umno court cluster at the polling booth?

Analysts expect Barisan Nasional (BN) to meet stiff resistance from Perikatan Nasional (PN) at the 15th general election (GE15) next month if the latter chooses to capitalise on the predicament of the so-called court cluster comprising Umno leaders who are facing criminal charges in court.
With former prime minister Najib Razak serving a 12-year jail term at Kajang Prison, and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi facing a string of corruption charges despite his recent acquittal of 40, Ahmad Atory Hussain said the court cluster would face a strong fight from PN if the coalition amped up its campaign, particularly in using social media to reveal scandals involving graft.
"If the court cluster doesn't double its efforts, it might lose," Atory, of Universiti Sains Malaysia, said.
"If PN fields strong candidates who can keep pace with their competitors, the court cluster will sway in the face of this challenge."
While Zahid might win his seat if he had no opponent stronger than him, Atory added, BN might have a hard time keeping Pekan, where Najib can no longer be fielded as a candidate.
"The army vote is also split now," he said. "The grassroots have split towards Bersatu and PAS.
"This time, competition for that seat will be fierce."
Talk of Najib's son, Nizar, being fielded in his place has been rife ahead of GE15 which is scheduled to be held on Nov 19.
But for Atory, any nomination of Nizar would depend on the assessment of the Pekan Umno division.
He said the leadership would have to take into account the strength of the party in Pahang, which was no longer what it once was.
Najib and Zahid aside, Umno leaders such as Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and former Tabung Haji chairman Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim have had their day in court as well, in addition to Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan and Sabah BN chairman Bung Moktar Radin and his wife, Zizie Ezette.
With their reputations smeared by their legal battles, the question is what fate will befall them come GE15.
Azmil Tayeb, a political analyst from Universiti Sains Malaysia, said whether these leaders are released or convicted might not bring about any significant change at the polling booth.
"The Umno leaders who have been charges have strong grassroots support and a long track record of service in their areas," he said.
"Their reputation might have been damaged at the national level, but at the local level, they are still seen as representatives who have given much for the people and brought about development and progress."
Oh Ei Sun, a senior fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, said that voting patterns might depend on the demographics of the parliamentary seats represented by the court cluster.
"Voters who are aware of these issues in seats that are more urban and less rural, like Pontian, will be more affected by their renomination as candidates," he said.
"But voters in mostly rural seats like Baling and Bagan Datuk might be more tolerant of even serious charges, as long as the material benefits they receive from the incumbents continue."


Vaccines not just for rich countries, says WHO

The world’s poorest and most vulnerable must not be “trampled in the stampede” for Covid-19 vaccines, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) is warning.Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual news conference on Monday the question was “not whether the world can afford to share, but whether it can afford not to”.He said the promising results from vaccine trials meant that “the light at the end of this long dark tunnel is growing brighter”. But he is concerned that wealthier countries will buy up available stocks of successful vaccines, leaving poorer nations empty handed.He urged more countries to join the global vaccine sharing scheme that WHO helped to create known as Covax, which he said 187 countries have signed up to.Covax aims to deliver two billion vaccine doses around the world by the end of 2021, but it is struggling to raise the funds needed to distribute supplies to more than 90 low-income countries.German Chancellor Angela Merkel is urging Covax to start talks immediately with producers.“I am concerned that there are no negotiations,” Merkel told journalists on Sunday after the G20 summit, at which leaders of the 20 biggest economies vowed to spare no effort to supply Covid-19 drugs, tests and vaccines to the world affordably and fairly.Merkel said that, unlike Covax, the European Union and the US were already advanced in their efforts to secure vaccine doses. “The most important thing is that Covax now negotiates with producers of vaccines with the money it already has.”


