Unit in PM’s dept fined by health ministry after failure to comply with SOPs

The organiser of the 100-Day Aspirasi Keluarga Malaysia Programme has been compounded RM1,000 for defying health SOPs, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said today following concern voiced over the large crowds who had responded to the offer of discounts of up to 80% by the government for their traffic summonses.The police and Road Transport Department summons payment counters at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre meanwhile have been ordered to close immediately.MalaysiaNow reported yesterday that tens of thousands had flocked to police stations and payment centres in the Klang Valley with checks showing a lack of physical distancing and crowds spilling into the streets at several locations.The discount – up to 80% for motorists in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya and 70% for those in other states – was announced to mark 100 days of Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s “Malaysian Family” tagline and was intended to continue for four days until Dec 12.The event was organised by Sepadu, a unit under the Prime Minister’s Department.Khairy said the compound had been issued under the Disease Prevention and Control Act for failing to ensure physical distancing and causing congestion.This is the maximum fine allowed for individuals and organisations following the repeal of the emergency ordinances in the Dewan Negara on Dec 8.He also voiced regret that the event, which was meant to showcase the government’s achievements in its first 100 days of administration, had been marred by the organiser’s failure to ensure compliance with SOPs, and that of the people to adhere to the health measures.“The incident is highly regretted and very disappointing as the organiser had previously stated its commitment to ensuring that the programme would be held in strict compliance with the SOPs, with ongoing monitoring, control and enforcement activities,” he said.“The crowded situation and lack of physical distancing and control over the number of people present meant a risk of transmission of the Covid-19 virus.”He said his ministry would continue to monitor the programme and would not hesitate to issue further compounds to organisers if SOPs are not met.


Govt considering special holiday on GE eve

The government is considering declaring a special holiday on the eve of polling for the 15th general election to make it easier for voters to travel, says Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He said the matter had been discussed before, following the dissolution of Parliament on Oct 10.
"We will study (the proposal). We discussed it after the dissolution. God willing, just wait for an important announcement from me, and maybe more," he said.
The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) had asked the government to declare Nov 18 a special public holiday to facilitate travel for Malaysians to their voting locations on Nov 19.
Cuepacs president Adnan Mat said although polling day falls on a Saturday, an additional rest day was required as many Malaysians do not vote in the location where they work.


China tests Biden’s resolve in the skies over Taiwan

Taiwan has reported a weekend of large incursions by Chinese warplanes in a show of force that coincides with the first days of US President Joe Biden’s term of office.Sunday’s intrusion was carried out by 12 fighters, two anti-submarine aircraft and a reconnaissance plane, Taiwan’s defence ministry said.On Saturday, a foray by eight Chinese bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons, four fighter jets and one anti-submarine aircraft led to a warning from Washington.On both occasions, Taiwan’s air force warned away the aircraft and deployed missiles to monitor them, according to the ministry.Chinese warplanes have carried out regular flights in recent months but they are usually conducted by reconnaissance or anti-submarine warfare aircraft, according to Taiwan.Analysts say the stepped-up numbers show China is testing the level of Biden’s support for Taiwan.The drills come days after the inauguration of Biden which was attended by the island’s de facto ambassador to the US, Hsiao Bi-khim, in another sign of the new administration’s support for Taiwan.Biden is expected to maintain pressure on China over a wide range of issues including human rights, trade disputes, Hong Kong and Taiwan, reports the BBC.The Trump administration established closer ties with Taipei, ramping up arms sales despite fierce warnings from China. Days before he left office, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lifted long-standing restrictions on contacts between American and Taiwanese officials.Lo Chih-cheng, a senior Taiwan lawmaker told the Reuters news agency that Beijing’s moves were an attempt to deter the new US government from backing the island. “It’s sending a message to the Biden administration.”There has been no official comment from the Chinese government.


Education ministry to study why nearly 25,000 SPM candidates opted out of exam

The education ministry will conduct a post-mortem to find out why 24,941 registered candidates did not sit for the 2021 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination.Education Minister Radzi Jidin said the majority of them were private candidates.“We are analysing the data and will check the trends of previous years. If there is a rising trend, we will decide on the appropriate measures to prevent a recurrence in the future.“We have to identify the reasons as the 2021 SPM cohort was the most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic,” he told a press conference after a visit to SMK Presint 18 (1) in Putrajaya today.In announcing the 2021 SPM results today, education director-general Nor Zamani Abdol Hamid said 24,941 out of the total 407,097 registered candidates did not sit for the examination.Asked why the candidates chose not to sit for the examination, Radzi said some of them were facing personal, family and financial problems.However, he said school administrators had always approached students and families who were identified as having difficulties that have prevented them from sitting for examinations, especially SPM.


EU backs new Omicron vaccines for first jabs

The EU's drug watchdog on Tuesday said two Covid vaccines targeting new types of the Omicron variant could now be used for people's first vaccinations, and not just for boosters.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines in September and October respectively against the BA.4 and BA.5 types, but only in people who had already had their initial jabs.
The Amsterdam-based regulator said its emergency task force had now decided the two vaccines "may be used for primary (initial) vaccination. These vaccines are currently only authorised as boosters."
They can be used for both adults and children.
The decision came after it reviewed lab studies on the immune response from the so-called "bivalent" vaccines, which target the new Omicron types as well as the original Covid virus that emerged in China in late 2019.
The safety of the boosters was "comparable to that of the original mRNA vaccines", it added.
European nations had been keen to rush through the new generation of jabs so they can start booster campaigns and also target those who have not yet had the vaccine.
While previous "variants of concern" like Alpha and Delta eventually petered out, Omicron and its sub-lineages have dominated throughout 2022.
The BA.4 and BA.5 types have in particular helped to drive a wave of new cases of the disease in Europe and the US in recent months.
All Omicron variants tend to have a milder disease course as they settle less in the lungs and more in the upper nasal passages, causing symptoms like fever, tiredness and loss of smell.


Germany's World Cup dream in tatters despite victory over Costa Rica

Four-time champions Germany sensationally crashed out of the World Cup despite a 4-2 victory over Costa Rica in their last Group E match on Thursday, tumbling out at the first hurdle for the second consecutive time.
Germany had arrived in Qatar determined to restore their tarnished reputation following their shock 2018 group stage exit. Instead they finished third in the standings, level on four points with Spain but behind on goal difference and will return home early once more.
Japan topped Group E with six points following their 2-1 win over the Spaniards and will face Croatia in the last 16 while Spain will take on Morocco. Costa Rica finished last on three points.
On a night of unrelenting drama in the desert near Doha, the Germans struck first with Serge Gnabry in the 10th minute but saw the Central Americans score twice with Yeltsin Tejeda and a Manuel Neuer own goal before a Kai Havertz brace put them back in front.
Fellow substitute Niclas Fuellkrug added a fourth in stoppage time but even that was not enough to prolong their World Cup stay.
It was the first time in their illustrious World Cup history that Germany had failed to win any of their first two group matches and despite bagging a win on their last attempt, they will be departing Qatar with dropped heads.
"There are so many reasons but I am not looking for excuses," said Germany coach Hansi Flick. "In the first half I was disappointed and very angry at my team and how we allowed the opponent to come back.
"We wanted to score three or four goals in the first half but then we made mistakes. If we had converted those chances, 16 of them.
"But the tournament was not decided today for us. We did not have any efficiency at this tournament and that is why we were eliminated."
Germany were teetering on the brink of elimination going into the game after losing their opening group match to Japan and then snatching a 1-1 draw against Spain.
Needing a victory to avoid a repeat of the 2018 debacle, Germany went in search of an early goal to settle their nerves.
One-way traffic
Jamal Musiala tested keeper Keylor Navas with a low drive in the second minute while an unmarked Thomas Mueller should have done much better when he was picked out by Joshua Kimmich but he could not keep his header on target.
Gnabry, however, scored with his glancing header in the 10th minute to put them in front.
Costa Rica, needing at least a point to have a chance to progress, rarely crossed into the German half in the first 45 minutes.
The Germans were desperate to make amends for their horrendous start to the tournament and the chances kept coming but once more they failed to convert them, as in the previous two group matches.
They were almost punished when Keysher Fuller benefitted from a double defensive blunder but his shot was tipped over the bar by Neuer, whose 19th appearance at the tournament was a World Cup record for a goalkeeper.
With the group standings flashing up on the big screen of the Al Bayt stadium, Germany gradually grew nervous with Musiala twice hitting the post early in the second half.
Neuer could do nothing 13 minutes after the restart when Tejeda thundered the ball past him on the rebound after he had first saved a Kendall Waston header.
To make matters worse Juan Pablo Vargas then appeared to have bundled the ball over the line in the 70th minute but the effort was later credited as a Neuer own goal.
Substitute Havertz scored twice in 12 minutes and Fuellkrug added another in stoppage time but ultimately it was too little too late for Germany, who will host Euro 2024 on the back of three successive flop shows at international tournaments.


