No decision yet on contesting GE15, says ex-PKR MP turned independent

A PKR MP who recently left the party to become a government-friendly independent says he has yet to decide whether he will run in the 15th general election (GE15).Tebrau MP Steven Choong said it would be up to the people to assess his performance as their elected representative.“I am an independent MP. If the people want me to continue serving and to compete (in the election), I will do so,” he told MalaysiaNow.“But I have yet to decide on which ticket to compete.”Choong and fellow PKR MP Larry Sng announced on Sunday their decision to quit the party and become independents, declaring their support for the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.The duo had handed over statutory declarations of support for the prime minister in a ceremony attended by Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainuddin and PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan.Three other former PKR MPs – Mohamad Azmin Ali, Zuraida Kamarauddin and Saifuddin Abdullah – were also present.The exit of Choong and Sng is expected to be a further boost to the government if Parliament reconvenes following the threat by Umno MPs loyal to former prime minister Najib Razak to revoke their support for Muhyiddin.Their declaration of support for PN also means that the number of seats held by PKR has been reduced to 36, a year after the exodus of PKR leaders led by Azmin.Choong said he had decided to leave PKR of his own will.“I didn’t invite other PKR members to leave as I am independent. This means I am free from any party,” he added.He also said he had requested to be removed from the Tebrau PKR chat group on WhatsApp.He said his focus now is to defend the people’s interest and help boost economic growth.“As an independent MP, I have access to anyone who has power regarding the people, including the business community,” he said.


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Gerik, Bugaya polls on Jan 16

The by-elections for the Sabah state constituency of Bugaya and the Gerik parliamentary constituency in Perak will be held simultaneously on Jan 16 next year.Election Commission (EC) chairman Abdul Ghani Salleh said nomination will be held on Jan 4 and early voting on Jan 12.According to Bernama, he said face-to-face campaigns, ceramahs, walkabouts, house visits and pamphlet distribution would not be allowed, although campaign activities involving vehicles with loudspeakers would be permitted at certain times.Gerik MP Hasbullah Osman died on Nov 16 while Bugaya assemblyman Manis Muka Mohd Darah died on Nov 17.The nomination and official vote-tallying centre for the Gerik by-election will be at the Gerik district council multipurpose hall, while the centre for the Bugaya polls will be at the Semporna community hall.Ghani said the EC had made some improvements to the Covid-19 prevention guidelines for the implementation of elections, which were used during the Sabah election.“Candidates are encouraged to campaign using social media platforms. They are also allowed to put up banners in the by-election areas,” he said.However, all candidates and party workers should avoid any contact during the installation of banners to comply with the physical distancing rule, he added.


An appeal on behalf of Pannir Selvam

My heart and mind go out to Pannir Selvam, a Malaysian in Changi prison, Singapore, who is fighting the death penalty. I was very surprised to read the news that Pannir had lost the appeal.Following the news, I understand that Pannir was denied a certificate of substantive assistance, even though he cooperated with the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) of Singapore, giving all the details that he possibly knew. Personally, I feel Pannir should be given a new trial. The death penalty is not an effective deterrent to crime.As a Malaysian artist, I feel responsible for talking on behalf of Pannir as I have worked on his songs together with the NGO Sebaran Kasih. Pannir is a passionate songwriter. I think that we, as artists, and the music industry as a whole have a particular moral obligation to get involved and act as a platform to raise awareness on this serious issue that touches on a person’s right to live.The most barbaric condition of being on death row is the horrible feeling of uncertainty when one is under sentence of execution but doesn’t know whether or when the sentence will be carried out. This is something difficult to digest. Pannir’s uncertainty over the time of his execution is creating a physical and mental pain amounting to add his death sentence.Pannir’s life is exactly like the song “Arah Tuju”. Everybody has their destiny in life and Pannir’s destiny is to fight with death.Pannir and other death row prisoners are generally isolated from other prisoners, excluded from all the prison programmes, and sharply restricted in terms of visitation and exercise, spending as many as 23 hours a day alone in their cells.If you are in a position to support the abolishment of the death penalty in the country, then please, use your voice for the voiceless. For the defenseless, for the innocent, and for those that are convicted of minor drug offenses and charged with the death penalty.According to the deathpenaltyinfo.org website, in 2009, the president of Kenya commuted the death sentences of all of the country’s death row prisoners, more than 4,000 of them, citing that the wait to face execution and death as “undue mental anguish and suffering.” This is exactly what has happened to Nagenthiren, another Malaysian on death row in Changi prison.From the Dewan Rakyat, when Nazri Aziz, representing Barisan Nasional spoke, he mentioned that there are about 918 inmates on death row following conviction under Section 39(B) of the Dangerous Drug Act. Of these, 472 are Malaysians and 446 are foreigners.Looking at what the Kenya government has done, I know that Malaysia can do the same for these people as well because regardless of how long the wait is on death row, the death penalty itself is a violation of human rights.To lawmakers, members of the judiciary, and all persons in authority, my humblest and sincerest request to you is to please give Pannir Selvam a second chance to live. He has been working hard from a dark place, death row in prison, to produce art for advocating and creating awareness for the abolishment of the death penalty. Please at least re-consider his case and commute his death sentence.The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


The misdirection in teaching courses

There was once a widely accepted doctrine on teaching about the objective of it: teaching requires objective input and the output must be objective as well. In a sense, the values of right or wrong, true or false are put on a continuum with the distinctions made on the output.Students are taught prescriptively to reach towards the accepted notion of true and right while breaking away from what is deemed false and wrong. This axis forms the plane on which teaching stands. The accepted values are concrete and materialised in the choices and projections of students. Subtlety and drive are collateral to the goal.This doctrine has been revised with an awareness on reconstructing the values of teaching. Teaching has been made to oppose the outdated teacher-centred learning and the prescription of concrete values, among other changes. However, the reality of the teaching course, particularly for language teaching, does not align with this revision.In methodology subjects, students are taught the methods in their field of learning. Theories of language acquisition and applied linguistics in the English teaching course as well as philosophy in education, sociology in education, and ethics of educators are among the compulsory subjects for all teaching courses.However, the landscape in which the students as well as the educators fit in differs from the objective of teaching those subjects. In ethics of educators, disappointingly, students are taught of the values that perfected the teaching vocation as an industry instead of as a noble pursuit.Sociology in education brings about awareness on the relativity of social structure within the field of teaching, yet students end up straying further away from the charity of educating people of different backgrounds.Philosophy of education is saturated with theories that students end up not comprehending for themselves but instead only for paper purposes. Theories of language acquisition is a collateral subject in understanding the learners of a language instead of the focus with which students are to apply in the teaching environment they will face.Methodology bears the methods of application within the teaching and learning environment, but it also bears the shortcomings of students who do not apply it in the environment in which they will find themselves.This observation is made through the perspective of a student in the language teaching course, but the problem runs deep within all of these courses. The drive to perfect the teaching vocation is pure, but severely misdirected.This misdirection comes in various forms. The direction of objectives and subsequently the prioritisation of the teaching vocation are no longer placed on the defining values of educators in the pursuit of a purely teaching service, and instead towards the saturation of holistic values.While it is an accepted notion that students need enhancement in their personal cores, this would be futile if the striving is not in the direction of what an educator is supposed to do. What is conceptualised is an absolutist requirement instead of a relativity that caters to the needs of the teaching vocation.What good can teachers who are well equipped in technical skills do if they are sent to a rural school that lacks the basic infrastructure of technology?Another misdirection of value is on the concept of an educator. Educators are rich in history. In Tanah Melayu itself, educators were on the frontline of revolutions. They preached freedom from the traditional and conservative norms that shrouded the people of the land.Educators are formed by radicalness. They are the ones that breathe a fresh beginning towards the future of a nation of intent.Sadly radicalness is now an agenda relegated to the vacuum of oblivion. Educators at universities adopt the reconstructions in the field but perceive and project it traditionally. Authoritarian holders of power dictate education, and the progressivism which was once abundant is now the new tradition not to be opposed. Dogmatic concepts of education prevail. It faced revisions, but it is nevertheless the conceptualisation of the common belief about education in this age.Innovation in education falls flat due to its function of only piecing together what is lacking instead of providing an alternative. Students in teaching courses are not given the chance to be creative even though they are taught to be. They are taught not to rebel against the norm, as if the norm of teaching is an absolute.Misdirections in objectives are also apparent in the goal of service. Teaching is a selfless pursuit because of its goal to provide for the people. The reality, however, is that this service is centred on the authorities who demand out of their ability to demand. It is a self-enriching venture that clouds the path of the vocation.The system demands more educators to fill the gaps perceived through the reality of a lack in numbers. Consequently, student enrolment in teaching courses is primarily driven by the need to provide for themselves instead of for the people. Altruism is a value taught but not a value enriched. Selflessness takes a backseat with personal ventures driving the whole education field. This results in the neglect of the people to whom the education field is supposed to cater and serve.A wedge has been driven between the ideal of education as a bearer of humanity and education as an industry that forms current reality. A detriment that materialises and develops the current reality even further is the submission of the students of teaching courses to order. Future educators willingly agree to the current direction of the education field. The landscape that strives for the future will ensure the strengthening of the industry that forgoes the need to be aware of afflictions on the current state of humanity.It is a disappointing sight to see the students of teaching courses diminish the need to cater for all in the name of charity and instead cater for the concretisation of the upper echelon. While community service is demanded in the curriculum, it becomes a mark on a piece of paper for which the students are to achieve good results instead of taking the spirit of community service to heart. The students of this course are no longer individuals with altruistic values but individuals in an aggregation for the education industry.The students rarely rebel against the system as an expression of anger at the system’s deficiency of humanity, but as an expression of anger at the burden that falls upon them to bear the responsibility of teaching.I demand a return to the values of educators as rebels, for charity, as innovators and in the name of altruism. I believe that the reality of this field severely lacks educators as a provider for the people instead of the system and its demands. Change may not happen in the near future but I hope it does because we are in need of educators that may be imperfect in the perception of the industry, but satisfy the needs of humanity as a whole.Until then, semoga kita terus berbakti.