Paris prosecutors in involuntary manslaughter probe into 3 deaths after AstraZeneca jab

Paris prosecutors are taking on and combining into a involuntary manslaughter probe three separate investigations over deaths of three people who were given the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in France, they said Wednesday.Prosecutors specialised in leading complex investigations into health products will take on the preliminary probes already opened after complaints were filed in Toulouse, Paris and Nantes.The initial investigations had been carried out by regional prosecutors.According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, the plaintiffs are questioning if there was a causal role of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the deaths of their loved ones.“We first went to local prosecutors for the sake of speed and to have autopsies and then asked them to transfer the file to Paris,” Etienne Boittin, the lawyer behind the complaints told AFP.In Nantes, a medical student aged 26 died suddenly of a blood clot on March 18 just a few days after getting vaccinated with the AstraZeneca jab. The case from Toulouse concerns a social worker aged 38 who also died of a blood clot after her health deteriorated sharply after getting the jab.Boittin said he was handling 15 cases of people who died in France after having been vaccinated with AstraZeneca, the vast majority of them aged “under 60 years”.France’s national health authority last month said the AstraZeneca vaccine should only be given to those aged 55 and over because of reports of potentially deadly blood clots in a very small number of younger people vaccinated.The move is broadly similar to actions taken by several European countries although Denmark has banned the use of the vaccine outright.The authorities have also said under-55s who received a first injection of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine should be given a second jab from a different producer.However France has said it has full confidence in the AstraZeneca vaccine for the over-55s and emphasised it retains a key role in the vaccine rollout.“You are 50 times more likely to get a vein blood clot crossing the Atlantic by plane than getting vaccinated with AstraZeneca. Vaccines protect us from Covid-19. Let’s not give into mistrust!” Health Minister Olivier Veran said earlier this month.


Najib had absolute power in SRC, appeals court told

The Court of Appeal was told today that Najib Razak had absolute power over SRC International Sdn Bhd, including in hiring and firing its directors, as the company’s constitution allowed it.Ad hoc prosecutor V Sithambaram submitted that a provision in SRC International’s memorandum and articles of association stated that nobody could be appointed as director without the blessing of the then-prime minister.Sithambaram said this before a three-member bench led by judge Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil in the hearing of Najib’s appeal against his conviction and jail sentence for the misappropriation of RM42 million in SRC International funds.The other two judges on the bench were Has Zanah Mehat and Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera.Sithambaram: We are saying that Najib had the power in hiring and firing the SRC (directors).Karim: Not the board of directors?Sithambaram: No.The prosecutor also said Najib was the “controlling mind” of the company in his capacity as the prime minister, finance minister and adviser emeritus of SRC International at the time.“The board acted on the instruction of Najib through SRC CEO Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil who was the ‘mountain’ behind the appellant (Najib),” he added.Sithambaram added that former SRC International chairman Ismee Ismail and the company’s director Suboh Md Yassin had testified on Najib’s authority during the trial at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.He said Najib was involved in SRC International as early as 2011 when the company was incorporated as a private limited company.Sithambaram said the company constitution stated that Najib must be referred to if certain key decisions were to be made.The prosecutor added that the company first became a subsidiary of 1MDB and was later placed under the Ministry of Finance Incorporated.The Kuala Lumpur High Court on July 28 last year sentenced Najib to 12 years’ jail and fined him RM210 million after finding him guilty on seven charges of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of position involving RM42 million in SRC International funds.The hearing of the appeal continues.


