Private schools in dire straits as more kids are withdrawn with each wave

Far too many of Malaysia’s businesses are being pulled under by the riptides lurking below the pounding Covid-19 waves.Now private schools are feeling the currents, with cash-strapped parents hunting for more affordable educational alternatives for their children.Several owners of private schools have told MalaysiaNow that many parents are transferring their children to public schools as they have suffered pay cuts or, in some cases, lost their jobs since the lockdown slammed into the economy in March.For nearly four months classes were forced to move online, causing many parents with diminished incomes to feel they were no longer getting their money’s worth.“Student numbers are tumbling,” the owner of a private Islamic primary school in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, told MalaysiaNow. “When schools reopened, parents were lining up to take their children out of private schools and enrol them in the public sector.”The owner, who asked that his school remain anonymous for this report, said other private Islamic primary schools are suffering the same student exodus. “It’s so sad to see.”Schools were allowed to reopen in stages under the recovery movement control order (RMCO), declared in June, but the current wave of infections is catapulting red zone students right back into virtual classrooms as the government struggles to contain the rising tide of the virus.The owner of another school, who asked to be known only as Shahrel, said his centre, which has been operating for four years, would probably have to shut down soon given the number of students withdrawn by their parents.“When schools reopened, parents were lining up to take their children out of private schools and enrol them in the public sector.”At another school in Bangi, financial difficulties have become so dire that the school is unable to pay its staff.The principal told MalaysiaNow that parents began asking for transfer letters as soon as the MCO ended, so that they could enrol their children in public schools. “During the MCO, as classes went online parents pressured us into lowering our school fees and giving refunds,” he said. “That put us under unbearable pressure as our teachers needed to be paid and we just couldn’t do it.”He admits sadly that the school has now run out of options and he can see no way to save it.Another educator who spoke to MalaysiaNow, also on condition of anonymity, said schools were briefly optimistic after the MCO entered the recovery phase. But their hopes have since been dashed as further Covid-19 waves lash the country and everyone frantically seeks ways to protect their children while making sure they still get some kind of education. “Our hopes could not be sustained as the situation deteriorated,” he said.It is a tough situation for everyone, as the parents themselves are mired in financial difficulties and desperately trying to keep their heads above water. Many asked school administrators if their children’s fees could be deferred as they had either suffered pay cuts, been handed their pink slips, or just shown the door.All the educators MalaysiaNow spoke to are completely sympathetic to the parents’ plight, but they also need to pay their teachers and all the other staff necessary to run an effective school.Cempaka is a growing group of Malaysian international schools. Their curriculum is heavily reliant on the latest in education technology even while their students are in school. Founder Freida Pilus said private schools need to be prepared for any eventuality and to find ways of ensuring that they can continue delivering quality education to students even during such a huge disaster as the pandemic.“At first, it was difficult for my teachers, but we persevered and always looked for ways to give the best possible education to the children in Cempaka,” she told MalaysiaNow.Her advice for struggling schools is to make technology work for you. “Look for a virtual system that is easy to use for students, teachers and parents.”Once you have your system, she said, administrators need to start being creative and innovative, always encouraging their teachers to use their imaginations, and never forgetting to involve parents every step of the way.Time may be running out for even the best of these private schools, and the nation should beware of standing idly by as more of the best of them sink below the next wave.


GPS on its way to victory in Sarawak polls

Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is well on its way to retaining the state government, winning 25 seats so far out of the 82 in the legislative assembly – more than half the number needed to obtain a simple majority.As of 8pm, GPS had won the seats of Tanjong Datu, Asajaya, Muara Tuang, Serembu, Tarat, Sadong Jaya, Gedong, Sebuyau, Betong Mato, Balai Ringin, Bukit Begunan, Saribas, Layar, Bukit Saban, Kalaka, Krian, Kabong, Daro, Tellian, Balingian, Tamin, Pelagus, Bukit Goram, Belaga and Bukit Sari.Opposition party PSB meanwhile has won two seats: Ba’kalalan and Engkelili.In order to obtain a simple majority, GPS will need 42 seats. A two-thirds majority meanwhile will require 55 seats.