Thailand says tourism may not recover until 2026

It could take another five years before tourism revives fully in Thailand – an ominous sign for one of the most tourism-dependent economies in the world, Bloomberg is reporting.The sector, which contributed about 20% of Thailand’s economy before the pandemic, isn’t now expected to return to normal until 2026, the National Economic and Social Development Council said on Monday, citing the Tourism Authority of Thailand.The delayed return – which some analysts had expected within two years – will impact more than seven million workers, many of whom will need to find jobs in other fields, the council said.Thailand welcomed nearly 40 million visitors in 2019 – the last year before the pandemic – earning US$60 billion in revenue.The country closed its borders to most foreign visitors in March 2020, and is now trying to gradually reopen some destinations to vaccinated visitors.The economy has contracted for five straight quarters, a trend that’s likely to continue in the April-June period as the country battles its worst Covid-19 outbreak yet.The resort island of Phuket is set to be the first to reopen in July, followed by 10 other destinations in October. But the government only expects 500,000 visitors this year, a small fraction of the 6.7 million who came in 2020 – almost all in the first three months of the year.The government has tried several schemes before to entice tourists with special deals which they hoped would tempt travellers back to the Land of Smiles. But none of them succeeded as potential visitors balked at the mandatory quarantine requirements.Thailand is currently requiring that arrivals into the country undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine period, which is undoubtedly a dampener for tourist trips, reports the UK Daily Express.While in quarantine, travellers will not be allowed to leave their room except for Covid-19 tests or medical treatments.There is no indication when this requirement my be lowered or dropped altogether.


Water supply back in 69% of affected areas

Water supply in 888 areas or 69% of the 1,279 areas affected by the disruption in water supply following the suspension of the Sungai Selangor Phase 1, 2, 3 and Rantau Panjang water treatment plants due to pollution on Tuesday was fully restored as of 6am today.Air Selangor said efforts are being made to restore supply to the remaining 391 areas.“Consumers are advised to let water flow from the tap until it is clear before using it.“Air Selangor hopes that consumers whose water supply has been restored will use it prudently to ensure the recovery process in other affected areas can be done smoothly and according to schedule,” it said in a statement.Kuala Selangor recorded the highest recovery rate at 99%, followed by Kuala Langat (80%), Hulu Selangor (87%), Kuala Lumpur (75%), Petaling (60%), Gombak (55%) and Klang/Shah Alam (51%).Air Selangor said alternative water supply assistance is available at public hydrants and local service centres for consumers affected by the disruption.


China issues first national drought alert, battles to save crops in extreme heatwave

China has issued its first national drought alert of the year as authorities battle forest fires and mobilise specialist teams to protect crops from scorching temperatures across the Yangtze river basin.
The national "yellow alert", issued late on Thursday, comes after regions from Sichuan in the southwest to Shanghai in the Yangtze delta have experienced weeks of extreme heat, with government officials repeatedly citing global climate change as the cause. The alert is two notches short of the most serious warning on Beijing's scale.
In one of the Yangtze's important flood basins in central China's Jiangxi province, the Poyang Lake has now shrunk to a quarter of its normal size for this time of year, state news agency Xinhua said on Thursday.
As many as 66 rivers across 34 counties in the southwestern region of Chongqing have dried up, state broadcaster CCTV said on Friday.
Rainfall in Chongqing this year is down 60% compared to the seasonal norm, and the soil in several districts is severely short of moisture, CCTV said, citing local government data.
The district of Beibei, north of Chongqing's urban centre, saw temperatures hit 45 degrees Celsius on Thursday, according to China's weather bureau.
Chongqing accounted for six of the 10 hottest locations in the country on Friday morning, with temperatures in the district of Bishan already approaching 39 degrees Celsius. Shanghai was already at 37 degrees.
The Chongqing region's infrastructure and emergency services have come under increasing strain, with firefighters on high alert as mountain and forest blazes erupted across the region. State media also reported an increase in cases of heatstroke.
The gas utility in the district of Fuling also told customers on Friday that they would cut off supplies until further notice as they deal with "serious safety hazards".
The Chongqing agricultural bureau has also set up expert teams to protect vulnerable crops and expand planting to compensate for losses ahead of the autumn harvest.
The water resources ministry has instructed drought-hit agricultural regions to draw up rotas determining who can access supplies at any particular time, to ensure they do not run out.
According to data from China's emergency ministry late on Thursday, high temperatures in July alone caused direct economic losses of 2.73 billion yuan (US$400 million), affecting 5.5 million people.
Meanwhile China's National Meteorological Center renewed its high-temperature red alert on Friday, the 30th consecutive day it has issued alerts, it said on its Weibo channel. State forecasters also predicted that the current heatwave would only start to abate on Aug 26.
The weather agency said in its daily bulletin that 4.5 million square kilometres of national territory had now experienced temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius or more over the past month – nearly half the country's total area – with more than 200 weather stations recording record highs.