‘Profits over people’: Virus overruns Top Glove factories

Bangladeshi migrant worker Sheikh Kibria recalls with horror the filthy, overcrowded dormitory where he was housed by the world’s biggest rubber glove manufacturer when a coronavirus outbreak erupted and infected thousands.Top Glove saw profits soar, and its stock price jump as much as 400% this year as countries worldwide rushed to buy protective gear as the pandemic intensified.But in interviews with AFP, the South Asian migrants working flat out to make the gloves – who typically earn around US$300 a month – described appalling living conditions, in cramped dormitories where up to 25 people sleep in bunk beds in a single room.Some claim the company did not do enough to protect them despite repeated warnings.The scandal has added to growing pressure on the firm, already under scrutiny after the US banned the import of some of its gloves over allegations of forced labour earlier this year.The infections also prompted factory closures and look set to have an impact on global supply.Top Glove, which commands about a quarter of the world’s market, has warned of delays to deliveries and rising prices.‘Didn’t keep workers safe’More than 5,000 workers – almost a quarter of the firm’s workforce – have tested positive after the outbreak at an industrial area housing factories and dormitories outside Kuala Lumpur.“The accommodation is so overcrowded,” said the Bangladeshi worker Kibria.“The room itself is a bare minimum. It is quite impossible to maintain cleanliness when so many people live in a single room. It is like an army barracks – only less maintained.”When the situation escalated last month, Top Glove began shifting infected workers to hospital and their close contacts to quarantine centres, reducing the numbers in dormitories.Kibria, 24, was suspected of having Covid-19 so was first put in hospital, although he later tested negative and was moved to a hotel.But critics say the actions were too little too late.“The company had discussed decreasing people in the rooms before infections began but it never happened,” a Nepali production line worker, Karan Shrestha, told AFP.“The rooms stayed crowded – and in the end coronavirus cases started to increase.”“The company didn’t keep the workers safe. They are greedy and were more concerned about their income and profits,” he added.AFP used pseudonyms to protect the workers’ identities, as they were fearful about speaking out.‘Really scared’As cases spiralled, the government ordered 28 Top Glove factories to close, out of the 41 it operates in Malaysia.Authorities are planning legal action against the company over poor worker accommodation, which could result in heavy fines.The firm, which has 21,000 staff and can produce 90 billion gloves a year, insists it is making improvements.It has spent RM20 million purchasing new worker accommodations in the past two months, and plans to build “mega-hostels” kitted out with modern facilities that can house up to 7,300 people.“We are mindful there is much more to be done to uplift the standard of our employee welfare and promise to rectify shortcomings immediately,” said managing director Lee Kim Meow.His comments came this week as the company announced a 20-fold jump in quarterly net profit to RM2.4 billion.For those campaigning for low-paid migrants, the controversy highlights how companies continue to put profits before people.“The company, its investors and its buyers have prioritised the delivery of more gloves, more quickly and at higher profitability over the welfare of its mainly migrant worker labour force,” said Andy Hall, a migrant labour specialist who focuses on Asia.Malaysia, a relatively affluent Southeast Asian country of 32 million, has long attracted migrants from poorer parts of the region to work in industries ranging from manufacturing to agriculture.Top Glove says the vast majority of workers who tested positive have already been released from hospital, and some factories are now reopening.But some workers remain terrified at the prospect of returning to the production line, despite the company trying to enforce social distancing and providing protective gear.“If we work in the factory, I would be really scared,” said Salman from Bangladesh, speaking from his hostel.“Even with extra safety, it is really tough to prevent an outbreak.”


Wave of poison attacks on schoolgirls alarms Iranians

Hundreds of Iranian girls in different schools have suffered "mild poison" attacks over recent months, the health minister said, with some politicians suggesting they could have been targeted by religious groups opposed to girls' education.
The attacks come at a critical time for Iran's clerical rulers, who faced months of anti-government protests sparked by the death of a young Iranian woman in the custody of the morality police who enforce strict dress codes.
The poison attacks at more than 30 schools in at least four cities started in November in Iran's Shiite Muslim holy city of Qom, prompting some parents to take their children out of school, state media reported.
Social media posts showed some hospitalised schoolgirls, who said they had felt nauseous and suffered heart palpitations.
"Investigating where this mild poison comes from... and whether it is an intentional move are not within the scope of my ministry," Health Minister Bahram Einollahi was quoted as saying by state media.
His deputy, Younes Panahi, said on Sunday "it was found that some people wanted schools, especially girls’ schools, to be closed", according to IRNA state news agency.
One boys' school has been targeted in the city of Boroujerd, state media reported.
Lawmaker Alireza Monadi said the existence of "the devil's will" to stop girls from going to school was a "serious threat", according to IRNA.
He did not elaborate, but suspicions have fallen on hardline groups that operate as the self-declared guardians of their interpretation of Islam.
In 2014, people took to the streets of the city of Isfahan after a wave of acid attacks, which appeared to be aimed at terrorising women who violated the country's strict Islamic dress code.
"If operatives of the acid attacks had been identified and punished then, today a group of reactionaries would not have ganged up on our innocent girls in the schools," reformist politician Azar Mansoori tweeted.
Several senior clerics, lawmakers and politicians have criticised the government for failing to end the poison attacks and giving contradicting reasons for them, with some warning that frustration among families could ignite further protests.
"Officials are giving contradictory statements... one says it is intentional, another says it is security-linked and another official blames it on schools' heating systems," state media quoted senior cleric Mohammad Javad Tabatabai-Borujerdi as saying.
"Such statements increase people's mistrust (towards the establishment)."
A judicial probe into the poisoning cases is under way, state media reported.


Storms in Klang Valley as river water levels rise

Areas in the Klang Valley are expected to experience thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds until about 1pm today, according to the Malaysian Meteorological Department.
Affected areas include Hulu Selangor, Klang, Kuala Langat and Sepang in Selangor, as well as Putrajaya.
Rain has been reported across the country since last night, with several areas leading towards Kuala Lumpur said to be congested due to the downpour.
Members of the public have also been sharing pictures of Sungai Gombak, the flow of which has been on the rise.
Other areas include districts in the north such as Kulim and Bandar Baharu in Kedah and Penang.
In Pahang, there have also been reports of thunderstorms in flood-prone areas like Raub, Bentong, Temerloh, Maran, Kuantan and Pekan.
Down south in Johor, meanwhile, similar weather has been reported in Kluang, Mersing, Kulai, Kota Tinggi and Johor Bahru.
Environment and Water Minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man in a social media post today urged those in the Klang Valley to take extra care while driving during heavy downpours.
According to the infobanjir.my website, the water levels of several rivers are at alert and warning levels.
The Teluk Penyamun station in Kuala Selangor recorded a warning level of 2.93m compared to the normal level of 1.3m.
The Sungai Labu Station at Salak Tinggi in Sepang meanwhile recorded a warning level of 9m compared to the normal level of 7m, while Sungai Rasa, Pulau Meranti, Sepang and Sungai Klang in Bandar Klang are at danger levels.
Several parts of the Klang Valley were hit by major floods following continuous heavy rain last year, causing estimated losses of RM6 billion.
The areas involved included Sri Muda, Bukit Lanchong, and Hulu Langat.
Several settlements in Bentong, Pahang, were also submerged in floodwater.
This year, several areas in Perak and Johor have already experienced floods during the transition phase of the monsoon season which is expected to continue until mid-November.


30 Penang pig farms hit by African swine fever

The Penang Veterinary Services Department (JPVPP) today confirmed that 30 commercial pig farms in the state have been affected by African swine fever (ASF).
In a statement, the department said 19 of them were in the Seberang Perai Selatan district, two in Seberang Perai Tengah, six in Seberang Perai Utara and three in Barat Daya.
A total of 68,659 pigs have been infected with the disease.
"To control and prevent the spread of ASF, JPVPP is implementing a stamping-out policy through the culling of pigs in infected farms or those suspected to be infected in the infection zone, in accordance with the Malaysian Veterinary Protocol for ASF disease.
"This policy is implemented with the aim of eliminating the virus so that farmers can start breeding their animals again, safely and free from the ASF disease, thus ensuring a sufficient supply of pork in the country," it said.
It said the infection rate appeared to be slowing since the culling of infected pigs from Jan 5.
"The public is advised not to be alarmed by ASF because this disease is not a zoonotic disease and only infects pigs and wild boar," it added.


Cabinet gives green light to amendments on equal citizenship

The Cabinet has approved draft constitutional amendments to grant automatic citizenship to children born overseas to Malaysian women married to foreigners.
In a joint statement today, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said said this was decided at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.
They said the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2023 was expected to be tabled during the current Parliament sitting as it had met the necessary legal requirements.
They said the amendments would involve Section 1(1)(d) and Section 1(1)(e) of Part I, Schedule Two and Section 1(b) and Section 1 (c) of Part II of the same schedule.
"The proposed amendments to the Federal Constitution on this matter are to replace the words 'their father' in Part I and Part II of Schedule Two with the phrase 'at least one of the parents' to enable Malaysian mothers to enjoy equitable rights under the Federal Constitution. "However, other amendments related to citizenship, especially Part III, will be studied in greater detail by a committee established under the home ministry and will be tabled before the Cabinet after these proposed amendments have been finalised, taking into consideration feedback from engagements with all interested parties," Saifuddin and Azalina said.
They said this was in line with the commitment of the government to recognise the equal rights enjoyed by women and men, eliminate discrimination against women, overcome weaknesses in citizenship provisions and resolve the backlog of such cases affecting Malaysian women.
"The effect of this decision is that children born overseas before or after Malaysia Day where one of their parents is a Malaysian have the right to get citizenship by operation of Clause (1) of Article 14 of the Federal Constitution," the statement said.


Daily jabs hit new record of 421,479

A total of 421,479 doses of Covid-19 vaccine were administered yesterday, the highest number ever in a day.Health Minister Dr Adham Baba said in a Twitter post that the total doses administered yesterday included 157,445 second doses.Prior to this, the highest daily number of vaccine doses administered was 376,909, on July 9.