Indonesia says no more compulsory hijab for schoolgirls

Indonesia has banned schools from forcing girls to wear Islamic “hijab” headscarves after the case of a Christian pupil pressured to cover up sparked outrage in the world’s most populous Muslim nation.The move was applauded Friday by rights activists, who say non-Muslim girls have been forced for years to wear a hijab in conservative parts of the country.State schools across the Southeast Asian archipelago of nearly 270 million will face sanctions if they fail to comply with the edict from Education Minister Nadiem Makarim.On Wednesday he said religious attire was an individual choice, and said schools “cannot make it compulsory”.Schools that violate the rules could see their government funding cut, he added.“The decree is a positive step to protect women’s rights in Indonesia,” said Andreas Harsono, senior researcher at Human Rights Watch in Jakarta.He said public schools had forced millions of girls and women teachers to wear a hijab, prompting “bullying, intimidation, social pressures – and in some cases, expulsion and forced resignation” if they didn’t.There have been concerns about growing religious intolerance in a nation where nearly 90% of the population follows Islam.The headscarf issue grabbed headlines after a Christian student in West Sumatra’s Padang City was pressured to wear a hijab.She refused, and her parents later secretly recorded a meeting with an official who insisted that school rules required all girls to wear a hijab, regardless of their religion.The school later issued an apology after the video went viral.Religious affairs minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas described the Sumatra case as the “tip of the iceberg”.“Religion is not supposed to be a reason for conflict or a justification to act unfairly towards those with different beliefs,” he said.The new regulations will not apply to conservative Aceh province, which follows religious law under a longstanding autonomy deal.


Mission impossible: To rescue Tom Cruise’s stolen luggage

The mission for British police on Friday, should they choose to accept it, was to recover the luggage of Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise after his bodyguard’s car was stolen.Cruise’s bags were in the BMW X7 that was taken on Monday from outside the hotel in Birmingham, central England, where he is currently staying, The Sun tabloid reported.The car was recovered “a short time later” but the contents were reportedly still missing.“Everything inside it had gone,” a source told the paper.The 59-year-old US actor is in Britain filming the seventh instalment of the “Mission Impossible” series.“We received a report of a BMW X7 stolen from Church Street, Birmingham,” a West Midlands Police spokesman confirmed, but did not reveal the identity of the owner.“The car was recovered a short time later. Inquiries are ongoing.”According to the British tabloid, the thieves intercepted the signal used by the luxury car’s ignition key in a ruse reminiscent of one of Cruise’s films.The star has caused a stir in the Midlands since his arrival, dining out in a curry house and landing his helicopter in a family’s garden.


'Allah' issue should be discussed behind closed doors, PM says

The issue relating to the use of the word "Allah" by non-Muslims should not be discussed openly to the extent of causing confusion among Muslims, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said.
He also reiterated that the government's decision to withdraw its appeal in the court case relating to the use of the word "Allah" was made after seeking the views of the muftis and referring to the decrees of the Malay rulers.
He said the matter has been repeatedly explained, including in the Parliament, before.
“Meaning that only the Muslims in Peninsular Malaysia can use the word 'Allah' to avoid confusion and problems with other religions. So, non-Muslims in the peninsula are not allowed (to use the word). But, for Sabah and Sarawak, there are some relaxations with restrictions (for non-Muslims to use it) so as not to cause confusion.
"The issue can be discussed and debated, but only behind closed doors. It should not be done openly and confuse the people. However, we are still being accused of betraying the people's trust," he said at the Muzakarah Ulama-Umara held in conjunction with the Selangor Turath Islami festival in Shah Alam today.