Covid-positive woman fined for turning up at Johor polling centre

A woman was compounded today for going to cast her vote at Dewan Kampung Melayu in Johor Bahru despite being Covid-19 positive.Johor state health department director Dr Aman Rabu said initial investigation found that the woman was in Category Two.He said the compound was issued to the woman at about 11.45am by a Johor health department enforcement officer for being present at a polling centre despite being Covid-19 positive.“The department is committed to monitoring SOP compliance at the Johor state election. We would to remind that individuals who are positive for Covid-19 are prohibited from leaving their isolation premises to vote,” he said in a statement today.Aman also said failure to comply with the order would see individuals liable to be compounded under Regulation 16 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within Infected Local Areas) (Movement Control) Regulations 2021.Dewan Kampung Melayu was oneo f the polling centres in the Larkin state constituency.


Family worried for Dr M’s health if he runs for election again

Family members of Dr Mahathir Mohamad have expressed concern that the elderly politician might run again at the next general election, Nikkei Asia reports.“We have to bear in mind that he is now 95 years old, turning 96 in July,” said Mahathir’s son Mukhriz, among the MPs in the small Pejuang bloc that Mahathir formed after the fall of the Pakatan Harapan government last year.Mahathir had previously said he would no longer run for elections, but has also hinted at his desire to remain in politics.In 2018, he contested the Langkawi seat, 15 years after quitting active politics. At 92, he became the world’s oldest prime minister, returning to the top post for the second time.Mukhriz said the family would support Mahathir’s decision, adding that they had also been worried about his health during the 2018 election campaign.“We had our concerns but later it was proven that his choice to lead the opposition was right,” said Mukhriz, adding that his father could attract votes in any parliamentary constituency.But even Mukhriz thinks it is time to allow younger leaders to take over, saying Malaysians have seen leaderships “revolving around the same names for the last 30 years”.


No flights to nowhere but Singapore Airlines has 3 new earthbound experiences for fans

While Covid-19 keeps Singapore Airlines (SIA) firmly on the ground, the company has devised ways for fans to keep in touch.Bosses had mooted the idea of flights to nowhere but after conducting a market study and a review that looked into factors such as environmental implications and financial viability they thought that idea wouldn’t fly.Instead, the airline has come up with three alternative SIA experiences, announced on Oct 1.The three experiences are: lunch on board an earthbound Airbus A380 super-jumbo; a tour of SIA’s training facilities with an optional session in a flight simulator; and home delivery of meals from its first and business class menus.SIA chief executive Goh Choon Phong said the new initiatives will allow the airline to engage its fans and customers.For the onboard dining experience, an A380 at Changi Airport will be converted into a restaurant. A three-hour lunch in economy will cost S$50, but the bill will be as high as S$600 for the first-class experience.In the tour of the SIA Training Centre, visitors will talk to pilots and cabin crew about their training and visit SIA’s flight simulators. Simulator sessions with pilot trainers, and grooming workshops conducted by SIA’s cabin crew trainers will also be available.Having SIA meals delivered to your doorstep will not come cheap. Prices will start from just under S$300 for a business class meal for two, rising to S$450 for a meal from the first-class galley. All meals will come with goody bags, wine, and instructions on how to plate the dishes.These experiences will be offered on limited dates. The company will assess the level of demand before deciding whether to launch additional dates or experiences.


No political appointments at listed GLCs, says Loke

There are no political appointments at government-linked companies (GLC) listed in Bursa Malaysia under the coalition government, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said yesterday.
Loke, who is also the transport minister, said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had informed him that he did not intend to appoint politicians to any such companies.
He also said that most politicians appointed today were not at GLCs but instead appointed to statutory bodies.
"In terms of the appointment of politicians, we separate between statutory bodies and GLCs.
"We do not agree to putting politicians at GLCs listed in Bursa Malaysia such Tenaga Nasional Berhad, Telekom Malaysia Bhd and Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd.
"Those appointed now are not at such companies, but at statutory bodies, authorities and so on. They are regulatory bodies and do not involve business and so on," he said at a press conference in Klang.
Loke said his ministry had also retained the services of Prasarana Malaysia Bhd chairman Jamaludin Ibrahim, who was a professional, and would not appoint politicians in the company.
"So is MAHB. There are no political appointments at MAHB. This is clear. If in the past administration, you know who the Prasarana chairman was. Now, who is Prasana chairman?
"So there are no political appointments at key GLCs such as Prasarana, MAHB, TM and so on. I am confident that the policy will continue to be maintained by the Prime Minister," he said.
He was responding to questions on political appointments involving Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Umno politicians following PH's past criticism of the matter.