US tells Southeast Asian leaders it will be in region for ‘generations’

The US told Southeast Asian leaders on Friday that it would remain in the region for generations and stressed the need to maintain freedom of the seas, which Washington says is challenged by China.Addressing a summit of the 10-member Asean, Vice-President Kamala Harris said the region was a US priority. The opening session of their meeting at the State Department on Friday would focus on maritime security and health issues, she said.“The US and Asean have shared a vision for this region, and together we will guard against threats to international rules and norms,” she said.She did not mention China, which Washington accuses of using coercion against its neighbours, by name.“We stand with our allies and partners in defending the maritime rules-based order, which includes freedom of navigation and international law,” she said.“As an Indo-Pacific nation, the US will be present and continue to be engaged in Southeast Asia for generations to come,” Harris added.Harris said the US would continue to respond with Asean to the threat of Covid-19, having already donated more than 115 million vaccines to the region.“As long as Covid is present in any one country, it affects us all,” she said.President Joe Biden started the summit, bringing together Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, by hosting a dinner for the leaders at the White House on Thursday.Myanmar’s leader was excluded over a coup last year and the US treaty ally the Philippines is in transition after an election, though Biden spoke to the country’s president-elect, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, on Wednesday. The country was represented by its foreign affairs secretary.The Biden administration hopes the efforts will show the countries that Washington remains focused on the Indo-Pacific and the long-term challenge of China, which it views as its main competitor despite the crisis in Ukraine.Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will also be on the agenda, with the US hoping to persuade Asean countries to do more to push back against Moscow.On Thursday Washington promised US$150 million to help improve infrastructure, security, pandemic preparedness and on other projects in Asean, but US spending pales in comparison to that of China.In November alone, Beijing pledged US$1.5 billion in development assistance to them over three years to fight Covid and fuel economic recovery. US officials concede Washington needs to step up its game in the region.New US commitments will include deployment of a US Coast Guard vessel to the region to help counter what Washington and regional countries have described as China’s illegal fishing.Biden is working on more initiatives, including “Build Back Better World” infrastructure investment and an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). But neither are finalised.The summit marks the first time that Asean’s leaders gathered as a group at the White House and in Washington and their first meeting hosted by a US president since 2016.Asean countries share many of Washington’s concerns about Chinese assertiveness, including Beijing’s claim of sovereignty over vast swathes of the South China Sea where Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia have rival claims.But they also remain cautious about siding more firmly with Washington, given their predominant economic ties with Beijing and limited US economic incentives.They have also been frustrated by a US delay in detailing plans for economic engagement since former president Donald Trump quit a regional trade pact in 2017.Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said on Thursday Washington should adopt a more “active” trade and investment agenda with Asean.The IPEF is set to be launched on Biden’s trip to Japan and South Korea next week. But it does not currently offer the expanded market access Asian countries crave, given Biden’s concern for American jobs.


'Not me': Behind teachers' misgivings about being sent to Sarawak

Syamimi (not her real name) was thrilled when she learnt that her name was on the education ministry's list in its one-off recruitment drive for teachers two years ago.
At the time, she saw it as an opportunity to start afresh in her career path – but her feelings changed after she was told to report for duty at a district education office in Sarawak.
"I was afraid and worried about what might happen if I was sent to work in the interior," she said.
"I didn't give it a second thought. I immediately decided that I would not go, and I rejected the offer to teach."
Syamimi was one of 222 candidates out of the 3,227 recruited who did not show up for duty after being posted in Sarawak.
When asked if she had been ready for the possibility of being sent to Sabah or Sarawak, she said she had not really expected this to happen.
"Many of the teachers in the one-off recruitment drive said that only those who were from Sarawak would be posted there," she said.
"So I was confident that it wouldn't happen to me."
Perspective
A senior assistant administrative teacher with two years to go before his compulsory retirement said there was nothing unusual about teachers from the peninsula rejecting placements in Sabah and Sarawak.
Introducing himself as Hussien, he said he had been in the teaching profession for more than three decades, during which he had observed many fundamental problems.
First off, he said, teachers had the right to reject offers due to obvious constraints, including the cost of migrating to East Malaysia.
He said problems usually arose over the cost of flight tickets and hotel rentals before reporting for duty, as well as the money needed for accommodation in areas that do not have teachers' quarters.
"We also have to consider the fact that many of the teachers in this one-off recruitment drive are in their late 20s. They have families.
"Their children are still small and they haven't been married for that long. It's hard for them to move just like that because they don't have a strong support system," he said.
Speaking to MalaysiaNow, he recalled how he had been posted to a district in Sarawak in 1989, when he was just 24 years old.
"God only knew what was going on in my head when I got off the plane and set foot in Kuching," Hussein, whose family was from Kajang in Selangor, added.
"I could have gone astray without the proper mentality. What we are seeing and reading about now is a problem with mentality among our teachers."
Hussein ultimately spent decades in Sarawak, becoming a reference point for friends and personnel from the education ministry for teachers with doubts about moving to the state.
He said some still believed that they would have to live in huts or under trees if they went to teach in Sarawak.
Others meanwhile assumed they would have to rear chickens and forage for food in the forest.
"They could imagine Sarawakians having a drink at Starbucks or eating at KFC, but they are more inclined towards this other type of mentality," Hussein said.
Blame
For him, there is no point blaming the education ministry for the teachers who reject placements in East Malaysia.
He acknowledged that several places in the interior were still undeveloped and were difficult to access due to a lack of proper roads.
But he said that schools in Sarawak never bully new teachers, instead giving them the time and space to prepare before coming to the classroom.
As a teacher and administrator, he himself has asked new teachers to start several weeks late, to give them the time they need to put their household in order.
But he said that those who worry right from the start about being posted to other states are not ready to become civil servants.
For the most part, he said, government servants are never guaranteed a post in their dream location. If they are, he added, it is usually a coincidence or due to contacts that they have at government offices.
"Say you are from Johor and you are also posted to teach in Johor. Good for you.
"But you will see for yourself that not all of your students are from Johor. Some of their parents are from Selangor, others are from Sabah.
"Why? Because their parents were also sent to work in other states, as teachers or police officers or nurses."
It was not until 2021 that Hussein was finally moved back to the peninsula, where he resumed living with his parents, now in their 70s.
His hope is that the education ministry will be able to come up with an effective mechanism to prevent a gap in education due solely to difficulties in mentality.
"But it's also hard for the ministry to detect what sort of mentality candidates have in the interview process," he said.
"We only get sweet promises – 'Yes, I can, I'm ready.'"


Vietnam warns of hospitals strain as Covid-19 cases spike after holiday

Vietnam warned on Thursday that its healthcare system could become overloaded, after seeing a surge in new daily coronavirus infections following its week-long Lunar New Year holiday.The Southeast Asian country reported nearly 24,000 new cases on Wednesday, compared to about 15,000 per day in the week before the annual holiday, when millions of people travelled to their rural homes and to tourist hotspots.“Increased travelling will lead to the risk of more infections among the community, including the risk of spreading the Omicron variant,” the health ministry said in a statement.“If not better controlled, the number of serious cases will increase, putting pressure on the healthcare system and causing unwanted deaths.”Domestic airlines added extra night flights during the holiday as the biggest airports were jammed with travellers, according to a separate government statement.After being lauded for its measures in containing the virus through mass testing and strict contact-tracing in the first year of the pandemic, Vietnam was hit badly by a wave of infections and deaths from May last year, prompting a scramble to procure vaccines.At the time, with state hospitals overstretched, the government appealed to private hospitals to treat coronavirus patients.Vietnam has since recorded 2.4 million infections overall and more than 38,000 deaths. About three-quarters of the 98 million population have been vaccinated.The country on Monday began reopening schools nationwide after prolonged closure, as authorities announced plans to start vaccinating young children against Covid-19.


Saudi Arabia releases two prominent women’s rights activists

Saudi Arabia has released two prominent women’s rights activists imprisoned for nearly three years, a rights group has confirmed.“Human rights defenders Samar Badawi and Nassima al-Sadah have been released following the expiry of the sentences against them,” ALQST for Human Rights said in a tweet on Sunday.The activists were arrested in August 2018 as part of a then widening government crackdown against peaceful dissent.Most of the women imprisoned had campaigned for the right to drive and an end to the kingdom’s male guardianship system, which requires women to obtain the consent of a male relative for major decisions.Badawi received the US’ International Women of Courage Award in 2012 for challenging the guardianship system, and was among the first women who signed a petition calling on the kingdom government to allow women to drive, vote and run in local elections.She is also the sister of Raif Badawi, a prominent human rights campaigner, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2014 on charges of “insulting Islam” on his blog.Al-Sadah, from the restive Shia-majority Qatif in the Eastern Province, also campaigned for the right to drive and the abolition of the guardianship system.She was a candidate in the 2015 local elections which saw women allowed to run for the first time but her name was ultimately removed from the ballot by the authorities.Though the decades-old ban on women driving was overturned in June 2018, Saudi authorities justified the arrest of dozens of women by saying they had suspicious contacts with foreign entities and had offered financial support to “enemies overseas”.The two women “should never have been jailed in the first place and deserve justice and compensation for their arbitrary detention”, Adam Coogle, deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa at Human Rights Watch, wrote on Twitter.That view was echoed by Amnesty International, which called on Saudi King Salman to “remove the travel bans on Nassima and Samar, and all the released peaceful activists”.Several freed activists and their family members are barred from leaving Saudi Arabia, in a collective punishment that leaves them vulnerable to what campaigners call state coercion.Saudi authorities have not yet commented publicly on the two women’s release.ALQST for Human Rights is an independent NGO that advocates for human rights in the kingdom. It has a team in Saudi Arabia and one in London.Founder Yahya Assiri describes the choice of the name as deliberately using a term from the Quran that means “justice”, in order to avoid the organisation being perceived as attacking Saudi Arabian culture.