Remove PM's role in appointment and elevation of judges

Madpet (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture) demands confirmation that the recent appointment of High Court judges, Court of Appeal judges, Federal Court judges, the new president of the Court of Appeal Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, the new Chief Judge of Malaya Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah, and the new Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Abdul Rahman Sebli was as recommended by the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC), and not the decision of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim who ignored all or some of the recommendation of the JAC.
As it is now, the Federal Constitution in Article 122B(1) still states that "the chief justice of the Federal Court, the president of the Court of Appeal and the chief judges of the High Courts and (subject to Article 122C) the other judges of the Federal Court, of the Court of Appeal and of the High Courts, shall be appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, acting on the advice of the prime minister, after consulting the Conference of Rulers." There is a need for a speedy amendment of the constitution to remove the prime minister, to be replaced by an independent JAC.
On Sept 26, 2007, about 2,000 lawyers of the Malaysian Bar gathered at the entrance of the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya before marching to the Prime Minister’s Office to deliver the Bar Council’s memorandum, which among others called for an independent JAC to select appoint judges. Concern about the independence in the selection of judges arose when a video emerged showing a lawyer discussing with a senior judge about appointments of judges.
The government responded positively in the enactment of Judicial Appointments Commission Act 2009 (Act 695), whereby the commission was to submit recommendations to the prime minister. It was expected that the prime minister would follow the recommendation of the JAC and advise the king as such.
However, a task force in October 2022 alleged that four individuals appointed to the top judicial posts in July 2018 differed from those selected by the JAC and conveyed to then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in June 2018.
Given this, and the possible disregard of the prime minister to the recommendation of the JAC, there is a need to amend the Federal Constitution, to remove the role played by the prime minister in the selection and appointment of judges. It should be replaced with the JAC directly advising the king.
When it comes to the JAC, at present the prime minister plays a role in the appointment, and this needs to be removed. Section 5(1) of the Judicial Appointments Commission Act 2009 now states that "the commission shall consist of the following members: (a) the chief justice of the Federal Court who shall be the chairman; (b) the president of the Court of Appeal; (c) the chief judge of the High Court in Malaya; (d) the chief judge of the High Court in Sabah and Sarawak; (e) a Federal Court judge to be appointed by the prime minister; and (f) four eminent persons, who are not members of the executive or other public service, appointed by the prime minister after consulting the Bar Council of Malaysia, the Sabah Law Association, the Advocates Association of Sarawak, the attorney-general of the federation, the attorney-general of a state legal service or any other relevant bodies."
Thus, there is a need to amend the Judicial Appointments Commission Act 2009, to ensure that the four eminent persons are selected and appointed not by the prime minister.
The Conference of Rulers on Nov 30, 2022 also proposed the removal of the prime minister's power to appoint four representatives to the nine-member JAC, the body which proposes candidates to be made judges in the superior courts.
Negeri Sembilan's Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, on behalf of the Conference of Rulers, also was reported saying that "to ensure the independence of JAC in carrying out its responsibilities, I propose that the appointment of its five members should not be made by the prime minister. Instead it should be given to other institutions such as the Malaysian Bar Council, the Sabah Law Society, the Sarawak Bar Association and the parliamentary select committee."
Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, on Jan 9, 2023, called for the amendment of the Federal Constitution, and the Judicial Appointments Commission Act 2009. She said: "We will not reach the objective of appointing judges without executive involvement, if the current provision (which requires executive consultation) remains." She said the prevailing public perception of executive involvement in the appointment of judges must also be removed.
The conviction of the previous prime minister Najib Razak, and the fact that many members or former members of the Cabinet have pending cases in court, make it all the more urgent to remove the prevailing public perception of executive involvement in the appointment of judges. Will judges chosen or elevated by the prime minister be seen to be independent in cases involving the prime minister, his Cabinet members or even the government?
In court today, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim himself too has commenced several defamation suits in court, among others against  Muhyiddin Yassin, Kuala Terengganu MP Ahmad Amzad Hashim, Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor and Perak PAS chief Razman Zakaria. There is also the case of Yusoff Rawther, a former research assistant to Anwar, claiming sexual assault against Anwar that is still pending in court.
Noting the urgency and the current state of affairs, the Federal Constitution and the Judicial Appointments Commission Act 2009 must be speedily amended to remove the perception of executive involvement in the appointment and elevation of judges.
The required bills should be tabled at the upcoming Parliamentary session, and they should be passed easily considering that Anwar has the support of more than two-thirds of the MPs, which is required for amendments to the Federal Constitution.
Madpet also calls for immediate disclosure as to whether Anwar appointed and elevated judges as per the recommendation of the JAC, or if he opted to ignore the JAC recommendations and appointed or elevated judges on his own. The names of judges appointed or elevated, different from those recommended by the JAC must be made known, and it would be best that these judges consider recusing themselves from cases involving the government or the prime minister, Cabinet members or politicians.
The perception that Malaysia has an independent judiciary is a matter of great urgency, and the needed amendments to the constitution must not be delayed.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