Anwar announces RM386.14 billion budget for 2023

Prime Minister and Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim today announced a total allocation of RM386.14 billion in his administration's first national budget, almost RM14 billion more than the RM372.3 billion set aside in the budget tabled by his predecessor Tengku Zafrul Aziz just three days before Parliament was dissolved to pave the way for the general election last year.
Anwar's budget speech today also marked his first since 1997, a year before his dramatic sacking by then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who later took over the finance portfolio to implement wide-ranging and non-conventional measures in the face of the Asian financial crisis.
Today's budget, themed after Anwar's Malaysia Madani slogan, saw RM289.1 billion allocated for operations and RM99 billion for development including RM2 billion in contingency savings.
The education ministry remained the top recipient of funds with an allocation of RM55.2 billion compared to RM52.6 billion in 2022.
The health ministry came in second place with RM36.3 billion compared to RM32.4 billion last year.
Anwar also announced RM18.5 billion for the home ministry and RM17.7 billion for the defence ministry.
The higher education ministry meanwhile was allocated RM15.3 billion compared to RM14.5 billion in 2022.
Other major points include:
- 2023 fiscal deficit reduced from 5.6% in 2022 to 5%
- Fiscal responsibility bill to be tabled in Parliament this year
- Greater distribution of Amanah Saham Bumiputera dividends for those in need
- Electricity tariffs maintained for domestic consumers and SMEs but raised for large companies excluding the food and agriculture sector
- No decision yet on bringing back goods and services tax
- Plans to introduce luxury goods tax this year with value limits according to type of good, e.g. luxury watches and fashion items
- Possible introduction of capital gains tax for the disposal of unlisted shares by companies from 2024 at a low rate
- Plans to impose exise duty on liquid or gel products containing nicotine used in electronic cigarettes and vape devices
- Support for generational endgame initiative with half of the revenue from excise duty to be allocated to health ministry
- Tax rate on taxable income for micro, small and medium enterprises for the first 150 thousand to be reduced from 17% to 15%, beginning assessment year 2023.
- RM50 million allocation for the construction and upgrade of 3,000 stalls and kiosks for small hawkers
- RM176 million for the upgrade of premises and business facilities under Mara, DBKL, Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Bhd and Perbadanan Pembangunan Bandar
- Loan facilities and financing guarantees for the benefit of micro, small and medium enterprises with a total value of up to RM40 billion
- Nearly RM10 billion in loan funds for SMEs provided by Bank Negara Malaysia
- Six flood mitigation projects to be retendered by June 2023
- New Industrial Master Plan 2030 to be announced in Q3 2023 to outline the direction of industrial development, focused on high quality activities and the recruitment of local talent
- Tun Razak Exchange mandated as Malaysia's international financial hub
- Plans to amend and table the Whistleblower Protection Act this year
- Allocation of RM1.2 billion to complete repairs on 400 clinics and 380 schools in dilapidated condition
- RM2.7 billion to maintain and upgrade federal roads
- RM1.5 billion to upgrade and build new rural roads
- Creation of special task force on agency reform, chaired by the chief secretary
- RM10 million to strengthen the role of the National Scam Response Centre through operating grants
- Bank Negara Malaysia to enforce "kill switch" policy for all banking institutions to allow users to immediately freeze ther accounts including ATM cards in the event of suspicious activity
- Government to amend Insolvency Act 1967 to allow bankruptcy cases to be automatically discharged at short notice
- Cases involving debt of less than RM50,000 that meet the necessary conditions to be immediately released from March 1
- Establishment of a special team under police D11 to combat child pornography activities
- Creation of Child Development Department under the Social Welfare Department
- Government to enact Consumer Credit Act and establish a consumer credit monitoring board to regulate credit businesses
- Socso to provide incentives to employers who employ 17,000 TVET graduates of RM600 per month for three months on top of salary offered, through an allocation of RM45 million
- Further Socso incentives for employers who employ workers from vulnerable groups such as the disabled, former prisoners, the homeless and the chronically unemployed, of up to RM600 per month for a period of up to three months
- Government to cover training fees of up to RM4,000 for gig workers to enrol in micro credentials skills improvement programmes
- Socso to provide RM300 allowance for three months to replace income of gig workers who are active and undergoing training programmes
- RM50 million in matching grants to encourage the automation of the plantation sector through the use of robotics and AI that can employ skilled local workers
- RM80 million to improve the sustainability of the palm oil industry and intensify the campaign to tackle anti-palm oil sentiments
- RM250 million for the promotion of tourism
- RM725 million to implement digital connectivity in 47 industrial areas and nearly 3,700 schools
- RM50 million to Melaka and Penang to preserve world heritage sites recognised by Unesco
- RM750 million for the economy ministry to implement the People's Income Initiative to empower the poor to increase their income potential
- Aid and facilities for the lower income group to be given on a monthly basis instead of in a lump sum
- RM64 billion in the form of subsidies, aid and incentives to minimise the cost of living through price controls, financial assistance and the provision of services
- RM100 million for the Jualan Rahmah initiative which offers basic goods at prices of up to 30% less than the market rate
- Under Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) programme, households with an income of less than RM2,500 are eligible to receive up to RM2,500 depending on the number of children
- An additional RM600 for the poorest household recipients under STR, according to e-Kasih data, to be distributed in the form of food baskets and vouchers for basic food iteams
- RM200 e-Tunai Belia Rahmah credit for two million youths aged 18 to 20, involving a total allocation of RM400 million.
- Bernas to share profits from rice imports by contributing 30% of net profit to rice farmers on top of RM60 million contribution provided
- Individual income tax rate for residents to be reduced by 2% for each income bracket from over RM35,000 to RM100,000
- Government to increase tax rate for those with high incomes from 0.5% to 2% for each income bracket of more than RM100,000 to RM1 million, in a move expected to affect fewer than 150,000 taxpayers
- RM30 million for collaboration with a number of state governments for the implementation of agro-food projects
- Development allocations for Sabah and Sarawak of RM6.5 billion and RM5.6 billion respectively
- Over RM2.5 billion to implement public infrastructure projects for Sabah and Sarawak involving streetlights and water and electricity supply
- Almost RM4.1 billion for the maintenance and purchase of assets for the Malaysian Armed Forces
- Nearly RM1 billion for agencies under the home ministry to strengthen domestic security including through the acquisition of more than 2,100 police body cameras
- Over RM500 million for the maintenance of armed forces quarters and the rehabilitation of residential quarters and institutions under the defence ministry
- RM20 million for sports, culture and arts programmes at the school and community level
- RM5 million for the National Athlete Welfare Foundation and tax deductions for employers who employ former national athletes
- RM25 million for cultural and artistic activities at the community level
- RM2.3 billion for infrastructure and learning facilities at schools
- RM777 million ringgit for the provision of food for students under the Supplementary Food Plan
- 50,000 laptops for schools and educational institutions under the education ministry
- RM3 billion for new permanent appointments and contracts for more than 1,500 medical, dental and pharmacy officers
- RM120 million for Madani Medical Scheme specifically for the poor to obtain treatment at clinics and private general practitioners
- Increase in tax relief limit for medical treatment expenses from RM8,000 to RM10,000
- RM50 million for local government development ministry to ensure a safe environment at People's Housing Projects (PPR) with a priority on replacing wornout lifts
- RM367 million for new PPR projects expected to benefit 12,400 residents
- Stamp duty exemptions for first-time owners with a full stamp duty exemption for houses worth RM500,000 and below and 75% exemption for houses worth RM500,000 to RM1 million
- Government to increase EPF savings contributions in Account 1 by RM500 for members between 40 and 54 years old with EPF savings of less than RM10,000 in said account, involving an allocation of nearly RM1 billion
- Special Aidilfitri aid of RM700 for civil servants Grade 56 and below, with RM350 for government retirees, to be paid in April


186 new Omicron cases detected since Jan 14

A total of 186 new Covid-19 cases of the Omicron variant of concern (VOC) were reported in Malaysia between Jan 14 and yesterday, says health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.He said the Integrative Pharmacogenomics Institute, Universiti Teknologi Mara had detected 46 new cases, the Tropical Infectious Diseases Research & Education Centre 43 cases and the Malaysia Genome and Vaccine Institute another 43 cases.The Institute for Medical Research detected 28 new cases while the Institute of Health and Community Medicine, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak detected 26 new cases.“This brings the cumulative figure for SARS-CoV-2 infections categorised as VOC and variants of interest (VOI) to 6,432 cases.“Of this number, 6,412 cases are VOC while 20 cases are VOI,” he said in a statement.Noor Hisham also said 17 new clusters were detected yesterday, raising the number of active clusters to 188, while the infectivity rate in the country was at 0.98.


TikTok CEO grilled by US lawmakers who vow to address app 'threat'

TikTok's chief executive faced tough questions on Thursday from lawmakers who are convinced the Chinese-owned short video app should be barred for being a "tool" of the Chinese Communist Party and because it carries content that can harm children's mental health.
CEO Shou Zi Chew's testimony before Congress capped a week of actions by the Chinese company aimed at convincing Americans and their lawmakers that the app creates economic value and supports free speech amid growing calls to ban the app.
TikTok, which has more than 150 million American users, was repeatedly hammered in the ongoing hearing where no lawmaker offered any support. Many talked of a need to rein in the power held by the app over US children.
"TikTok could be designed to minimise the harm to kids but a decision was made to aggressively addict kids in the name of profits," said Representative Kathy Castor, a Democrat, at the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce committee hearing.
Republicans and Democrats also raised numerous concerns about its potential to threaten US national security by sharing its data with the Chinese government.
TikTok has said it has spent more than US$1.5 billion (about RM6.6 billion) on what it calls rigorous data security efforts under the name "Project Texas" that currently has nearly 1,500 full-time employees and is contracted with Oracle Corp to store TikTok’s US user data. It also says it rigorously screens content that could harm children.
Lawmakers rejected TikTok's responses as insufficient.
'Poster child' for tensions with China
Representative Diana DeGette focused questions on TikTok efforts to prevent the spread of misinformation on the platform.
"You have current controls, but the current controls are not working to keep this information mainly from young people, but from Americans in general," DeGette said.
Chew said the company was investing in content moderation and artificial intelligence to limit such content.
DeGette said TikTok's actions were not enough.
"You gave me only generalised statements that you're investing, that you're concerned, that you're doing work. That's not enough for me. That's not enough for the parents of America," DeGette said.
Shares of US social media companies rose on Thursday, with Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc up 3.4% and Snap Inc up 4.4%.
Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said on Twitter the "TikTok CEO testimony so far we would characterize as a 'mini disaster' for this key moment for TikTok. TikTok is now poster child of the US/China tensions and lawmakers have a lot of q’s with not enough concrete answers."
Manipulation?
Committee chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican, set the tone of the hearing by saying, "TikTok collects nearly every data point imaginable - from people's location to what they type and copy, who they talk to, to biometric data and more.
"We do not trust TikTok will ever embrace American values - values for freedom, human rights and innovation," she said, adding that the Chinese Communist Party "is able to use (TikTok) as a tool to manipulate America as a whole."
Chew, who began his testimony speaking about his own Singaporean roots, said, "We do not promote or remove content at the request of the Chinese government." He added: "It is our commitment to this committee and all our users that we will keep (TikTok) free from any manipulation by any government."
But the top Democrat on the panel, Representative Frank Pallone, argued with that statement, saying, "You're gonna continue to gather data, you're gonna continue to sell data... and continue to be under the aegis of the Communist Party."
Many US lawmakers want TikTok banned. TikTok last week said President Joe Biden's administration demanded its Chinese owners divest their stakes or face a potential ban.
China’s Ministry of Commerce at a briefing on Thursday said that "forcing the sale of TikTok will seriously damage the confidence of investors from all over the world, including China, to invest in the US. If the news is true, China will firmly oppose it.”
“The sale or divestiture of TikTok involves technology export, and administrative licensing procedures must be performed in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations, and the Chinese government will make a decision in accordance with the law,” the Ministry representative added.
Democratic Senator Mark Warner on Wednesday said two additional senators backed his bipartisan legislation with Republican John Thune to give the Biden administration new powers to ban TikTok - raising the total to 10 Democrats and 10 Republicans.


23.6% of population fully vaccinated, 45.8% given first dose

A total of 22,646,581 Covid-19 vaccine doses had been administered through the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme as of yesterday.Health Minister Dr Adham Baba said 14,941,585 were first doses while 7,704,996 were second doses.In terms of percentage, he said, 45.8% of the country’s population have received a first dose, while 23.6% have completed both doses of vaccine.A total of 494,214 doses were administered yesterday with 230,053 as first doses and 264,161 as second doses.