Zahid denies outside interference in RoS decision

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today refuted claims of external interference in the decision by the Registrar of Societies (RoS) to give the party an exemption in its resolution for the top two posts to go uncontested.
He said the claims by certain quarters, including several former Umno leaders, were their personal views, adding that those dissatisfied with the decision could take the matter to court.
"No outside interference. The motion (to have the president and deputy president’s posts uncontested) was scrutinised by the permanent chairman and complied with all regulations of the 2022 Umno general assembly as well as the party constitution.
"It should be known that the highest body in Umno is the Umno general assembly, and the decision was accepted by more than 95% of the delegates.
"But we still acknowledged complaints (on the matter) from two Umno members and provided all feedback needed to the RoS," he said in a press conference at the Parliament lobby.
In this regard, he said, it was not a form of intervention by an outside party, but rather the provisions under the Societies Act 1966 which, among others, state that the RoS needs to give legitimacy to a decision.


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A mother's joy as son gets chance of death row reprieve

For the past two decades, Siti Zabidah Muhammad Rasyid has been hoping for a miracle to save her son Razali from death row.
He was sentenced to death 23 years ago after breaching the country's laws on drugs when he was caught with 851g of cannabis.
But Siti Zabidah's prayers were answered this week when the Dewan Rakyat passed sweeping legal reforms to scrap the mandatory death penalty.
"The joy was immense," said a tearful Siti Zabidah, speaking from her apartment in Selangor.
She said her son said a friend forced him to carry the drugs and then made him a scapegoat after being arrested.
A judge rejected an earlier attempt by the family to file an appeal against the sentence.
She recounted how she collapsed after hearing the judge's decision, fearing the legal avenues for her son were shut.
"I can go on without a husband but not without my children," she said.
More than 1,300 people facing the death penalty or life imprisonment in Malaysia – including those who have exhausted all legal appeals – can seek a sentencing review under the new rules passed on Monday.
The amendments apply to 34 offences currently punishable by death, including murder and drug trafficking. Eleven of those have stipulated death as the mandatory punishment.
For now, life imprisonment sentences, defined by law as a fixed term of 30 years, will be retained.
The fate of Siti Zabidah's son lies in the hands of the courts, which will decide on a possible alternative sentencing or punishment.
Alternatives to the death penalty under the new rules include caning and a jail term of up to 40 years.
Siti Zabidah said she would stand by her son whatever happened.
"As long as I'm alive, I'll give him strength," she said.


Indonesia reports record 728 virus deaths in 24 hours

Indonesia on Tuesday reported a daily record of 728 coronavirus deaths while fresh infections topped 31,000 as the Southeast Asian nation grapples with its deadliest Covid-19 wave since the pandemic began.The official death toll spiked from 558 virus fatalities on Monday, while new cases shot up to 31,189 from 29,745 cases a day earlier, the health ministry said.“The Delta variant has been a major blow to our health system… There is no way to get the situation under control” at current testing levels, said public health expert Hermawan Saputra.Indonesia is suffering the worst outbreak in Southeast Asia, ahead of the hard-hit Philippines which has more than 1.4 million infections, including over 25,000 deaths.


China megacity says people with symptomatic Covid can work 'as normal'

People with Covid-19 symptoms in one of China's largest cities can now go to work "as normal", state media reported Monday, a dramatic reversal in a country where a single case could previously send thousands into lockdown.
The world's most populous nation is unwinding years of hardline coronavirus policy, with Covid spreading rapidly in the wake of the official end of mass lockdowns, testing and quarantines.
And with authorities admitting the outbreak is "impossible" to track, the southern megacity of Chongqing – home to around 32 million people – became one of the first parts of China to let people work normally even with visible symptoms, the Chongqing Daily reported Monday, citing a notice from municipal authorities.
The notice, issued Sunday, said that "mildly symptomatic" government, party and state workers "can work as normal after undertaking personal protections in accordance with their physical conditions and needs of their jobs".
It also urged residents not to take virus tests "unnecessarily" or require people to show a negative result, with exceptions for certain facilities such as care homes, schools and prisons.
Local governments across China have generally encouraged people to isolate at home while recovering from the disease – a dramatic shift from the previous policy of herding people into state quarantine facilities.
On Sunday, eastern Zhejiang province – a major economic hub home to more than 60 million people – said those with mild symptoms could "continue to work, if need be, on the prerequisite of taking personal protections".
Authorities have stuck to their guns despite evidence that some hospitals and crematoriums are struggling with spiking cases and deaths, as well as fears of a wave of infections in underdeveloped rural areas during the upcoming public holidays.
Visits to hospitals and clinics surged in the days following China's lifting of restrictions, though the World Health Organization said the virus was already spreading widely in the country as "the control measures in themselves were not stopping the disease".
Cities and provinces across China have been forced to adjust their public health offerings as the country learns to coexist with the virus for the first time.
In the eastern city of Suzhou, authorities have hurriedly converted testing sites into makeshift stations for fever treatment, according to state media.
Other cities, including the capital Beijing, have handed out free medical kits to some residents and urged patients to choose online consultations instead of visiting hospitals, state media reported.