Covid cases still under control, says health minister

There is no need to panic as the number of Covid-19 cases in the country is still under control, says Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa.
She said the number of deaths due to Covid-19 was also still low, mostly involving the elderly and individuals with comorbidities.
She said while the transmission rate of the latest Omicron sub-variants was faster than the previous ones, it was still under control with no severe symptoms involved.
"The sub-variants that we have identified are XBB 1.5, XBB 1.16 and XBB 1.9.1. They are still the Omicron type," she said at a press conference after attending a town hall session on the health white paper in Kuala Lumpur today.
Meanwhile, she advised the public to wear face masks if they are experiencing any symptoms. "We also encourage individuals with symptoms to do a screening test for Covid-19 as well as to wear a face mask, especially during the festive period when meeting with family and so on. If you have symptoms, avoid spreading the virus to the rest of the family," she said.
Meanwhile, in another development, she said 4,264 contract medical officers had been appointed to permanent positions as of yesterday.
On April 4, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that 12,800 of 20,330 contract doctors would be absorbed into permanent positions within three years, involving an additional allocation of RM1.7 billion.


Taiwan blames ‘Chinese bullying’ after Guyana backs out of office deal

Taiwan on Friday blamed Beijing’s “bullying” for Guyana’s decision to renege on a deal for the island to open a representative office in the capital Georgetown, Reuters reports.The office had already begun initial operations last month, as reported by MalaysiaNow, functioning as a business promotion centre but also as a de facto embassy. The move had been welcomed by Washington and condemned by Beijing.Taiwan’s foreign ministry said that because of Chinese pressure Guyana had “unilaterally” decided to back out. Taipei’s efforts to persuade Guyana to stick to the deal had failed, it said.“We express our strongest dissatisfaction and condemnation of the Chinese government once again bullying and compressing Taiwan’s international space and Taiwan’s participation in international affairs,” the ministry said.“The Chinese government’s way of saying one thing and doing another will only highlight its evil nature and alienate people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.”China’s continued efforts to isolate Taiwan in the international arena runs counter to declarations by its leaders that it is against bullying and that “no one with thick arms and big fists has the final say”, it added.China is gradually whittling down the number of countries which still maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan and now only 14 do, almost all of them developing countries including Haiti, Nicaragua and tiny Nauru in the Pacific.America has been particularly concerned at China’s efforts to influence Taiwan’s allies in Latin America and the Caribbean, a traditional area of US influence.Washington attacked El Salvador’s decision to break diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favour of China in 2018, saying the change was of grave concern to Washington and warning that China was offering economic inducements to seek domination of the region.