Indonesia warns against arms race after Aussie nuclear sub pact

Indonesia said on Friday it was worried about an arms race in the region after neighbouring Australia announced plans to acquire nuclear-powered submarines as part of a new Indo-Pacific security alliance with the US and Britain.Known as Aukus, the alliance will see Australia get the technology to deploy nuclear-powered submarines as part of an agreement intended to respond to growing Chinese power.In a statement on Friday, the Indonesian foreign ministry noted with caution Australia’s decision to acquire the submarines and said it was “deeply concerned over the continuing arms race and power projection in the region”.The foreign ministry called on Australia to maintain its commitment to regional peace and stability, and reiterated its respect for international law.Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison told ABC radio on Friday that Indonesia’s defence and foreign ministers had been informed about the plans and he intended to speak with Indonesian President Joko Widodo soon.There have been growing tensions in the disputed South China Sea, a strategic waterway with potential oil and gas riches, as countries try to push back against China’s maritime claims.The Indonesian navy said on Thursday it had increased patrols around its Natuna islands this week after it said Chinese and US vessels were detected in the country’s waters.The chairman of a fishing alliance in Natuna said Indonesian fishermen had spotted six Chinese ships, including warships, in Natuna waters this week and also regularly saw U.S vessels. “We are worried that we will be caught in the middle of a war and that it will be unsafe for us to search for fish,” said Hendri, who uses one name.China has not claimed the Natuna islands, but says it has nearby fishing rights within a self-proclaimed Nine-Dash Line that includes most of South China Sea – a claim disputed by some Southeast Asian countries and not recognised internationally.


Suu Kyi’s party wins absolute majority in Myanmar polls

Aung San Suu Kyi’s ruling party secured an absolute majority in Myanmar’s election, official results showed Friday, in a poll disputed by the military-aligned opposition and criticised by rights groups.Her National League for Democracy (NLD) had already declared a landslide victory based on its own tallies, prompting street celebrations by supporters.But official figures were still being returned five days after the ballot, only the second such polls since the nation emerged from outright military rule in 2011.Results announced by the election commission Friday showed the NLD had won 346 seats – more than 50% of parliament, even taking into account the quarter of seats reserved for the military under the constitution.The party is on track to improve on its landslide win in 2015, despite widespread disillusion in many ethnic-minority areas.“People clearly realised the need for the NLD to get enough votes to form a government on their own,” NLD spokesman Myo Nyunt told AFP, adding this would help “minimise political conflict”.The military-aligned opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) has been trounced across the country, winning just 25 seats by Friday.The party alleges the vote was neither free nor fair and is demanding that the Union Election Commission (UEC) step down and polls be re-run.Yangon-based analyst Khin Zaw Win warned the coming months will be messy, adding the situation was a consequence of the UEC being filled with “yes-men and incompetents”.Under the constitution, the government appoints all commission members.But even if some results were overturned, “the NLD landslide is so large that they wouldn’t alter the overall outcome”, said Richard Horsey from the International Crisis Group.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already tweeted his congratulations to Suu Kyi, writing he looked forward to strengthening the neighbours’ “traditional bonds of friendship”.Observers have widely concluded that voting took place smoothly on the day, despite forecasts of a low turnout due to a recent surge of coronavirus cases.But they condemned what they described as the election commission’s lack of transparency and its cancellation of the polls across many ethnic minority areas – ostensibly for security reasons.The move left 1.5 million voters disenfranchised and sparked grievances in already restive areas that the playing field had been tilted in favour of the NLD.Some will conclude the electoral process does not work for them and choose “political insurrection or insurgency instead”, warned Horsey.Rights groups have also condemned the vote, which left virtually all Rohingya Muslims disenfranchised, either languishing in Bangladeshi refugee camps or stripped of citizenship in Myanmar.Even though Suu Kyi’s international reputation was badly hurt over the Rohingya crisis – for which the country now faces charges of genocide – she remains widely revered within Myanmar.


Cops take Kedah MB's statement over Penang-Kedah issue

The police have confirmed that a statement was recorded from Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor yesterday in connection with his statement that Penang belongs to Kedah.
Police spokesman Noorsiah Saaduddin said the Classified Crime Investigation Unit from the Bukit Aman Crime Investigation Department recorded Sanusi's statement at the Kedah Menteri Besar’s office in Wisma Darul Aman, Alor Setar, yesterday.
"The police are currently in the process of completing the investigation papers before sending the report to the Attorney-General's Office soon, in line with the provisions under Article 145(3) of the Federal Constitution," Noorsiah said in a statement last night.
Meanwhile, in Alor Setar, Sanusi said he was asked five questions when his statement was recorded.
Earlier this week, the police had received reports and investigation papers were opened in connection with statements made by Sanusi.
On May 29, Sanusi was reported as saying that Kedah and Penang do not have common borders because Penang still belongs to Kedah, and that only Perak and Perlis have state borders with Kedah.


US state to let teachers carry guns after 24 hours of training

Ohio is set to enact a law that allows teachers and other staff to be armed with guns in schools once they have completed up to 24 hours of initial training.Proponents hope armed teachers will reduce the frequency and deadliness of school shootings, which have become recurrent in the US. The bill’s opponents, including teachers’ unions and the state’s main police officer union, say it will only make schools more dangerous for children.The bill was finalised 10 days after a teenager with an AR-15-style rifle attacked a school in Uvalde, Texas. Nineteen students and two teachers were killed in the massacre.Ohio governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, has said he will sign the bill into law.The bill was passed by the Republican-controlled Ohio General Assembly this week. It was designed to defuse a ruling last year by the Ohio Supreme Court that said a longstanding state law required teachers to complete more than 700 hours in a peace-officer training programme before they could be armed with a gun on school premises.Proponents of the bill said it would allow school staff to confront an armed attacker before police entered.“In emergency situations at our schools, seconds matter and tragedies can be prevented,” Representative Thomas Hall, the bill’s sponsor, said in a statement.Armed teachers would be required to undergo criminal background checks and receive eight hours of additional training each subsequent year.DeWine said in a statement the governor’s office had worked with lawmakers since the Uvalde shooting “to remove hundreds of hours of curriculum irrelevant to school safety, and to ensure training requirements were specific to a school environment.”The Ohio Education Association and the Ohio Federation of Teachers said in a joint statement that the bill was rushed and risky.The bill, they said, put “educators in the impossible position of making split-second life-and-death decisions without sufficient training. This could undoubtedly lead to more tragedies in our schools.”Under the new law, school districts would have to notify parents if they decide to let armed teachers onto school premises. It was not immediately clear how many school districts would choose to allow teachers to be armed.


Germany intends to require women on all-male company boards

Germany has taken a step toward requiring women to be on the management boards of the country’s largest companies.On Wednesday, Germany’s cabinet approved a draft law that would require stock exchange-listed companies with executive boards of more than three members to have at least one woman and one man on those boards, reports NPR.The rule would affect about 70 German companies, 30 of which currently have no women at all on their management boards, the justice ministry said.The draft law will now go to the Bundestag, Germany’s parliament, for a vote.The legislation also contains a provision intended to improve the effectiveness of a 2015 law that requires leading companies’ supervisory boards – which are generally chosen by shareholders and don’t have executive powers – to have at least 30% of their positions occupied by women.The new law would extend the 30% requirement to companies in which the federal government is the majority shareholder.In addition, executive boards – responsible for managing the company – that have more than two members will be required to have at least one woman. These measures would affect about 90 companies.Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, Franziska Giffey called the law a “milestone” that would ensure there will no longer be women-free boardrooms in these large companies. The law would make Germany better prepared for the future, she said, and more able to capitalise on its potential.“We have seen for years, not many changes are made voluntarily, and progress is very slow,” Giffey said.An October 2020 report by the AllBright Foundation, a Swedish-German organisation which works to promote more women and diversity in executive business positions, found that Germany lags behind the US, the UK, France, Poland and Sweden in the proportion of women on executive boards at leading companies.The study found that in the US, women comprise nearly 30% of the executive boards of the 30 largest publicly traded companies. In Germany, that figure is just 13%. And only four of Germany’s largest 30 listed companies had more than one woman on their executive boards.Janina Kugel, a former Siemens executive who is now an equality advocate, told Deutsche Welle the new quota would be an important signal.“The perception of Germany is that, because we’ve had a female chancellor for the last 15 years, Germany is very progressive in that matter, but actually it is not,” she said.The US has also begun to confront the issue of gender disparity in boardrooms.In 2018, California became the first US state to require companies based there to have women on their boards of directors.The US Nasdaq stock exchange announced diversity requirements last month. Under the rule submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission for approval, Nasdaq would require companies traded on its exchange to appoint at least one woman and at least one member of an ethnic or racial minority or LGBTQ+ person to their boards of directors.