82.5% of teens, 95.7% of adults fully jabbed

A total of 2,597,662 individuals or 82.5% of teenagers had completed their Covid-19 vaccination as of yesterday.Based on data from the CovidNow portal, 2,758,317 individuals or 87.6% have received at least a first dose of vaccine.As for the adult population, 95.7% or 22,413,570 individuals have completed their vaccination, while 97.9% or 22,930,251 have received at least a first dose.A total of 109,016 doses were administered yesterday, with 11,912 as second doses, 4,941 to first dose recipients and 92,163 as booster jabs.This brings the total number of vaccine doses administered under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme to 52,082,943.


Musk restores some suspended Twitter accounts of journalists

The Twitter accounts of several journalists suspended after Elon Musk accused them of endangering his family were reinstated Saturday, but some said the billionaire owner offered full use of the platform only if they deleted posts about tracking his location.
Musk had drawn anger and warnings from the European Union and United Nations after suspending the accounts of more than a half-dozen prominent journalists from The New York Times, CNN, The Washington Post and other outlets.
"The people have spoken. Accounts who doxxed my location will have their suspension lifted now," the Twitter owner tweeted late Friday.
Doxxing generally means publishing private information on the Internet to harass or embarrass someone.
Musk carried out a Twitter poll asking whether he should restore the suspended accounts now or in a week's time. Nearly 59% of the 3.69 million who took part said he should restore the accounts now.
Some of the suspended accounts were reactivated, with former Vox journalist Aaron Rupar, Mashable reporter Matt Binder and freelancer Tony Webster tweeting again Saturday.
Speaking later on MSNBC, Rupar warned that Twitter's crackdown, even if temporary, would have a "chilling effect on coverage of Elon Musk" and make reporters think twice about running afoul of the company's new owner.
The accounts of some other journalists remained suspended early Saturday, including those of Business Insider's Linette Lopez and former MSNBC anchor Keith Olbermann.
CNN's Donie O'Sullivan, who has reported at length on Musk, said that while his suspended account became viewable Saturday, Twitter has imposed a condition for him to be able to tweet again.
He said Twitter demanded he remove a post that it says violates its rules against posting private information.
"Right now, unless I agree to remove that tweet at the behest of the billionaire, I won't be allowed to tweet on the platform," O'Sullivan told CNN.
The latest controversy began Wednesday when Musk suspended @elonjet, an account that tracked flights of his private plane.
Musk said the move was necessary after a car in Los Angeles carrying one of his children was followed by "a crazy stalker"; he seemed to blame the jet tracking for the incident.
Some of the suspended journalists had reported on the affair, including tweets linking to the suspended @elonjet account, which Musk said amounted to offering "assassination coordinates" against him and his family.
In a chat hosted live on Twitter, Musk provided no evidence for his claim but told suspended reporters that on Twitter "everyone's going to be treated the same... they're not special because you're a journalist."
Pressed further on his allegations, Musk ended the conversation. Twitter Spaces, the feature where the chat took place, was then suspended. The live audio service was back up Friday, with Musk saying the platform had been fixing a bug.
As of Saturday, the Musk plane-tracking account remained suspended.
Musk's deactivations have drawn sharp criticism from media organisations, the EU and the United Nations.
UN rights chief Volker Turk welcomed Musk's decision to reinstate the accounts, "but serious concerns remain," he posted on Twitter.
He also urged Musk to "commit to making decisions based on publicly available policies that respect rights, including free speech. Nothing less."
Earlier, the spokesman for UN chief Antonio Guterres called the suspensions a "dangerous precedent at a time when journalists all over the world are facing censorship, physical threats and even worse."
The EU had warned that Twitter could face fines through European laws.
"News about arbitrary suspension of journalists on Twitter is worrying," EU commissioner Vera Jourova tweeted after the move.
Twitter has lurched from one controversy to the next since Musk took control of the company in October.
The billionaire's talk of unfettered speech, coupled with the instability surrounding the company, has scared off major advertisers and caught the attention of regulators.
Musk has reinstated the account of former US president Donald Trump and lashed out against the outgoing key US advisor on Covid-19, Anthony Fauci, a frequent target of vitriol in right-wing media.
CNN has reported that Twitter's former head of trust and safety fled his home after baseless attacks on Twitter content moderation, endorsed by Musk.
Meanwhile, a purge initiated by Musk at Twitter left more than half of its 7,500 employees out of work.


FBI's sealed evidence that led to search of Trump's home focus of court hearing

Sealed records containing evidence the US Justice Department presented to secure court approval to search Donald Trump's Florida home will be at the heart of a hearing on Thursday, when news organisations will try to persuade a federal judge that the public deserves to see the details.
The Justice Department has opposed the release of the affidavit containing the evidence, which gave investigators probable cause to believe crimes were committed at Trump's Palm Beach home.
The search at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort was part of a federal investigation into whether Trump illegally removed documents when he left office in January 2021 after losing the presidential election to Democrat Joe Biden.
The Justice Department is investigating violations of three laws, including a provision in the Espionage Act that prohibits the possession of national defense information and another statute that makes it a crime to knowingly destroy, conceal or falsify records with the intent to obstruct an investigation.
Attorneys for several media outlets including The New York Times, the publisher of the Wall Street Journal, ABC News and NBC News will ask US Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart on Thursday to unseal the affidavit and other related materials filed with the court, saying the public's right to know and the historic significance of the search outweigh any arguments to keep the records sealed.
Trump in statements on social media has called on the court to unseal the unredacted version of the affidavit "in the interest of transparency." But none of his attorneys have filed any motions asking the West Palm Beach federal court to do so.
Trump says the search was politically motivated. He has also said, without providing evidence, that he had a standing order to declassify the documents in question.
However, none of the three laws cited by the Justice Department in the search warrant require a showing that the documents were in fact classified.
Trump's political rhetoric about the search has coincided with a rise in threats directed at FBI agents.
In Ohio last week, police shot an armed man dead after he tried to breach an FBI building. A second man in Pennsylvania, meanwhile, has since been charged with making threats against FBI agents.
The Mar-a-Lago search marked a significant escalation in one of the many federal and state investigations Trump is facing from his time in office and in private business. The Republican former president has suggested he might run for the White House again in 2024, but has not made any commitment.
Last week, US Attorney General Merrick Garland took the highly unusual step of publicly moving to unseal the search warrant, two attachments and a redacted version of the receipt showing the items the FBI seized during its search on Aug 8.
The records showed that the FBI seized boxes containing 11 sets of classified materials, some of which were labeled "top secret" - the highest level of classification reserved for the most closely held US national security information.
Such documents usually are typically kept in special government facilities because disclosure could cause grave damage to national security.
Earlier this week, the Justice Department said it is open to releasing some additional redacted materials from the warrant, such as cover sheets, the government's motion to seal and the court's sealing order.
The media outlets in the case have also asked for those records to be unsealed as well.


Math and procedures shield Muhyiddin from latest attempts to dislodge him

Political analysts and observers have questioned the likelihood of Muhyiddin Yassin losing power once Parliament reconvenes, despite his fragile majority and the revelation of fresh talks between key opposition leaders in the wake of a series of royal audiences with politicians last week.Not only does the opposition still lack the numbers needed to form the government, they say, there are also procedural realities which would take time for Parliament to reconvene before any attempt to dislodge the prime minister can be initiated.“There will be no vote of no confidence unless the speaker agrees,” analyst James Chin told MalaysiaNow. “Only the speaker can bring the motion to vote – nobody else can do this.”There has been a renewed buzz among some opposition leaders of a possible change of government following what is seen as pressure from the palace on Putrajaya to reconvene Dewan Rakyat sittings, suspended since January under the virus emergency.MalaysiaNow recently reported that fresh talks had been held between PKR chief Anwar Ibrahim and a group of Umno MPs led by their president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former prime minister Najib Razak.It was also revealed that a long delayed agreement to form an alliance was set to be inked between the two parties in the coming days.But Chin is not convinced that Muhyiddin can be overthrown.He doubts that Anwar will be able to obtain the numbers – support from at least 111 MPs based on the current composition of the Dewan Rakyat – to oust the prime minister.He said Muhyiddin still has at least 90 MPs with him.“So he only needs another 20 behind him. Also bear in mind that Umno is split,” Chin said.While it is hard to tell where MPs stand, it is believed that the Perikatan Nasional (PN) ruling coalition comprises 50 seats from Bersatu, PAS and STAR, as well as 62 more from Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Barisan Nasional, PBS and several independent MPs.The opposition meanwhile is made up of several blocs, mainly Pakatan Harapan, Sabah’s Warisan and smaller groups such as former leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Pejuang and the new party of former minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.Lee Kuok Tiung agreed that Anwar still lacks the numbers needed to topple the PN government.“Within Umno, we can see portions of them who believe in political stability,” said the Universiti Malaysia Sabah academic.“Even Nazri Aziz recently issued a statement saying that MPs should not talk about elections but focus on the people’s welfare and tackling the pandemic,” Lee said, referring to the Padang Rengas MP from Umno who earlier this year revoked his support for Muhyiddin.Sarawak political analyst Jeniri Amir meanwhile expressed doubts about any plan to topple the government, saying there would be consequences on the personal as well as party and national levels.He agreed that the reopening of Parliament would provide the necessary checks and balance to the government’s policies in battling the pandemic.“Parliament would be the best platform for MPs to debate the measures proposed by the government and to voice out the aspirations of the people during this difficult time.“The focus should be on tackling Covid-19, enhancing the vaccination rate and dealing with the economic crisis. Otherwise they will be seen as more concerned about their power than anything else.”Jeniri added that any attempt to destabilise the government would go against the Agong’s decree.“It is possible to change the government but then again, is this the right thing to do at this critical time, when the Agong’s decree is to ensure the stability of the government?” he asked, adding that Putrajaya’s National Recovery Plan had already targeted the reopening Parliament by September or October, subject to the Covid-19 situation.