Define 'luxury', experts say ahead of tax on pricey goods

Tax experts have called for a set definition of luxury goods before a tax on such items is established, as outlined by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in the new budget for 2023.
Mohd Fairuz A Razak said in a developing country like Malaysia, the most basic facilities like electricity, air transport and even certain clothes could be considered subjective.
"If a luxury tax must be introduced, a clear and distinct definition or categorisation of which items are considered luxury goods should be established," Fairuz, the secretary-general of the Malaysian Association of Tax Accountants, said.
Speaking to MalaysiaNow, he added that variations and inconsistencies regarding the definition of "luxury" existed from country to country.
Retabling the budget in the Dewan Rakyat last week, Anwar who also holds the finance portfolio said that the government had no plans to reintroduce the goods and services tax (GST).
Instead, he announced the luxury tax as well as a hike in income tax rate of between 0.5% and 2% for those earning between RM100,000 and RM1 million.
His deputy finance minister Steven Sim later said that the increase in tax rate would only affect those earning a taxable income of RM230,000 and above per year.
A luxury tax is a tax imposed on goods that are considered expensive, unnecessary and unimportant.
Such items include cars, private jets, yachts and jewellery.
In Norway, Fairuz said, cars and chocolate alike are considered a luxury and subject to a luxury tax.
"There is also a risk that, over time, the term 'luxury' may change and goods that were once considered ordinary will become subject to the luxury tax, affecting more people," he said.
While the tax projection is estimated at about 4% to 5% of last year's income, he added, the data for those subject to the tax was still uncertain due to overhanging questions.
In line with inflation, he said, more goods might be taxed if the government needed to increase its income.
Economist Carmelo Ferlito said a luxury tax could be seen as against the principle of horizontal equity, which refers to the taxation of purchases instead of the type of product.
"Intuitively, the authorities tend to define luxury goods as goods that exceed a certain value.
"But here, the definition is totally arbitrary. There is no hard science for this," Carmelo, of the Center for Market Education, added.
Carmelo had previously criticised the government's narrative of "taxing the rich" through a boost in tax rates and the tax on luxury goods, saying it would bring no "real benefit for the country".
Fairuz meanwhile said that in other countries, the luxury tax is implemented through inclusion with the GST, and paid by the vendor who might then pass on the cost to consumers.
He gave the example of the US, where Congress enacted a 10% federal luxury tax in 1991.
"It was charged on the first sale price of some items sold for more than a certain amount," he said.
Carmelo agreed that the luxury tax would likely be implemented through an increase in sales and services tax percentage for certain goods.
"With regard to purchase habits, I don't think it will bring a radical shift in consumption habits," he said.
"It is more likely to send out the wrong psychological signal, putting Malaysia more and more in the territory of populist policies."


Gangsterism among problems in Selangor's illegal landfill fight

Physical obstacles and provocations from certain parties, including acts of gangsterism by the operators concerned, are among the factors hampering the state goverment in its efforts to eradicate the problem of illegal waste dumping and landfills in Selangor, the state assembly was told today.
State Local Government, Public Transport and New Village Development Committee chairman Ng Sze Han said the operators also had "tontos" to monitor the whereabouts of the authorities, making it difficult for action to be taken.
He said the provisions under the existing by-laws only cover garbage disposal trucks and do not include the operators of illegal landfills.
"There is no legal provision that can be imposed on the operators of illegal landfills," he said in response to a question from Edry Faizal Eddy Yusof (PH-Dusun Tua) on the obstacles faced by the state government in getting rid of illegal landfills.
He said the sites used as illegal landfills were privately owned land, and the presence of prayer sites in the area also made it difficult for enforcement action to be taken.


Party hoppers not welcome, PRS says after Masir signals interest in rejoining the fold

Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) today said it would not welcome former members who wished to rejoin the party, a day after Sri Aman MP Masir Kujat signalled his interest in returning following his exit from Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB).Speaking to MalaysiaNow, PRS Youth chief Snowdan Lawan described the act of party hopping as a “menace” that could destroy unity among members.“If there is a lesson to be learnt, then we should take heed of the ‘once bitten, twice shy’ approach and not be fooled by this type of antagonising political manoeuvre,” he said.He also suggested a measure to bar former members from rejoining in the absence of an anti-party hopping law.Masir yesterday said he was withdrawing from PSB with immediate effect and that he would fully support the leadership of Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.He had been a PRS member prior to joining PSB in 2019, and speculation was rife that he might now be returning to the Gabungan Parti Sarawak component.When contacted by MalaysiaNow, Masir said he would function as an independent MP but did not rule out the possibility of rejoining PRS.“If there is an offer, I may think about it,” he said. “If there is none, then I will continue to be an independent MP until the term ends in 2023.”Snowdan however said that Masir’s exit from PSB demonstrated the need for an anti-party hopping law before the 15th general election.“It’s anyone’s guess as to which party he might hop to, but no door should be opened to him,” he said, adding that Masir’s exit showed political immaturity and a lack of principles in politics.He also reminded Masir that support for him would come from the people.“We believe there will be insurmountable pressure from the rural people for him to deliver on development,” he added, referring to Masir’s current status as an independent.