MACC found no evidence of corruption, says Muhyiddin

Muhyiddin Yassin today said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) failed to find any evidence that he had received bribes, even as the agency said the former prime minister would be brought to court to face charges tomorrow.
Emerging after nearly eight hours of questioning at the MACC headquarters, the Perikatan Nasional chairman expressed regret that financial assistance for Covid-19 was now being exploited for political capital and to bring charges against opponents.
"MACC should know that there is no abuse of power or corruption.
"It is unfortunate if political funds in Bersatu's accounts are considered bribes," he said.
He also said he believed he would still be slapped with charges despite giving his statement to investigating officers.
Muhyiddin said MACC today raised issues linked to the JanaWibawa programme, as well as an appeal for a tax exemption by tycoon Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary.
"I reaffirm that I have not done anything wrong under the law. I was not the one with the authority to approve government projects. That power is with the finance ministry.
"I merely implemented the Cabinet decision which required the Prime Minister's Office to forward project applications for consideration by the finance ministry in accordance with the requirements and regulations," he added.
Muhyiddin also said he had never met with or received money from any of the contractors who were awarded projects.
"MACC did not find any evidence that I received money."
On the application by Syed Mokhtar, Muhyiddin said the tycoon was known for his philanthropy in helping Islamic causes.
He said because of this, the tycoon's Yayasan Albukhary was given a tax exemption under the previous Barisan Nasional government, which were then revoked by former finance minister Lim Guan Eng under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration.
Muhyiddin said following an appeal by Syed Mokhtar, he had stated in writing that he had no objection to reinstating the tax exemption if the appeal was found to be in order by the finance ministry and the Inland Revenue Board.
"Because of the minutes, I am now accused of abuse of power," he said, adding that he had played no role in approving Syed Mokhtar's appeal.
He said Syed Mokhtar had given financial aid to many political parties over the years, and that any such aid to Bersatu was deposited in the party's accounts.
"If Syed Mokhtar wanted to contribute to Bersatu as a party that fights for good policies for the Malays and the country, what is wrong?
"So how can I be accused of accepting bribes and abusing power?
"I have explained all this to the MACC investigating officers. Under normal circumstances, there is no basis to prosecute me under any law.
"But there has been an instruction to charge me from the most powerful party in the government. So no matter what explanation I give, I will still be charged.
"I am convinced that by the will of God, Anwar, PH and the parties conspiring with him will be punished by the people in the election," he said.


International book fairs or Islamic book fairs?

As the shutters come down on one of Malaysia’s biggest book events, questions are swirling about its predominantly Islamic content and the effect that this might have on the country’s efforts to portray itself as a vibrant and multicultural society on the world stage.The Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (KLIBF), launched more than 40 years ago in 1981, is organised each year by the education ministry in tandem with the National Book Council of Malaysia and a number of local industry associations.The 10-day event, which came booming back to life this year after a long break induced by the Covid-19 pandemic, saw thousands flocking to the World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur to browse through the publications on display and, with any luck, to bring back new treasures for the shelves at home.However, a visit to the fair just before its close last weekend found the selection of books dominated by those in the Islamic and religious genre, with almost no international representation and very little to show for the country’s image as a whole.Even the childrens’ section was overshadowed by this theme, with covers and pamphlets filled with words such as “heaven”, “hell” and “doomsday”.Book lovers look through the selection on display at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair, the country’s largest book event.Also on display were books splashed with conspiracy theory-style titles on issues like Freemasonry and the Illuminati – a favourite with teenagers who, arms filled, queued for metres at the checkout counter.On social media, questions were raised about the function and objective of the KLIBF, with some suggesting that the organisers change its name to the Kuala Lumpur Islamic Book Fair given its overwhelmingly religious content.There were very few books in languages other than Malay, with a scattering of titles in English and nothing at all in Mandarin or Tamil.Malaysia’s imageAs of closing day on Sunday, the KLIBF 2022 organising committee estimated that some 1.25 million visitors had come throughout the event.A total of 137 exhibition booths were opened, and more than 700 were used by publishers, making the KLIBF the largest book and publication event in the country.But many have questioned the extent to which the event accomplished its objective as an international book fair given the narrow range of titles available.On the other side of the fence, meanwhile, others say there is nothing wrong with the selection as long as the books are useful and beneficial to readers.Most of the books available at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair were written in Malay, with very few in other languages.Nurhuda Ramli, a writer who participated in the KLIBF for the first time this year, said the event should belong to all Malaysians instead of only offering books targeted at the Malay community.She said the organisers should also be imaginative and think about how to make the book fair inclusive and diverse.Without such efforts, she said, there would be nothing apart from Malay titles at the annual event.“Even though many of the books are beneficial, there is a clear trend towards religious and conservative books at KLIBF,” she said.“We have to look at this critically. What is causing the market to be saturated with such titles? Is there really demand just for these books or are the writers out there only those with conservative mindsets?”International book events like KLIBF are also held in other countries like the UK, Japan and Canada.The London Book Fair, for example, gives opportunities for book lovers to obtain local works by minority groups as well as progressive and critical volumes that are difficult to find in mainstream shops.Nurhuda, who published her book “Sanggah Pemula” with Petaling Jaya-based publisher Gerakbudaya, said the KLIBF should be like that.She said this was why it was important to study market conditions, especially the number of writers in circulation.“If there are only a few out there, something should be done to encourage the rise of more progressive writers and thinkers,” she said.


Home minister has decided on appeal to register Muda, says federal counsel

Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin has given his decision on the appeal by Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and 12 others to register Muda as a political party.Federal counsel M Kogilambigai, representing the home minister and the Registrar of Societies (RoS), told reporters this when contacted today.Kogilambigai said she had informed the court of the home minister’s decision on the appeal and that the Attorney-General’s Chambers had been notified of the matter. But she said details of the decision had yet to be received.“The home ministry will officially inform the decision to Muda,” she said when contacted after the online proceedings before High Court judge Noorin Badaruddin.Today was set for hearing of the judicial review application by Syed Saddiq and 12 others to challenge the action of the home minister and the RoS for not having decided yet on its appeal to register Muda as a political party.Lawyer Lim Wei Jiet who represents the appellants, when contacted by reporters, confirmed the matter but said that they had yet to receive a decision on whether their appeal was accepted or dismissed.“Based on the development of this case, the judicial review hearing has been postponed to Aug 18,” said Lim.Syed Saddiq, who is the founder of Muda, and the 12 others, filed the application on April 26 and obtained leave to initiate a judicial review application on May 25.In the application, they sought a mandamus order for the home minister to reach a decision under Section 18 of the Societies Act 1966 on their appeal against the RoS’ decision in refusing to register Muda as a political party on Jan 6, seven days after a court ruling, as well as damages and other relief deemed fit by the court.On Feb 4, Muda submitted an appeal on its registration as a political party to the RoS and Hamzah.The application form to register Muda as a political party was submitted to the RoS in September last year but was rejected in January this year.


UK man tests positive for virus for 10 straight months

A 72-year-old British man tested positive for coronavirus for 10 months in what is thought to be the longest recorded case of continuous infection, researchers said on Thursday.Dave Smith, a retired driving instructor from Bristol in western England, said he tested positive 43 times, was hospitalised seven times and had made plans for his funeral.“I’d resigned myself, I’d called the family in, made my peace with everybody, said goodbye,” he told BBC television.His wife, Linda, who quarantined with him at home, said: “There was a lot of times when we didn’t think he was going to pull through. It’s been a hell of a year.”Ed Moran, a consultant in infectious diseases at the University of Bristol and North Bristol NHS Trust, said Smith “had active virus in his body” throughout.“We were able to prove that by sending a sample of his virus to university partners who managed to grow it, proving that it was not just leftover products that were triggering a PCR test but actually active, viable virus.”Smith recovered after treatment with a cocktail of synthetic antibodies developed by the US biotech firm Regeneron.This was allowed on compassionate grounds in his case but the treatment regime is not clinically approved for use in Britain.Results of a clinical trial published this month showed the treatment reduced deaths among severe Covid patients who are unable to mount a strong immune response.“It’s like you’ve been given your life back,” Smith told the BBC.He and his wife cracked open a bottle of champagne when he finally tested negative, 45 days after receiving the Regeneron drug and some 305 days after his first infection.Smith’s treatment was not part of an official medical trial but his case is now being studied by virologist Andrew Davidson at the University of Bristol.A paper on his case will be presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases in July, saying that his is thought to be “the longest infection recorded in the literature”.“Where does the virus hide away in the body? How can it stay just persistently infecting people? We don’t know that,” Davidson said.Smith had a history of lung disease and had recently recovered from leukaemia when he caught the virus in March 2020.He told The Guardian daily that since his recovery, he still gets breathless but has travelled in Britain and is teaching his granddaughter to drive.“I’ve been down to the bottom and everything’s brilliant now,” he said.


New York City reaches agreement with some unions on vaccine mandate

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration and unions representing over 70,000 workers reached a deal on Thursday on a Covid-19 vaccine mandate, including on exemption requests and leave policies.New York City’s public-sector employee union District Council 37 said union members who have not provided proof of at least one dose of the vaccine will have the option to resign or take a leave of absence. In both cases, employees will maintain their health benefits.Employees without proof of vaccination who have either not submitted an application for an exemption or have been denied an exemption may be placed on unpaid leave beginning as of last Monday through Nov 30, the union said. It added that employees will remain eligible for health benefits during that time.“We are proud to have negotiated collective bargaining agreements with several unions regarding the vaccination mandate, which provide a process for our employees to request medical or religious exemptions and establish rules for employees on leave without pay,” de Blasio’s office said in a statement on Twitter.The city negotiated agreements with District Council 37, Teamsters Local 237, Uniformed Sanitationmen’s Association Local 831 and SEIU Local 300 unions, the mayor said, adding 92% of city workers under the mandate are vaccinated.De Blasio had declared his coronavirus vaccination order for emergency responders a success on Monday, with no disruption to city services, despite a sickout by some firefighters who officials said were protesting the mandate.The mayor’s Oct 20 order, which police and firefighter union leaders said would cause staff shortages, led to an 11th-hour rush of inoculations that shrank the ranks of the unvaccinated as officials in the largest US city began enforcing the mandate on Monday morning.Mandate disputes also have erupted in other cities as political leaders, including President Joe Biden, have sought to stem the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus.New York City police and firefighter unions also have challenged the mandate. But the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York said late last month that courts rejected its requests for an emergency order to halt the mandate’s enforcement.