Sri Lanka power union announces strike, raising risk of blackouts

A power sector union in Sri Lanka said on Wednesday it will go on an indefinite strike from midnight in protest against new government legislation, potentially leading to power blackouts in a country already grappling with its worst economic crisis in decades.Some 900 out of around 1,100 engineers of the state-run Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), Sri Lanka’s main power company, will not report for duty on Thursday and those already at power plants, transmission and distribution facilities will leave at midnight, the CEB Engineers’ Union said.That prompted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to issue a gazette notification late on Wednesday declaring electricity supply as an essential service. The legal directive makes it mandatory for engineers to report to work.Sri Lanka’s deepest economic crisis since independence in 1948 has upended lives of many of its 22 million people, with long queues for fuel and cooking gas, alongside shortages of essentials including medicines.The country was also plagued by long power cuts earlier this year after a shortage of foreign currency hit imports of fuel needed to generate electricity, though the situation has improved as monsoon rains drive hydropower generation.But the looming strike could bring back power outages, with no breakthrough so far in talks between the CEB Engineers’ Union and government authorities.The union is protesting against government plans to amend legislation governing the country’s power sector, which include removing restrictions on competitive bidding for renewable power projects.“Talks with the minister have been unsuccessful. These amendments are deceitful and are aimed at cancelling the competitive bidding scheme, which exists to ensure the public get electricity at the lowest cost,” the union’s Joint Secretary Dhammika Wimalaratne told Reuters.“We can in no way agree to this.”Sri Lanka’s government, under new Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, has been pushing renewable energy as a potential solution for its power woes, with early interest from some international players including India’s Adani that is looking at a 500MW solar and wind project.Kanchana Wijesekera, the country’s power and energy minister, said he expected parliament to pass the amended regulations on Thursday and accused the union of blocking much-needed reforms.The amendments would “pave the way for quick approval and implementation of long delayed renewable power projects,” he said in a tweet on Tuesday.Sri Lanka has been asking friendly nations, including India and China, for credit lines, food and energy. India has already committed billions of dollars in financial support.Chinese banks reached out to Sri Lankan authorities after the country suspended repayment on some of its external debt in April and “expressed readiness” to find a way to “handle the matured debts”, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a press conference on Wednesday.“China is ready to work with relevant countries and international financial institutions to continue to play a positive role in supporting Sri Lanka’s response to current difficulties and efforts to ease debt burden and realise sustainable development,” Zhao told reporters.


Texas and California, the current US Covid-19 record holders

Medical facilities in Texas are feeling the strain as the Lone Star state became the first state to pass a million Covid-19 cases in the US on Saturday.If Texas were a country, it would be the tenth most affected in the world for total Covid-19 cases. Last week, the state added about 8,000 new cases a day, reports Reuters.The state accounts for over 10% of total US cases.The city of El Paso on the Mexican border is so pressed for hospital beds it has converted a convention centre into a field hospital.Second placed California, which was the first US state to surpass 600,000 cases of Covid-19 back in August, is currently slightly short of Texas in the number of infections and deaths.California, the most populous state in the union, has added roughly 30,000 cases in the last seven days and is currently approaching the unwelcome milestone of a million cases.Within California, Los Angeles County has so far registered the highest total number of deaths in the state at just over 7,000 by Nov 5.With winter fast approaching, when even the Golden State can get a little chilly, health officials have been making extra efforts to contain the spike in cases in the last few weeks.Basic restrictions are being enforced such as: no spectators at sports events, no dining inside restaurants, and masks to be worn everywhere, but the numbers are still soaring.The US is the worst affected country in the world, with 10 million cases only days away.


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Melbourne ordered into fifth virus lockdown

Australia’s bid to quash a fast-spreading coronavirus outbreak will see the country’s second city of Melbourne return to a “hard and fast” lockdown late Thursday.State premier Dan Andrews said the city – and surrounding Victoria – will join Sydney in locking down, bringing the total number of Australians under stay-at-home orders to around 12 million.The largely Covid-free country is trying to halt an outbreak of the Delta variant, which has grown to almost 1,000 cases nationwide in a month.Andrews said he took the decision to return Melbourne to its fifth lockdown “with a heavy heart” but it was an “absolute necessity”.“Nothing about this virus is fair,” he said, describing how just 18 cases in Victoria had spurred thousands of contacts who must now be traced and tested.“You only get one chance to go hard and go fast,” he said.“If you wait, if you hesitate, if you doubt, then you will always be looking back wishing you had done more earlier.”The lockdown will begin shortly before midnight local time on Thursday and last five days.Australia’s largest city, Sydney, is now in its fourth week of lockdown, after the virus spread from overseas aircraft workers to their local driver in mid-June.Sydney authorities said Thursday that the situation there had “stabilised” – with 65 new cases reported in the last 24 hours.But the lockdown is set to continue for two more weeks to try and eliminate any community transmission.Australia had been widely lauded for its early handling of the pandemic and successful “Covid zero” strategy.But a painfully slow vaccine rollout has left just 10% of the population protected as much of the rest of the world gingerly reopens.The lockdown rules are less stringent than some other cities have seen.Sydney residents are allowed to leave home for exercise, essential shopping, work or health reasons, but schools are closed and people are encouraged to remain at home.Since March 2020, Australia’s borders have been largely closed to all non-essential travel in or out.From this month, the number of people allowed to enter the country was cut to 3,000 a week.Before restrictions were introduced, around 250,000 visitors arrived every week.


Sarawak exploring algae-based biofuel in push for sustainable energy

Sarawak is looking into the possibility of producing algae-based biofuel as part of its efforts to develop a sustainable energy agenda.Premier Abang Johari Openg said Sarawak was capable of producing algae as it was richly endowed with natural resources.“We will see how we can produce this in our coastal areas,” he said at an event in Kuching today.“We have mangroves and good weather. We can use carbon dioxide as a solvent agent to extract the oil from the algae.”Adding that algae could be cultivated even in tanks, he said planes these days were “looking for sustainable fuel”.“We have the resources, it is only a matter of creativity and the process that we can use for mass production,” he added.He said the state government would set up a lab to conduct feasibility studies on the development of algae-based biofuel.“Sarawak Economic Development Corporation will work with researchers to explore new ways of growing algae,” he said.“Once we have a lab and it is proven, we will see how we can cultivate algae throughout our coastal areas.“Imagine once we have mass production of algae, the gallons of biofuel we can produce.”


Bring it on, Zahid says on contest for Umno leadership

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says he is open to a challenge by anyone who aspires to hold the party's number one position in the upcoming party election.
Zahid, who is also a deputy prime minister and rural and regional development minister, said this would give an opportunity to about 160,000 delegates to choose the party's leadership, especially the positions of president and deputy president.
Speaking to reporters in Putrajaya today, Zahid said it was up to Umno representatives to make a choice, as well as to determine the direction of the party to ensure that Umno remains relevant on the political stage.
"Absolute power is the power of the representatives who represent the branches and divisions throughout the country," he said, when asked if the party's top two positions would be contested in the upcoming election, which must be held no more than six months after the general election.
In the 2018 election, Zahid was made president after defeating his two challengers, Khairy Jamaluddin and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. He obtained 93 votes compared with Khairy (51) and Tengku Razaleigh (23). "In the previous election (2018), I was challenged by two party members but the result was in my favour. Not being arrogant or boastful, but this was proven in 2018," he said.
When asked if the party would invite any of the coalition parties in the government to attend the Umno general assembly next week, Zahid said Umno had decided against this.
The 2022 general assembly was originally scheduled to take place on Dec 21 to 24, 2022, but was postponed to Jan 11 to 14.


RMAF warns of threats to sovereignty after 16 Chinese aircraft found flying ‘suspiciously’

The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) today warned of serious threats to the country’s sovereignty after it detected more than a dozen Chinese aircraft flying suspiciously close to Malaysian air space.RMAF in a statement said it detected 16 aircraft belonging to China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force entering the Malaysian maritime zone, adding that the air defence radar in Sarawak had detected the planes at 11.53am yesterday before they passed through Beting Patinggi Ali.“The aircraft were detected flying in an in-trail tactical formation at a distance of 60 nautical miles from each other. The long formation also flew with the same pattern and direction using a single entry and exit point.“They were later found to have shifted the direction of flight in the airspace of Beting Patinggi Ali which was of interest to the country,” it said.RMAF said the aircraft had flown through the Singapore flight information region (FIR) at heights of 23,000 and 27,000 feet at a speed of 290 knots, which equals to about 530 km/h, before entering the Malaysian Maritime Zone and the Kota Kinabalu FIR and reaching some 60 nautical miles off the Sarawak coast.FIR refers to a specified region of airspace delegated to a member-state of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for operational control.RMAF said the Chinese aircraft had been identified as the Ilyushin Il-76 and Xian Y-20.“These types of aircraft are strategic transport aircraft and are capable of performing various missions,” it added.It said when the aircraft failed to heed its directive to contact the Kota Kinabalu air traffic control, it launched a fleet of planes at 1.33pm to carry out visual identification.“This incident amounts to a serious threat to national sovereignty and aviation safety, taking into account the air traffic density in the airways at the KK FIR,” said RMAF, adding that the defence ministry had been informed of the matter.This comes just weeks after an Israeli-registered aircraft flew over Malaysian airspace, landing at an army base in Singapore.The transport ministry said the plane, registered to Israel Aerospace Industries-Elta (IAI-Elta), had been granted approval for overflight following concerns over its path over the Klang Valley.Defence news journal Defence Security Asia had speculated that the plane could be carrying sensitive radar and reconnaissance equipment and testing a “new system”.However, Singapore-based engineering company ST Engineering later said the aircraft was a Boeing 737 used for a commercial product demonstration.The transport ministry said no approval was given for the plane to land or loiter over Malaysian airspace, and assured that the aircraft had shown no abnormal flight patterns.