Dine-in allowed as more social, business sectors to reopen nationwide

The National Security Council (NSC) chaired by Muhyiddin Yassin today agreed to allow restaurants to receive dine-in customers after being banned for several months.As with earlier announcements, only customers who have been fully vaccinated will be allowed to patronise eateries from tomorrow onwards.Other activities allowed include non-contact sports and recreational activities as well as pasar malam.Outdoor sports and recreational activities such as jogging, cycling, fishing and golf will be allowed from 6am until 10pm.In a statement, Muhyiddin warned that any violation of health SOPs would involve firm action including fines and closures.He also said restaurants should allocate more space for outdoor dining as the risk of Covid-19 spreading is higher in closed settings.The announcement did not set a limit on the number of diners, but said parents could bring along their unvaccinated children provided that they ensure strict compliance with SOPs.Camping and picnic activities will also be allowed, with children below the age of 17 allowed to participate subject to strict SOP compliance.Muhyiddin said the decision had taken into consideration the country’s vaccination rate which saw over 50% of adults fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as of today, earlier than the target date of Aug 31.He said the NSC meeting also took note of early positive developments from the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme or PICK in Labuan, Sarawak, Negeri Sembilan and the Klang Valley.“Data collected by the health ministry shows that the states above saw a decrease in number of Category Three to Five cases after the number of fully vaccinated adults aged 18 and above topped 40%,” he said.He said data from the Crisis Preparedness Response Centre for hospitals also showed that the situation in emergency departments throughout the Klang Valley had been improving.He said details would be provided by the NSC in the near future.


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AstraZeneca says vaccine 76% effective in updated US trial data

British-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca on Wednesday revised down by three percentage points the effectiveness of its Covid vaccine after American authorities raised concerns that results reported from its US trial were outdated.The company now says its vaccine is 76% rather than 79% effective at preventing any kind of symptomatic Covid.It remains 100% effective against severe Covid, it added.The move came after an independent panel of experts appointed to supervise the trial expressed concern that AstraZeneca had failed to include updated data in its initially released figure.The US National Institutes of Health then issued a highly unusual statement asking AstraZeneca to work with the panel and issue a new press release.“We look forward to filing our regulatory submission for Emergency Use Authorization in the US and preparing for the rollout of millions of doses across America,” said Mene Pangalos executive vice-president of biopharmaceuticals research and development.The new figure is based on 190 people who fell sick among 32,449 trial participants, two-thirds of whom received the vaccine while the rest received a placebo.The previous figure was based on 141 cases, with a cut-off in mid-February.The company added there are 14 additional or probable Covid cases left to be adjudicated.Bumpy rolloutDepending on whether these occurred in the vaccine or placebo group, the final efficacy figure could go up or down a few percentage points.The company added the vaccine efficacy in people 65 and over was 85%, but the statistical range for this figure – anywhere between 58% and 95% – makes it less meaningful and the sample size was not mentioned.Eight cases of severe Covid occurred – all in the placebo group.AstraZeneca was an early frontrunner in the global race to develop a Covid vaccine, and was heavily favored by the US, which ordered 300 million doses – more than its first orders for Moderna’s and Pfizer’s shots.But a series of communications blunders eroded US agencies’ confidence.The US now has three authorised vaccines – Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson – and should have enough supply to more than cover the adult population by the end of May.However, authorisation by the Food and Drug Administration – considered the gold standard regulator – would go a long way to calm global doubts over the AstraZeneca vaccine.Several European countries paused rollout of the shot over potential blood clot risks before later resuming its use.The European Medicines Agency deemed the vaccine safe and said it was not associated with blood clotting generally – but added it could not rule out a link to two highly rare forms of clotting, and suggested these risks be mentioned on a warning label.The AstraZeneca vaccine is still seen as vital to vaccinating the world because of its low price and the fact it can be stored long term at fridge temperatures.It uses an adenovirus that causes colds in chimpanzees, modified so it can’t replicate, to carry the gene for a key protein of the coronavirus into human cells.The cells then produce that protein on their surface, training the immune system should it encounter the real virus.