Authorities seek to defuse pandemic ‘time bomb’ at Putrajaya’s city limits

Putrajaya is considering using its discretionary powers to defuse what health authorities have warned is a potential Covid-19 time bomb just outside the administrative capital, MalaysiaNow has learnt.High-level discussions in recent days have focused on the living conditions of thousands of undocumented migrant workers in nearby townships including areas surrounding Sepang, where KLIA is located.But with the controversial mass arrests of foreign workers in central Kuala Lumpur at the height of the pandemic still fresh in memory, authorities feel there are other ways to prevent possible explosions of new virus clusters involving undocumented migrants.“Many of them live in cramped conditions, just the recipe for a Singapore-like outbreak,” said a source familiar with the discussions, referring to the spike in Covid-19 cases involving foreign workers in the neighbouring state earlier this year.One such location is Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi, just outside KLIA, where migrants are commonly seen living in cramped, makeshift hostels and rented rooms.The area came under tighter restrictions on daily activities yesterday after an enhanced movement control order was declared.“There is a potential time bomb here as many of these workers are employed at the airport as well as retail and shopping outlets in Putrajaya. An outbreak of the virus among them would be catastrophic in terms of health logistics,” the source said.“Many of them live in cramped conditions, just the recipe for a Singapore-like outbreak.”MalaysiaNow understands that one of the solutions on the table is to send home these migrants, most of whom lost their jobs and are trying to make ends meet on the peripheries of large towns and cities.That means doing away with the normal immigration procedure of detaining them at depots, where hundreds of migrants contracted the virus in May this year, sparking criticism of the authorities.Earlier this year, rights groups lashed out at the immigration authorities for detaining migrants during the height of the movement control order despite earlier assurances that the government would spare them during the pandemic.They said detaining the migrants, who include women and children, put them at risk of contracting Covid-19 in the crowded conditions.It is understood that the proposal to send undocumented migrants back to their countries, bypassing the detention centres as well as prosecution, is provided for under law.The Immigration Act empowers the immigration director-general to deport any foreigner without waiting for court proceedings.“Effectively, it works like an amnesty, except in this case the undocumented migrants will have no choice but to return to their countries,” said a source familiar with high-level discussions between various agencies involved in the Covid-19 battle.It is learnt that the proposal is under serious consideration by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, against a backdrop of past incidents where authorities were unable to effectively contain Covid-19 outbreaks at detention centres and prisons.“What it does is cut the time-consuming red tape on legal procedures involving detained migrants, especially when time is precious in the battle against Covid-19,” the source added.Under normal circumstances, authorities would liaise with foreign embassies while undocumented migrants are detained, but in this case there is a shortage of manpower and resources to do things the conventional way.But there is also the question of whether foreign governments would be willing to accept their repatriated citizens.“That’s a problem for another time. Right now, the concern is to avert a pandemic time bomb that would put both locals and foreigners in the country at risk of being infected,” the source said.In May, hundreds of migrants detained at several immigration depots in the Klang Valley were infected with Covid-19, triggering concerns from migrant rights groups on the authorities’ handling of the community.Most of the migrant workers were from Indonesia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, India and Pakistan.


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Behind the job-fling trend among the youth

By the time she was 27, Azimah Awliya Ali had already done stints at a number of different companies on top of the first job she worked towards the end of her university degree in 2016.
At that point, she had worked as an administrative assistant in the customer data department of a private hospital.
After graduating with a degree in computer science, Azimah underwent a career change and became a real estate agent in Johor Bahru.
A year and nine months later, she moved to Shah Alam in Selangor to join the sales team of a leading telekung boutique.
There, she worked until she was promoted to supervisor, and then became the employer's personal assistant.
In 2020, just before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, Azimah switched paths again and became a takaful and insurance consultant at a private company in Bangi.
Now, at the age of 29, she has managed to secure a place in the government service under the Public Service Commission.
Azimah said moving from workplace to workplace had helped her establish a good career profile.
Speaking to MalaysiaNow, she said the different work experiences at each place had allowed her to showcase a range of abilities to prospective employers.
"People have called me flaky for changing jobs so often," she said.
"But this also allowed me to earn a stable income in a short period of time."
Before entering the public service, Azimah was paid between RM2,100 and RM6,500 at her various jobs.
While her current salary is somewhat lower than what she had earned at her peak, she is comfortable with the savings she has accumulated so far.
"Now, I try to focus on my work and not worry about saving anymore.
"I just need to continue putting away a little bit each month," she said.
'Tiring'
Azimah is one of many young people who have moved from job to job over the past few years.
While there are no detailed statistics on the trend, several employers who spoke to MalaysiaNow said this had been their experience for about four years now.
Syafiq Amil, a manager at a marketing and advertising company in Ampang, said he had begun to worry whenever he had to arrange for interviews with new workers.
Since 2017, he has interviewed more than 10 candidates for the same post. None of them lasted for more than 18 months.
Some said they only wanted to gain some experience in the field before trying their luck elsewhere.
"It's very tiring for me and the human resources department because there are many processes to go through every time we hire someone new," Syafiq said.
"It's not just the interview. We have to create a new account and prepare new equipment and new records in the system. Everything requires costs and energy.
"But they don't even stay for a year."
Today, he is still getting workers who hop from one job to another, most of whom are in their 20s.
He said it was no surprise that some employers preferred to recruit foreign workers or employ freelancers.
"It's better for them to try their hand in the gig economy as food delivery riders or e-hailing drivers," he said, referring to the frequent job-switchers.
"Then they can get a stable income without being tied to a work contract."
Parents' support
In Azimah's case, she stopped working in 2020 before joining the government service early this year.
This meant that for more than a year, she was unemployed.
When asked what she had done to support herself throughout this period, she said she had received financial and emotional support from her parents.
She lived with her parents in Johor Bahru throughout the movement control order periods and they never once urged her to find a new job, she said.
"They understand my way of moving from job to job and they believe in my career plans," she said.
"Now I have proven that what I did was the right thing for my future."
At Azimah's old insurance office, though, a former employer who introduced herself as Nurul Izzaty said the trend of frequent job changes could lead to individuals not taking a serious view of their own careers.
If they persisted in changing jobs after less than a year, she said, it would be difficult for them to evaluate their progress.
"They make work like a romantic fling," she said.
"Once they get to know the other party a little bit more, they leave. In the end, what do we achieve? Only a lengthy resume showing that we have worked in many places – but no real experience."


Abu Dhabi to impose tougher Covid rules for the unvaccinated

Abu Dhabi is to bring in new Covid rules from next Tuesday that will require less frequent testing to access public places for those who have been fully vaccinated.All residents of the largest of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been provided with a colour-coded app detailing their testing and vaccination history.From next week, only those with “green” status will be allowed entry to shopping malls and large supermarkets, gyms, hotels, parks, beaches and swimming pools, entertainment venues, cinemas, museums, and restaurants and cafes, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said.People who have been fully inoculated will maintain their “green” status for 30 days after their last negative PCR test, while those who have not been vaccinated will maintain it for just three days.The UAE, which has mounted an intensive Covid vaccination campaign, warned in April that those who remained unvaccinated would face restrictions on their movement.Last month, Dubai announced it would allow people to attend sports events and concerts if they have been inoculated.In total, the UAE has recorded more than 589,000 cases of Covid-19, 1,710 of them fatal.