Close the book on Sulu claim to Sabah, state reps tell govt

Sabah elected representatives has called on the government to defend the sovereignty of the state, urging it to put an end to claims over the land from so-called heirs of the defunct Sultanate of Sulu.
Kinabatangan MP Bung Mokhtar Radin said the continuous claims over Sabah would not end as senators in the Philippines will use these claims as an agenda leading up to the elections in that country.
"All the candidates talk about the claims over Sabah. Anyone who threatens these claims in speeches or campaigns will lose," he said in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Bung, from Barisan Nasional, earlier intervened Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's briefing session on the eight Filipino citizens who claim to be linked to the Sultanate of Sulu and their attempt to profit from Malaysia.
He said the issue is a source of worry among the people of Sabah, adding that the government must end these claims once and for all as Sabah no longer belongs to the Philippines after joining Malaysia in 1963.
Semporna MP Mohd Shafie Apdal concurred, saying that the people of Sabah are concerned over the claims and piracy in the waters of the state.
He added that the matter was personal to him and his family as one of his cousins' father, who died in a pirate attack, has not been found to this day.
Shafie, from Warisan, also called for solidarity from all Malaysians, adding that the issue should not be politicised.
"We often encounter systems that are easily undermined by these elements, and I hope that our defence and security systems can be enhanced to ensure the well-being of the people of Malaysia, not only in the vicinity but also in the tourism sector," he said.
The prime minister said the claimants have already taken legal action against Malaysia in four countries, namely Spain, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, whereas the Malaysian government had taken and was taking various counter-legal actions against them.
"Malaysia will continue its efforts to defend the sovereignty of the country through all relevant fields, including in the Netherlands, France, Luxembourg and any jurisdiction where the final award might be proposed to be recognised and enforced," Anwar said during the briefing session.
The government is also awaiting another decision in the Dutch Court of Appeal regarding the claimants' request to recognise and enforce the final award in the Netherlands, expected to be made on June 27, 2023.
He said that although the ruling on June 6, 2023 favoured Malaysia, the government has received words that the group would continue with its tactic of seeking enforcement of the final award in other countries.
"This action amounts to abuse and breach of the court and arbitration mechanism and process recognised at the international level."
Anwar said the government would not compromise on matters of sovereignty and national security, including prioritising the protection of national assets from external threats.
He said that the government would not hesitate to take legal action against any party, including Malaysian citizens, who disregard the interests and security of the country by providing any direct or indirect support and colluding with the claimants.
"For now, the police have initiated investigations against the claimants, decision-makers, arbitrators and other related parties under Section 124K of the Penal Code for the offence of sabotage."


Najib files appeal against court’s refusal to disqualify Sri Ram

Former prime minister Najib Razak has filed an appeal against the High Court decision dismissing his bid to remove former Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram from leading the prosecution team in his ongoing trial for allegedly tampering with the 1MDB audit report.Najib’s lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah told reporters that the notice of appeal was filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today.“The application was dismissed by the High Court judge yesterday. We were of the opinion that we should file the appeal because we had many reasons showing that Sri Ram’s disqualification was almost inevitable.“One of the issues was regarding the disclosure made by former attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali in his affidavit regarding to a conversation between Sri Ram and himself, which was not rebutted but confirmed by the latter.“If that is the case, it would be misconduct on the part of the prosecutors,” he said after the 1MDB trial at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today.In his affidavit, Apandi claimed that there had been communication between him and Sri Ram in which the latter asked him to consider charging Najib in court.Shafee said they were also appealing as Sri Ram’s involvement in the 1MDB-related case was not merely as a prosecutor but also as an investigator, as alleged in former attorney-general Tommy Thomas’ memoir, “My Story: Justice in the Wilderness”.“This was not allowed. The prosecution said they were not involved in the investigation but in Tommy’s book, he claimed that he specifically requested a deputy public prosecutor to be involved in the investigation.“So for both reasons, we felt that we had very strong reasons to appeal,” Shafee said.Yesterday, judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan rejected Najib’s application to recuse Sri Ram from leading the prosecution team in his trials related to the 1MDB audit report.Zaini in his grounds said the court found Najib’s allegation that Sri Ram had been involved in the investigation against him unmeritorious.The judge added that Najib had, among others, relied on the communications that took place between Apandi and Sri Ram as proof of the latter’s bias towards him, and that the applicant’s apprehension of Sri Ram’s bias was without basis and misplaced.The trial will resume on Feb 22.Najib, 67, and former 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy, 45, are on trial for charges of tampering with the 1MDB audit report.The Pekan MP was charged with using his position to order amendments to the final audit report before it was presented to the Public Accounts Committee to prevent any action taken against him, while Arul Kanda was charged with abetting Najib in making the amendments to the report to protect Najib from being subjected to action.


53.5% of people fully jabbed

A total of 17,480,766 individuals or 53.5% of the country’s population had been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as of yesterday.Meanwhile 21,573,348 people or 66% of the population had received at least one dose of vaccine.In terms of daily vaccination, 227,147 doses were administered yesterday, bringing the total number of doses administered under the National Covid-19 Immunisation programme to 38,990,335.As of 11.59pm yesterday, 413 Covid-19 deaths were reported including backlogged cases.This takes the country’s Covid-19 death toll to 21,124.


New cases continue below-2,000 streak as recoveries stay ahead

Another 1,575 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 320,939.Selangor recorded 751 cases, Sarawak 173, Johor 135, Penang 132 and Kuala Lumpur 108.Sabah recorded 57 cases followed by Perak (44), Kelantan (43), Negeri Sembilan (32), Melaka and Perlis (25 each), Kedah (23), Terengganu (16), Putrajaya and Pahang (four each) and Labuan (three).Active cases stand at 17,074 with 147 in the ICU and 67 in need of respiratory assistance.Another 2,042 patients were discharged, bringing total recoveries to 302,662.However, three more deaths were reported, pushing the virus toll to 1,203.


Bank of England hikes rates to 5% in surprise move to tackle stubborn inflation

The Bank of England raised interest rates by a bigger-than-expected half a percentage point on Thursday after it said there had been "significant" news suggesting British inflation would take longer to fall.
The BoE's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted 7-2 to raise its main interest rate to 5% from 4.5%, its highest since 2008 and its largest rate increase since February, following stickier inflation and wage growth since its policymakers met last in May.
"There has been significant upside news in recent data that indicates more persistence in the inflation process," the MPC said.
"Second-round effects in domestic price and wage developments generated by external cost shocks are likely to take longer to unwind than they did to emerge," it added.
Economists polled by Reuters had expected a move to 4.75%, although financial markets earlier on Thursday had seen a nearly 50% chance of a rise to 5%, following higher-than-expected inflation data released on Wednesday.
BoE policymakers had given little indication that a half-point rate increase was under consideration in the run-up to Thursday's announcement.
MPC members Silvana Tenreyro and Swati Dhingra opposed the rate rise - as they have all others this year - saying that much of the impact of past tightening had yet to be felt, and forward-looking indicators pointed to steep falls in inflation and wage growth ahead.
Governor Andrew Bailey, in a regular letter to British Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt alongside the decision, reiterated most of the MPC statement.
"The MPC will do what is necessary to return inflation to the 2% target sustainably in the medium term," he said.
Expectations for BoE rate tightening have surged in recent days - sharply raising the cost of new mortgages - and before Thursday's decision financial markets expected the BoE's Bank Rate to peak at 6% by the end of the year. By contrast, economists polled by Reuters last week saw a 5% peak.
Britain's economy - which was hit by the shock of Brexit as well as the Covid-19 pandemic and the surge in gas prices caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine - has dodged a widely expected recession so far in 2023.
However, unlike most other big rich economies, output has barely recovered to pre-pandemic levels and growth this year looks set to be a minimal 0.25%, according to BoE forecasts last month.
The BoE's rate increase follows the European Central Bank's decision last week to raise rates by a quarter-point to 3.5%, and rate rises by the Swedish and Norwegian central banks earlier on Thursday.
While Britain faces a tricky inflation challenge as inflation has been slow to fall from the 41-year high of 11.1% struck last year, other central banks see challenges too.
Bundesbank president Joachim Nagel described inflation as a "very greedy beast" on Wednesday, and the US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell said further rate rises remained "a pretty good guess", despite last week's pause.
The BoE retained its previous guidance on future policy, which stated that if there were to be evidence of more persistent pressures, then further tightening in monetary policy would be required.
The central bank also noted that short-dated British government bond yields had risen sharply - pricing in an average level of Bank Rate of 5.5% for the next three years.
The BoE said it would keep a close eye on the impact on mortgage costs, as well as rising costs in Britain's rental market.
Official figures on Wednesday showed consumer price inflation was unchanged at 8.7% in May and underlying inflation rose to its highest since 1992.
Last month the central bank forecast that inflation would fall to just over 5% by the end of this year and be below its 2% target in early 2025.


Johor MB appeals for moratorium to aid flood victims

Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi has appealed to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to consider a moratorium of between three and six months for flood victims in the state.
Onn Hafiz said the initiative would help ease the burden of the people who may have suffered huge losses due to the floods.
"It is the state government’s sincere hope that flood victims will be given a moratorium for a certain period.
"Disasters like floods would certainly leave a trail of distruction and many will suffer huge losses due to damage to their belongings like furniture, vehicles, electrical items as well as property," he said in a Facebook statement last night.
He added that farmers and breeders also suffered heavy losses during major floods.
Onn Hafiz said the people of Johor were facing very challenging times since the floods had affected the state twice this year.
The first wave of floods in Johor from Jan 24 to Feb 10 involved eight districts and affected about 5,000 families.
The second wave which started on March 1 had resulted in 40,129 victims being moved to temporary flood relief centres as of 8pm yesterday, according to the state disaster management committee.