Japan’s record Covid deaths mount in wave estimated to last till April

Japan set a new record for daily deaths from Covid-19 in a wave of Omicron-fuelled fatalities that a government-affiliated researcher estimated may stretch into April.Newly recorded fatalities rose to 271 on Thursday, according to a tally by national broadcaster NHK, the third straight day over 200. There have been 2,446 deaths so far in February, already the second-deadliest month in the two-year pandemic.A panel of health experts said this week that a surge of cases caused by the infectious Omicron variant appears to have peaked out, but hospitalisations and deaths would likely continue, particularly among the elderly.Kyoto University professor Hiroshi Nishiura estimated that the Omicron wave would claim 4,339 lives between January and April 20, with more than 70% of the victims in their 80s or older. That number could be reduced depending on the progression of booster shots, acccording to Nishiura.Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has pledged to accelerate Japan’s booster shot programme, which has so far reached just 12% of the population.


Transparent judgment reflects credible justice system, says Perak sultan

A transparent judgment reflects a credible justice system that is not influenced by the fear of anyone, Perak ruler Sultan Nazrin Shah said today.
He said in the justice system, the judge is an important character and plays a big role in ensuring the credibility and integrity of the judiciary.
"There should not be any doubt and a judge must be free from any influence or pressure.
"In the effort to create a shariah judicial institution that is credible and with integrity, judicial officers need to be sent for training, equipped with skills and given the necessary exposure for them to gain experience from time to time to improve their knowledge and competence in interpreting the shariah law," he said when launching the Perak Al-Qanun Shariah Journal Vol.1 2022 in Ipoh today.
He also said judges should write quality judgments for cases as a guide and reference for legal practitioners. "The grounds of judgment is also used as a consideration for any party aggrieved by the decision to make a review, whether they want to proceed with their intention to appeal or not.
"If the basis and grounds of the judgment are weak, the appellant has the right to argue that the judge erred in his judgment and apply for the case to be reviewed by a higher court.
"The opportunity to appeal is a right guaranteed by law, becoming a venue for a higher court judge to review the grounds of judgment by the lower court judge, whether there was a mistake or not," he said.
Sultan Nazrin said in his role as the head of Islam responsible for Islamic affairs in the state, he fully supported the principle of the independence of the shariah judiciary for the sake of justice.
He also expressed the need for efforts to improve the shariah judicial system and empower the shariah court.