Trump uses FBI search of Florida home to solicit campaign donations

Former US president Donald Trump on Tuesday tried to turn the news that the FBI had searched his Florida estate to his benefit, citing the investigation in text messages and emails soliciting political donations from his supporters.
The unprecedented search marked a significant escalation of the federal investigation into whether Trump illegally removed records from the White House as he was leaving office in January 2021. Trump continues to flirt publicly with running again for president in 2024 but has not said clearly whether he will do so.
The warrant was related to the National Archives and Records Administration, which is charged with safeguarding presidential records that belong to the public, and whether there were classified documents at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The person said the FBI took about 10 boxes of papers, but that a safe that was searched was empty.
Trump tried to paint the search as a politically motivated move by President Joe Biden's administration at a time when the former president is playing a key role in Republican primaries ahead of the November midterm elections that will determine control of the US Congress.
"They are trying to stop the Republican party and me once more," Trump said in a fundraising email on Tuesday. "The lawlessness, political persecution, and witch-hunt, must be exposed and stopped."
Trump launched his Save America political action committee days after losing the 2020 election to Biden. It has more than US$100 million in the bank, a formidable war chest.
His Republican allies in Congress vowed to launch an investigation of the search itself if they recapture control of the House or Senate in November. House Republicans including Representative Jim Banks were set to meet with Trump at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club on Tuesday.
US Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell took a more measured approach, saying the country deserved a "thorough and immediate explanation" of what led to the search.
"Attorney-General Garland and the Department of Justice should already have provided answers to the American people and must do so immediately," McConnell said in a statement.
The Justice Department and FBI have declined to comment on or even confirm the search, which Trump revealed in a statement on Monday.
'Withering scrutiny'
The FBI could not have conducted the search without the approval of a judge who confirmed there was probable cause. The request almost certainly also would be approved by FBI Director Christopher Wray, a Trump appointee, and his boss, Attorney-General Merrick Garland, who was appointed by Biden.
A White House official said Biden was not given advance notice of the search.
"This search warrant in my estimation probably underwent more withering scrutiny that any search warrant in the history of the Department of Justice," said David Laufman, a former Justice Department official who oversaw prosecutions of national security offences.
The FBI earlier this year visited Trump's property to investigate boxes in a locked storage room, according to a person familiar with the visit. FBI agents and a Trump lawyer, Evan Corcoran, spent a day reviewing materials, the source said.
Corcoran did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The search is only an investigative step and does not mean that Trump will automatically face criminal charges, or that he would be found guilty of any wrongdoing.
It is a criminal offence to conceal or destroy government records. Any person convicted of violating a US law called the Government Records Act could be barred from holding federal office and would face a prison term of up to three years.
Legal experts said it is unclear whether the disqualification provision is constitutional. The US Constitution sets forth the qualifications for being a president, senator or US representative. Previous Supreme Court rulings have held that Congress cannot limit the list of eligible officeholders.
The documents probe is one of several investigations that have focused on Trump since he left office, weeks after his supporters stormed the US Capitol on Jan 6, 2021, in an unsuccessful bid to overturn his election loss. Trump continues to claim falsely that the election was stolen through widespread voting fraud.
Trump remains the Republican party's most influential voice, and observers said this FBI search could bolster his standing with Republican voters.
"The Biden administration is only adding rocket fuel to Trump's campaign prospects and energising his supporters who want him to run again," said Ron Bonjean, a Republican strategist in Washington. "There should be more transparency around the decision to have this FBI raid because it looks overly political and allows Trump to say he's being unfairly attacked."


Coding to training: Philippines tackles online child sexual abuse

Inside an unmarked building in a Manila business district, a war is being waged 24/7 against dark and mostly hidden crimes - the online sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
Here, a system developed by cybersecurity experts at PLDT - the Philippines' biggest telecommunications company - is blocking millions of attempts by subscribers to access child sexual abuse material every day.
Since last November, PLDT has blocked more than 1.3 billion attempts to access such material with its pioneering child protection platform, a system that checks user searches against a vault of known web addresses hosting sexually abusive content.
"It's a lot, it's worrying," PLDT chief information security officer Angel Redoble told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. "We don't know how fast the enemies are getting better. We must cope daily."
The Philippines was named the world's top source of online child sexual exploitation content in a 2020 study by the International Justice Mission, a US-based non-governmental organisation working against sex trafficking and exploitation.
According to the study, endemic poverty is helping drive a surge in abuse in the Philippines, where about 20 million of the 115 million population live below the poverty line.
An estimated two million Filipino children have been victims of online sexual abuse and exploitation, according to a study led by Unicef published last year.
The country's justice ministry has told telecoms companies and internet service providers to inform law enforcement agencies of child sexual abuse material and update their technology to block it, or face prosecution.
But data privacy laws in the Philippines limit what internet service providers can access - they can see a user's search activity, but are not allowed to monitor individual users or their communications.
Tech experts fear the data protection laws could unintentionally shield some crimes, such as online child sexual exploitation.
Borderless crime
The International Justice Mission said online child sexual exploitation was a "fast-growing, borderless crime", and that perpetrators in Western countries lured Filipinos to sexually abuse children and offer images or videos of the exploitation online.
Livestreaming is believed to be more prevalent in the Philippines than in other countries, it said, due to cheap internet access, robust money transfer infrastructure, widespread English-language proficiency and the country's reputation as a sex trafficking hub.
Philippines telecoms companies and internet service providers are currently unable to block livestreamed content.
The Britain-based Internet Watch Foundation, a technology-led child protection group, said abused children and criminals were often in different parts of the world.
"It may surprise you, but Europe is by far and away the worst place for hosting this material," said the foundation's press manager, Josh Thomas.
As the Covid-19 pandemic pushed more Filipinos into poverty, the country saw a 260% increase in reports of online sexual exploitation between 2019 and 2022, the Philippines Department of Justice said.
Role of tech companies
PLDT has been working on blocking child sexual abuse-related material since 2018, but back then it could only stop suspicious domains.
"We thought that to be able to block on a content level, we would violate privacy-related laws by sniffing through the traffic of our subscribers," Redoble said.
The company built its own cybersecurity group, which came up with a method to screen for child sexual abuse material without violating data privacy laws. But it needed a way detect the offensive material.
Internet Watch Foundation analysts came to the group's aid by assigning a unique "hash" – a kind of digital fingerprint - to items online confirmed to contain child sexual abuse.
"It's a line of code which, crucially, cannot be reverse engineered to produce or access abuse imagery," said Thomas.
The Internet Watch Foundation provides a hash list of confirmed child sexual abuse material for internet service providers to block. As of last month, PLDT had received more than 400,000 such codes from the foundation.
Thomas said blocking can "protect the victims of child sexual abuse from further victimisation, protect internet users from seeing such images and prevent paedophiles from accessing this content online."
The company's top competitor, Globe Telecom, has also partnered with the foundation to boost online child protection.
In the first quarter of this year alone, Globe Telecom blocked more than 65,000 sites carrying child sexual abuse.
But because the crime is borderless, the Internet Watch Foundation and telecoms companies say blocking is only one way of fighting the abusive material.
"We must bring suspects to court," said Redoble.
Holistic approach
Civil society organisations say the battle against child sexual abuse material must be waged within communities, especially in poor areas, where criminals, including parents, can prey on vulnerable children.
In Cebu province, international aid group Terre des Hommes Netherlands has partnered with the Bidlisiw Foundation, a local group fighting human trafficking, in a three-year online child safety programme called Project SCROL.
Launched this year, the project aims to engage internet service providers, telecoms companies, money transfer agencies and tech companies to build a system for speedy access to justice, and reporting and referral pathways for victims of online child sexual exploitation.
It also operates in Cambodia, Nepal and Kenya.
"Telecoms companies have the technology and tools that we don't have. But they lack influence on the ground, especially on local governments, enforcers, and households in spreading awareness," said Judith Pulvera of Bidlisiw.
Project SCROL-trained staff work in schools and resorts in the tourist resort of Cebu to teach people how to spot the red flags of child sexual exploitation and report them to authorities.
The use of separate email accounts to send or receive money transfers from abroad, for example, could be one indicator of offenders attempting to hide their identity.
The project also provided digital training on child safeguarding and protection to law enforcers and frontline service providers for abused and vulnerable children.
Project SCROL also aims to aid the government in implementing laws to punish the abusers.
Last year, parliament passed a law that penalises the production, distribution, possession and accessing of child sexual abuse material. It details the duties of internet service providers, content hosts, social networking sites and financial institutions to block the material.
For Redoble, the next goal should be "to create a cleaner cyberspace."
He is proposing a "global chain of trust" among telecoms companies and internet service providers globally to wipe out, once and for all, harmful websites and domains that spread child sexual abuse online.
"When the environment is cleaner, it's safer, especially for women and children," said Redoble.


Top US general flies into Kabul on surprise visit

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan, weeks before the scheduled withdrawal of all remaining US troops.The pull-out was agreed with the Taliban by the Trump administration last year. The Afghan government was not involved in the talks.After meeting President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul, Austin called for a responsible end to the war but would not say whether the deadline would be met, the BBC reports.He said the focus should first be on reducing current high levels of violence to allow a negotiated end to the conflict.But there are questions over whether the insurgents have kept their pledge to negotiate with the Afghan government.New US President Joe Biden has said the May 1 deadline would be tough to meet, prompting warnings of “consequences” from the Taliban.Austin is the first member of Biden’s cabinet to visit Afghanistan. He flew into Kabul on Sunday at the end of a brief tour of Asia.Speaking to journalists, he would not say whether the Taliban had met their obligations under the recent deal.“It’s obvious that the level of violence remains pretty high in the country,” he said, quoted by the New York Times.“We’d really like to see that violence come down, and I think if it does come down it can begin to set the conditions for some really fruitful diplomatic work.”There are fears that if foreign forces withdraw before a lasting agreement is reached, the Taliban might return to power.The US says it has some 2,500 troops still in Afghanistan and the Trump administration made withdrawing all troops from Afghanistan a priority.The deal he signed in February 2020 said that the US and its Nato allies would withdraw all troops in 14 months if the Taliban upheld its promises, including not allowing Al-Qaeda or other militants to operate in areas it controlled, and proceeding with national peace talks.Although the Taliban, a hard-line Islamist movement, stopped attacks on international forces as part of the historic agreement, it has continued to fight the Afghan government.As a condition of starting negotiations with the Afghan government, the Taliban also demanded that thousands of their men be released in a prisoner swap.Direct talks then began in Doha in September 2020, but a breakthrough has still not been reached.