China reports new daily record Covid cases, curbs tighten across country

China on Friday reported another record high of daily Covid-19 infections, as cities across the country enforce measures and curbs to control outbreaks.
Thursday's new local Covid-19 infections set a daily record for a second consecutive day, beating a figure set in mid-April, when the commercial hub of Shanghai was crippled by a citywide lockdown of its 25 million residents that lasted two months.
Excluding imported infections, China reported 32,695 new local cases on Thursday, of which 3,041 were symptomatic and 29,654 were asymptomatic, up from 31,444 a day earlier.
Big outbreaks are numerous and far-flung, with the southern city of Guangzhou and southwestern Chongqing recording the bulk, although hundreds of new infections have been reported daily in cities such as Chengdu, Jinan, Lanzhou, Xian and Wuhan.
Cases quadrupled in Shijiazhuang to 3,197 on Thursday from the previous day.
China's capital, Beijing, reported 424 symptomatic and 1,436 asymptomatic cases on Thursday, compared with 509 symptomatic and 1,139 asymptomatic cases the previous day, local government data showed.
Financial hub Shanghai reported nine symptomatic cases and 77 asymptomatic cases on Thursday, compared with nine symptomatic cases and 58 asymptomatic cases a day before, the local health authority reported.
Guangzhou, a city in the south of nearly 19 million people, reported 257 new locally transmitted symptomatic and 7,267 asymptomatic cases yesterday, compared with 428 symptomatic and 7,192 asymptomatic cases a day before, local authorities said.
Chongqing reported 258 new symptomatic locally transmitted Covid-19 infections and 6,242 asymptomatic cases for Thursday, compared with 409 symptomatic and 7,437 asymptomatic cases the previous day, local government authorities said.


Sink or swim for Dzulkefly in Kuala Selangor

With polling day just around the corner, it will be sink or swim for Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad in Kuala Selangor, a seat that he currently holds but where residents voice dissatisfaction with the perennial floods, problematic roads, and what they describe as a general lack of progress in this regard.
Those who spoke to MalaysiaNow said the former health minister did not appear to have brought any change throughout his tenure as their MP.
S Ganesan said he was now inclined to Ismail Sabri Yaakob and his Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.
"When it flooded last year, many things were destroyed.
"Five of my goats died. I got RM1,000 from the MP's office but Ismail gave RM3,500," he said, referring to the financial aid announced by the prime minister last year.
Kuala Selangor was one of several areas in Selangor that were badly affected by the floods last year which caused millions in losses and claimed nearly 50 lives.
Other areas included Taman Sri Muda and Hulu Langat.
During a visit to a flood relief centre at the time, Dzulkefly was blasted by a man who accused him of being late in efforts to help those affected by the disaster.
The Amanah strategy director won the Kuala Selangor seat at the 2018 general election with a majority of 8,498 votes, defeating Irmohizam Ibrahim of BN and Fakaruddin Ismail of PAS.
He is defending his seat against Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz, representing BN, Mohd Shaid Rosli of Pejuang and Perikatan Nasional candidate Mohd Noor Mohd Sahar.
Tengku Zafrul, who is contesting an election for the first time, has been active during the campaign period, boosted by the visibility afforded by his Cabinet portfolio.
Ganesan, who works at the Melawati bus terminal, said he had voted for PH in 2018 but was disappointed with the coalition's performance.
He said many of his friends' children had since moved to Singapore in order to find work.
A petty trader who introduced himself as Lan agreed, pointing to the floods that had occurred just recently in the area.
"Last night, some villages here were flooded including Kampung Batu 28, Kampung Bukit Badong, and Seri Sentosa," he said.
"It looks like he hasn't brought any change at all," Lan, who has lived in Ijok, Kuala Selangor, for 30 years now, added.
He said lorries often went back and forth through the area, causing damage and potholes in the roads.
"A lot of accidents happen in this area," he added.
Bus driver S Shanmugam said he had gone to Dzulkefly to ask for help in order to buy a pair of glasses for his child, adding however that he was ignored.
"Representatives should meet with the people and ask about their problems," he said.
"Zafrul hasn't done anything yet but I could give him a chance."


Israel refuses to work with ICC on war crimes probe

Israel on Thursday said it has formally decided not to cooperate with an International Criminal Court (ICC) war crimes investigation into the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.The ICC’s chief prosecutor announced on March 3 that she had opened a full investigation into the situation in the Israeli-occupied territories, infuriating Israel, which not a member of The Hague-based court.The ICC sent a deferral notice on March 9, giving Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) a month to inform judges whether they are investigating crimes similar to those being probed by the ICC.Had Israel informed the court that it was in fact carrying out its own probe into alleged war crimes perpetrators, it could have asked for a deferral.Ahead of the deadline, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement saying the government had agreed “to not cooperate” with the ICC.Israel would instead send a letter to the court “completely rejecting the claim that Israel commits war crimes”, it said.The letter would also “reiterate Israel’s unequivocal position that The Hague tribunal has no authority to open an investigation against it”.“The state of Israel is committed to the rule of law… and expects the court to refrain from violating its sovereignty and authority,” the statement reads.‘Hypocrisy’The PA, based in the occupied West Bank, has been a state party to the ICC since 2015.The Palestinians have welcomed the investigation and said they will not seek any deferral.The world’s only permanent war crimes tribunal, the ICC was set up in 2002 to try humanity’s worst crimes where local courts are unwilling or unable to step in.ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has said her probe will cover the situation since 2014 in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem.It will mainly focus on the 2014 Gaza war but also look at the deaths of Palestinian demonstrators from 2018 onwards.After a five-year preliminary probe, Bensouda said there was a “reasonable basis” to believe crimes were committed by both sides – by the Israeli military, Hamas Islamists who have controlled Gaza since 2007 and Palestinian armed groups.Hamas has welcomed the ICC probe and argued that its attacks on Israel were justified acts of “resistance”.Netanyahu, a vocal critic of the ICC, on Thursday accused the court of “hypocrisy” for targeting Israel troops who “fight with high moral conduct against terrorists”.The long-serving premier has previously lambasted the decision to open the probe as the “essence of anti-Semitism” and declared Israel was “under attack”.Thursday’s statement marked the first time that Netanyahu had made it clear Israel would not directly engage with the ICC.The US has also criticised the ICC investigation and voiced support for its ally Israel.The ICC last week welcomed US President Joe Biden’s lifting of sanctions imposed by Donald Trump on Bensouda, saying it signalled a new era of cooperation with Washington.The Trump administration imposed the financial sanctions and visa ban on Bensouda last year after she launched an investigation into alleged war crimes by US military personnel in Afghanistan.


Japan registers first possible case of mother-to-newborn Covid-19 transmission

A newborn in Japan is believed to have contracted Covid-19 from the mother in what may be the first case of mother-to-baby coronavirus transmission in the country, reports Sputnik.According to a report by NHK on Monday, researchers from the Japan Pediatric Society studied 1,124 medical facilities across the country that have pediatric departments. According to the survey results, 52 newborns at 31 facilities were born to coronavirus-positive mothers last August, of which one baby was said to be infected. The child reportedly had no health problems.The broadcaster added, citing researchers, that there had been similar cases reported in other countries on suspected mother-to-baby Covid-19 transmissions.According to Morioka Ichiro, a professor at the Nihon University School of Medicine, the chances of mothers passing the coronavirus on to their babies are low, and infected babies may develop light symptoms.There have been reports from several other countries, including Singapore and Bulgaria, of women giving birth to babies with antibodies after contracting Covid-19 during pregnancy.


EPF’s i-Sinar to allow those under 55 to withdraw from balance

The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) is in the process of lifting several conditions for the i-Sinar withdrawal facility, which among others will allow contributors under the age of 55 to withdraw from their Account 1 funds.However, the amount withdrawn will be subject to the account balance.Those with RM100,000 and below will be allowed to withdraw up to RM10,000, to be paid over a period of six months with the first payment amount of up to RM5,000.Those with more than RM100,000 can withdraw up to 10% of their Account 1 savings, capped at RM60,000, to be paid over six months with the first payment amount of up to RM10,000.Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz however said the change in the process would take some time to implement.“The fund will announce further details soon and the government appreciates members’ patience and understanding while these changes are being made,” Zafrul said.Under the i-Sinar initiative, EPF contributors have access to up to 10% of their savings in Account 1 as long as they have a minimum balance of RM100.


Beijing residents stock up on cabbages in uncertain times

Older residents in Beijing recently stocked up on cabbage, giving a tradition a new lease of life after the government advised people to keep enough basic goods at home in case of emergencies.People have for years bought up dozens of large cabbages, which can be kept fresh for months and are widely used in local cuisine, in early November to see them through freezing winters.A government notice issued last Monday advising households to stock up on daily necessities and a snow forecast reinforced the rush this year, with long early morning queues forming outside supermarkets in downtown Beijing last week.“Every year at this time the (cabbage) sales volume is high. But after the report came out, everyone rushed to buy even more,” said Jia Jinzhi, a grower who sells cabbage at Beijing’s Xinfadi wholesale market.Supermarkets capped sales at three cabbages per person, but even then, shoppers arriving after 9am left empty-handed.The bright green cabbages, known as Chinese cabbage or Napa cabbage, used to be piled high in backyards, in apartment block hallways or even in homemade shelters dug underground, with neighbours striving to outdo each other on the size of their cabbage stocks.Freezing temperatures and the tough outer leaves kept the 2kg brassicas fresh for months.The cabbage piles have shrunk over the years as sophisticated logistics transport fresh vegetables across China all-year round and as families increasingly live in small high-rise apartments rather than houses, but the tradition lives on.“This is a Beijing custom,” said a woman surnamed Zhao, leaving a Wumart supermarket with three cabbages.Wumart customers said they were paying about three times what they paid last year, or 1 yuan per half kg.But if they didn’t buy now, prices would double further into winter, said another shopper surnamed Sun.“You can keep it for two or three months. You put it outside, find a cotton blanket to cover it,” he said.Wrapping the cabbage in newspaper also helps to keep it fresh, said Zhao, who stores it on her balcony.The shopping spree comes as Beijing residents bought a series of staples last week after the government’s advice on stocking up on basic supplies prompted some confusion.It was part of a seasonal notice put out by the Ministry of Commerce encouraging authorities to secure food supplies and stable prices ahead of winter, following a recent spike in vegetable prices and a growing Covid-19 outbreak.Retirees, who don’t use China’s ubiquitous shopping apps, were the ones predominantly willing to stand in line for the cabbages.“If it rains or snows and you can’t go out, you have some vegetables at home,” said a 62-year-old woman, waiting in a long line outside Wumart. “Anyway, what else am I doing?”


Group calling for Najib’s pardon now wants judge Nazlan arrested

A group that has been calling for Najib Razak to be granted a royal pardon for the former leader’s conviction over RM42 million in his private bank accounts has launched another call for the arrest of Nazlan Ghazali, the former High Court judge who sentenced him to 12 years’ jail.Persatuan Sahabat Ulul Amri Malaysia levelled several accusations against Nazlan and invited members of the media to cover its press conference at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission tomorrow, where it said a report would be lodged against the judge.It added that recent electoral gains by Barisan Nasional showed public sympathy for Najib.“The results of state elections including in Johor clearly show the people’s deep sympathy and condemnation of all the injustice and oppression against the sixth prime minister Najib Razak, who in fact has done a lot for the people and the country,” it said in a statement accompanied by the hashtags #TangkapHakimNazlanBebasNajib and #ArrestJudgeNazlanFreeNajib.Nazlan Ghazali.Najib had been at the forefront of BN’s campaign in Johor, where analysts say a low voter turnout coupled with a disunited opposition propelled the former federal coalition back to power in the state.In July 2020, Nazlan sentenced Najib to 12 years’ jail and fined him RM210 million after finding him guilty over RM42 million related to SRC International.The sentence was upheld late last year, with the three Court of Appeal panel judges calling the case a national embarrassment.Najib has been granted a stay of execution pending his appeal at the Federal Court.In August last year, just days before then prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin resigned, the same group presented a memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong calling for a royal pardon for Najib and for his appointment as interim prime minister.“He managed the economy well and brought the good name of Malaysia to the international stage,” said the group’s leader, Syed Muhammad Imran Syed Abdul Aziz.


Ban on election gatherings isn’t suppression of democracy, says Sarawak PBB leader

Sarawak Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah today said he would support any move by the health ministry to ban political gatherings if such a decision is made for the election in the state.Speaking at a press conference in Kuching, he said such precautions are necessary, and that a ban on these activities is not a suppression of democracy.“It doesn’t mean that if we can’t campaign like before, democracy has become flawed,” he said.“If you go to some other countries, they don’t even have the kind of campaigning that we do. Sometimes we have a little more campaigning here. If you go to Japan or some other countries, you don’t see this kind of campaigning.”Karim added that a ban on physical gatherings would be fair as it would apply to all political parties.“There should be no problem,” he said. “For me, it’s good.”He said the important thing is for the voters to know who the candidates are and the parties that they represent.“From there, they will be able to see for themselves who they want to vote for.”


Let market forces determine e-hailing fare, says Loke

The transport ministry does not want to intervene, if possible, on the issue of an e-hailing fare floor price, and instead wants it to be determined by the market, says minister Anthony Loke.
Loke said his ministry was aware of the call by the E-hailing Drivers Association (EHO) for the government to intervene in the fare issue, including in the standardisation of fare rates between cities.
"We understand that they requested the government to set a floor price for e-hailing. So far, the proposal is still at the discussion stage and there is no decision yet," he said at a press conference in Putrajaya today.
Loke said the ministry also understood the drivers’ hopes on the matter since drivers cannot drive at a loss and there are operational costs that need to be borne.
"But we need to understand that if there is a floor price, the fare price to users may increase, so it is a consideration that needs to be taken into account, too.
"So if we let the market determine the price, there is dynamic pricing between EHO, the drivers and passengers," he said.
The media previously reported that EHO had urged the government to implement a floor fare rate for the transport service to protect the welfare of drivers.


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FT budget passed after PH MPs refuse to vote

The budget for the federal territories ministry was passed by bloc vote after the committee-stage debate in the Dewan Rakyat today, following a walkout by most of the MPs from the opposition over the presence of three others who had been placed under home surveillance order (HSO).The MPs in question – Health Minister Dr Adham Baba, Human Resources Minister M Saravanan and Pakatan Harapan’s Batu MP P Prabakaran – had entered the public gallery dressed in personal protective equipment to join the voting process.Kuala Langat MP Dr Xavier Jayakumar questioned the rationale of allowing the trio into the Dewan Rakyat to vote.He was supported by Sepanggar MP Azis Jamman, who said they risked infecting others in the house as well as their families.However, speaker Azhar Harun said the decision had been made following the move of an MP who broke quarantine order to join the voting last week.“Last Thursday, an MP from the other side (opposition) who did not comply with the quarantine order came to vote.“I do not want the matter to arise again, so it is better for me to regulate the voting process,” he said.A total of 110 MPs voted in support of the ministry budget while seven voted against it, 31 abstained and 72 were absent.In a press conference after that, Johari Abdul (PH-Sungai Petani) who is PKR chief whip said the speaker had not called the whips before deciding to allow MPs undergoing HSO to be present in Parliament.“In other cases, the chief whips would be called by the speaker about any decision such as how many hours to debate, SOPs – today this did not happen.”Mahfuz Omar (PH-Pokok Sena) meanwhile said the opposition had no information on the MP who broke his quarantine in order to join in the vote last week.“We have no information, but if he (the speaker) is right that an opposition MP came, action should have been taken that day,” he said.The RM957 million allocation is the 23rd ministry budget to be passed so far and the ninth to be passed by bloc vote.The budget for 2021 – RM322.5 billion, the country’s largest ever – was passed at the policy stage on Nov 26 in what was seen as a crucial test of support for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.It was passed by voice vote after the opposition failed to garner enough support to force a bloc vote.


Mat Sabu’s son files appeal against drug conviction

Ahmad Saiful Islam Mohamad, the son of former defence minister Mohamad Sabu, has filed an appeal to set aside his conviction and eight months’ imprisonment for a drug abuse charge last year.Lawyer Muaz Zafar, representing Saiful, told reporters this after case management in the chambers of High Court senior assistant registrar Maryam Jamielah Ab Manaff.“The notice of appeal was filed around June this year and today the court set Nov 13 for case management.“We are also waiting for the grounds of judgment and evidence notes for this case,” Muaz said.Today’s proceeding was also attended by deputy public prosecutor Fatin Hanum Abdul Hadi and Ahmad Saiful Islam.On June 24, the Magistrate’s Court in Kuala Lumpur sentenced Saiful to eight months’ imprisonment after finding him guilty of drug abuse.Magistrate Mohamad Aizat Abdul Rahim said the defence team had failed to raise reasonable doubts at the end of the defence case.Saiful will also be monitored by the National Anti-Drug Agency and the police for two years upon completion of serving his prison sentence.The court ordered Saiful to serve his jail term from June 24. However, it allowed his application for a stay of execution pending his appeal in the High Court.He was also ordered to pay bail of RM9,000 and surrender his passport to the court, and to report to a nearby police station once a month.Saiful was accused of using THC-type drugs at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur at 2.05am on Jan 5 last year. He was charged under Section 15 (1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which provides for a maximum sentence of two years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to RM5,000, or both upon conviction.On Jan 3, the court ordered Saiful to enter his defence.Six prosecution witnesses and two defence witnesses, including Saiful, testified in the trial which began on Oct 15 last year.


Ex-MACC officers warn against emotions as politicians attack Azam

Former officers of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) have reminded all quarters to follow the rule of law in the wake of a barrage of attacks by opposition politicians against the chief commissioner of the anti-graft body.The Association of Former MACC Officers also warned that the attacks against Azam Baki not only ignored the principle of “innocent until proven guilty”, but would also undermine the commission’s main job of fighting corruption.“The association holds firm to the principle that a person is innocent until proven otherwise through the legal process, rather than through a public trial or trial by media.“We also have confidence in the country’s criminal justice system as well as the legal process that guarantees the ‘dignity’ of individuals and organisations, as enshrined in the Federal Constitution,” the association’s president Mazlan Mohamad said in a statement.Azam has come under attack over a series of blog articles by an activist linked to C4 Center, claiming conflict of interest in the ownership of company shares.The veteran graft buster has since issued a demand letter to the writer of the articles, Lalitha Kunaratnam, with the MACC lodging a police report against her, describing her claims as false and unsubstantiated by evidence.Top Pakatan Harapan leaders have meanwhile urged for Azam to go on leave, and called for Anti-Corruption Advisory Board chairman Abu Zahar Ujang to be investigated after the latter cleared Azam of allegations of conflict of interest.Mazlan in his statement today said both the police and the Securities Commission should be allowed to deal with the allegations.“The association also requests that all parties whether or not with interest in this issue fully support the legal process of the country and not on act based on emotions.”