Argentina inflation exceeds 100%, hitting 32-year high

Inflation in Argentina came in at 102.5% in the 12 months to February, exceeding the symbolic triple-digit mark and reaching a new 32-year high.
Latin America's third largest economy saw inflation grow 6.6% in the month of February and 13.1% since the beginning of the year, the Indec national statistics institute said.
Argentina has one of the highest inflation rates in the world.
In 2022, it reached 94.8%, the country's highest annual figure since 1991, when it exceeded 171%.
The two previous years had seen hyperinflation at more than 2,000%.
The government has set a 2023 inflation target of 60%.
Argentina has been grappling with an economic crisis for years, registering double-digit inflation in each of the last 12 years.
In December, the center-left government of President Alberto Fernandez reached an agreement with food and personal hygiene companies to freeze the prices of around 2,000 products until March, and capping rises on another 30,000 products to four percent a month.
Some 36.5% of Argentina's 47 million population lives in poverty, including 2.6 million in extreme poverty, according to official figures from mid-2022.
Argentina's economy grew by 5.2% in 2022, compared to a 10.3% the previous year, which ended three years of recession.
On Monday, the IMF said it had reached an agreement with the government in Buenos Aires on the fourth review of an aid package for the South American country, paving the way for the disbursement of some US$5.3 billion (RM23.78 billion).
The new tranche of funding would bring the funds allocated to Argentina since the signing of the aid programme in March 2022 to US$28.8 billion.
Argentina's growth for 2023 is expected to slow to just 2%, according to the World Bank.
If that does happen, it would be the first time in 15 years that Argentina had experienced three successive years of growth.


Student-friendly airfares needed for GE15

Voters, young and old alike, should be allowed to cast their votes come polling day on Nov 19, regardless of where they live, remote or otherwise.
For those who have to return home by air, it is only right that the government, through the transport ministry, ensures that the prices of flight tickets are controlled so that voters, especially the young ones, are able to discharge their rights as responsible citizens of this country.
I read with disdain reports on round-trip airfares, especially between Sabah and Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia, which are expected to increase two to three days before polling day. I am sure that they won’t be able to pay for such expensive airfares.
This is such a worrying trend and detrimental to this country as young voters, or Undi 18, should be allowed their rights for the continued peace and stability of this country. Just like other eligible voters, my son and daughter, both currently pursuing their studies at two different universities in Sabah and Sarawak, should to allowed to come home to vote.
The relevant authorities, in particular the transport ministry, should make relentless efforts to control the prices for the sake of these voters. Without such controls, it would be impossible for them to come home to vote.
The airlines must not be allowed to hike their prices arbitrarily. It is only right that airlines be asked to lower their fares as this is crucial, and cheaper tickets would encourage more Malaysians to return home.
Previous checks on the airlines’ websites revealed that round-trip airfares between Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur for Nov 18 and 19 ranged from RM400 to RM700, depending on the time, package and airline.
Netizens have also claimed that some airfares more than doubled for flights from the peninsula to East Malaysia following the announcement of the polling date by the Election Commission.
Even though some airlines have provided offers for GE15, the airfares as stated in a daily report are still expensive for students. It is said that there are no offers for return tickets, only single fares, and that the rates are inconsistent with the dates.
The five-day leave for university students from Nov 17, to allow them to return home to cast their votes, will be meaningless if the prices of airfares are not controlled and remain high.
The ministry must have a concrete plan to address this issue as this has been a recurring problem at every general election. They could always impose a ceiling price for airline tickets to ensure that voters can exercise their democratic rights without having to bear additional costs.
This must be addressed once and for all so that students of voting age can exercise their rights responsibly.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


Education ministries to tackle glut of graduate teachers

The higher education ministry will work closely with the education ministry in order to address the glut of graduate teachers in the country.
"It is very important for us to know the projections (of the needed teachers) that can only be provided by the education ministry in our effort to address this issue.
"With so many students taking teaching courses, we should see that teachers are needed not only in government schools but also in private schools and to work abroad," Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin told reporters in Kota Tinggi yesterday.
He was responding to a statement by National Union of Teaching Profession president Aminuddin Awang on the glut of graduate teachers in the market.
The Kota Tinggi MP also said that he had asked Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris to pay extra attention to producing teachers for technical and vocational education and training or TVET education centres.


Ex-PMs, three others told to enter defence over shelved HSR project

The High Court today ordered former prime ministers Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Muhyiddin Yassin, as well as three others, to file their defence in a suit filed against them for alleged abuse of public office and negligence in connection with the termination of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) project.
They were ordered to file their defence statements on Feb 28 at the latest.
The other three defendants named in the suit filed by Mohd Hatta Sanuri, 47, are former minister in the Prime Minister's Department (economy) Mustapa Mohamed, former transport minister Wee Ka Siong and the government.
Lawyer Mohaji Selamat, representing Hatta, said the court also ordered his client to file a reply to the statements of defence by March 28.
The court set March 30 for further case management, he said when contacted after the case management, conducted online before senior assistant registrar Nur Shasha Hidayah Nor Azahar today.
Hatta filed the suit on Dec 30 last year, on behalf of himself and more than 32 million Malaysians whom he said were affected and disappointed by the waste committed by the defendants in terminating the HSR project.
In his statement of claim, Hatta said Mahathir, who was the seventh prime minister, committed tort of misfeasance in public office when he decided to postpone the HSR project, causing the government and the Malaysian people to pay compensation of almost RM46 million to the Singapore government.
He claimed that Muhyiddin, who was the eighth prime minister, also committed tort of misfeasance in public office by terminating the project, causing the Malaysian government and the people to pay RM320,270,519.24 in compensation for the cancellation of the bilateral agreement between Malaysia and Singapore.
Hatta claimed that Mustapha, who was responsible for managing the project, committed a similar offence by shelving the project, while Wee committed tort of misfeasance in public office by denying Malaysians their right to enjoy a first-class transport system with the cancellation of the HSR project.
He is seeking a court order to declare the cancellation of the project null and void, as well as for the defendants to pay RM1 million in compensation to him and all Malaysians for wrongfully and negligently cancelling the HSR project.
On Jan 1, 2021, Malaysia and Singapore announced the termination of the 350km HSR project after failing to reach an agreement on the changes proposed by Malaysia before the expiry of the project agreement on Dec 31, 2020.
Malaysia paid S$102.8 million (RM320.27 million) to Singapore for costs incurred in the development of the HSR project.


Tel Aviv police chief quits citing govt meddling against protesters

Tel Aviv's police commander said on Wednesday he was quitting the force, citing political intervention by members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hard-right cabinet whom he said wanted excessive force used against anti-government protesters.
Tel Aviv District Commander Ami Eshed did not name the far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir who had demanded tough action against protesters blocking roads and highways in unprecedented demonstrations against the government's contentious push to overhaul the justice system.
Soon after Eshed's announcement, hundreds of protesters carrying Israeli flags and chanting "democracy" marched through Tel Aviv. Some blocked a main highway, lit fires and faced off with police on horseback.
In a televised statement, Eshed said he couldn't live up to the expectations of what he called "the ministerial echelon", which he said had broken all rules and had blatantly interfered in professional decision making.
"I could have easily met these expectations by using unreasonable force that would have filled up the emergency room of Ichilov (Tel Aviv hospital) at the end of every protest," Eshed said.
"For the first time in three decades of service I encountered an absurd reality in which ensuring calm and order was not what was required of me but precisely the opposite," he said.
Ben-Gvir, who in March had informed Eshed that he will be assigned to a new role on the force, a move seen as dashing his chances to be made police chief, said in a televised statement that Eshed had crossed a dangerous line.
"Politics has seeped into the most senior ranks in Israel and a uniformed officer has caved to senior politicians on the left," he said.
Ben-Gvir, a hardliner with past convictions for support for terrorism and incitement, had sought greater authority over the police force when he was tapped to serve as its overseeing minister, prompting concerns about police independence.
Having recanted some of his views, Ben-Gvir joined Netanyahu's new coalition in December, alarming liberals at home and abroad. The leader of the Jewish Power party has since rebuked police for its treatment of protesters.
Other members of Netanyahu's nationalist-religious coalition have echoed Ben-Gvir, saying police have shown favourable treatment to the protesters who have filled Tel Aviv streets weekly since January, compared with what they see as far harsher treatment of settlers and ultra-Orthodox protesters.


Uber resumes shared rides in US

Ride-hailing giant Uber has resumed its ride-sharing service in the US, a top executive announced Tuesday, offering customers in Miami a feature that was stopped last year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.The UberX Share option – formerly called Uber Pool – allows people to share rides with strangers at a reduced cost, and builds in precautions against the spread of the coronavirus.“609 days later, shared rides are back in the US,” tweeted Andrew Macdonald, Uber’s Senior Vice President of Mobility and Business Operations.Keeping Covid-19 in mind, drivers on the service can only transport two customers at a time and face masks are compulsory for everyone in the vehicle.“We all play a role in helping to keep one another safe. That’s why riders and drivers are required to wear a mask, even when vaccinated,” the company said in its guidelines for the service.In some select areas, based on local guidelines, customers “will be asked to take a selfie to verify that they’re wearing a mask” when requesting a ride.Uber’s ride-hailing business stalled with the onset of the pandemic as riders and drivers stayed off the roads, but demand has returned this year faster than the supply of drivers, pushing up prices and wait times for passengers.The firm invested in promotions early this year to lure drivers back to the platform to ease the situation.Uber has re-introduced ride-sharing in several cities around the world, including Accra, Lagos, Nairobi, Kiev, and some urban centers in Australia.