Dire need for blanket loan moratorium, think tank warns as MCO extended

An automatic loan moratorium from banks is critical at this juncture to help individuals and small businesses survive the ongoing lockdown, an independent research house said as the government today announced a further extension of the movement control order (MCO).“The danger of massive loan defaults if the moratorium is not granted might be more real than we think,” said Emir Research in arguing the case for a blanket loan moratorium similar to the one announced by the government last year.The think tank also disagreed with Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz’s reasoning that most borrowers are back on stable financial footing based on the fact that 85% of them had resumed repayments instead of opting to extend the six-month blanket moratorium when it ended in September last year.It said it was “precisely because loan moratoriums helped them keep their incomes” that most borrowers were able to resume payments.“In the absence of a moratorium, or focusing only on the 15% defaulters means the total number of defaulters may increase anywhere between 15% and 85%. The 15% figure means 15% of borrowers are in a bad enough position that not even moratoriums could help them survive. If anything, they need more assistance,” it said in an article explaining why an automatic moratorium should be announced.Putrajaya had said after the reimplementation of a full lockdown this month that banks would give a three-month moratorium on loans upon request by borrowers in the B40 group and those who had lost their income due to the pandemic.The move was short of the blanket moratorium announced during the first MCO last year, when an automatic six-month freeze on repayments as well as an interest waiver were declared.Zafrul had defended the government’s reluctance to direct banks to provide similar relief this time around, saying most borrowers were better positioned to repay their loans than they had been last year.The move sparked a debate on the power of the finance minister over banks, as well as criticism by those who said that the finance minister was pandering to the bank industry.But as the deadline neared for revising the full MCO, Zafrul had indicated that the government could rethink its decision on an automatic moratorium, saying he had discussed the matter with the prime minister and the relevant agencies.“The government listens to the voice of the people and reasonable assistance will be announced in the near future, Insha Allah,” Zafrul said yesterday.Emir Research said it was difficult to pinpoint why many had chosen not to extend the loan moratorium beyond the six-month period last year.“Could it be that the 85% have cash flow difficulties too? It’s just that the difference between 85% and 15% is the period (or inter-temporal capacity) over which the cash flow can last. That is, for the 85%, it’s only the case that their cash flow can stretch over a slightly longer period,” it said in the article penned by its CEO Rais Hussin and fellow researchers Margarita Peredaryenko, Jason Loh and Ameen Kamal.“Has anyone asked what it would take for the 85% to resume their payments?“Maybe they had to go to a pawn shop, or withdraw their EPF savings, or go to loan sharks, or sell some of their assets, or do other things detrimental to their well-being and human dignity.“And did anyone even wonder how bad the situation is for the 15% who could not resume payments and what happened to them afterwards?” they added.They said a blanket moratorium was not only needed but would be “faster and easier to implement” as it could provide a safety net “wide enough to capture all those in dire need, including the informal economic sector”.“And if this wide safety net captures a few ‘free rides’ (those who do not need a moratorium but enjoy the benefits of one), then let it be – we know those are very few compared to the majority who suffer,” said Emir Research, describing a blanket moratorium at this juncture as a “win-win scenario”.“Maybe for once, at least under the unprecedented circumstances threatening us all as a nation, the notorious value of profit as the be-all and end-all could give way to the universal value of life – the value of our lives and the lives of others.”Bank profitsMeanwhile, the think tank said a distinction should be made between a suspension of loan repayments and a “real moratorium”.“It is worth mentioning, a real moratorium that assists borrowers should have no room for the practice of charging borrowers an additional interest for the period of moratorium by re-amortising the loan payment schedule once the moratorium period is over.”It said genuine relief would mean a mere postponement of repayments, adding that banks would not lose profits as long as borrowers resume and finish all payments according to schedule.It said what banks would undergo would be accounting losses due to a re-evaluation of their outstanding loans.“Under the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS 9), the banks have to show the fair value of the loans in their books based on the present value (PV) formula. Therefore, the fair value of the outstanding loans will reduce due to the newly extended period by the moratorium,” said Emir Research.It said banks in the present financial crisis have very limited opportunity cost, with loan loss coverage – or the allowance for potential loan defaults – increasing last year to 140% compared to 90% in 2019.“That is to say, there may not be enough credit-worthy customers out there that would qualify under the banks’ stringent requirements for new loans, anyway,” it added.It noted that in the first quarter of this year, banks’ businesses had quickly recovered, citing examples of profits by three commercial banks: Maybank (RM2.43 billion), Hong Leong Bank (RM772 million) and RHB (RM651 million).“Keep in mind that these figures were still generated within the time where almost all borrowers took up the opt-in moratorium,” it added.Emir Research said this points to a moral duty for the banking sector to accept reduced profits as opposed to “losses”, in sharing the burden of the pandemic.“A relative reduction in profits to the banks attributable to the moratoriums is incomparable to the relative socio-economic harm to the people in the absence of a moratorium, especially during lockdowns,” it said.


Couple from Malaysia, 3-year-old son found dead in London flat

A Malaysian-born couple and their young son have been found dead in their flat in west London, in what Scotland Yard is now treating as a murder investigation, the BBC reports.Police went to the Golden Mile House on Clayponds Lane in Brentford several times on Oct 5 after receiving a call from a concerned family member but got no response.Upon their forced entry just after midnight on Oct 6, they found the bodies of Poorna Kaameshwari Sivaraj, 36, and Kailash Kuha Raj, three. Both were believed to have been dead for some time.Poorna’s husband, Kuha Raj Sithamparanathan, 42, was found with stab wounds and pronounced dead at the scene.According to the BBC, he was thought to have fatally injured himself when the police entered the flat.Neighbours described the family as “very friendly” and said they were shocked to learn of their deaths.“I feel really bad (hearing the news) because they were very friendly, nice people,” Sheri Diba was quoted as saying.Diba, who has lived in the building for seven years, also said she had not seen the family for a number of months.According to the report, Poorna and Kailash were last seen on Sept 21.Lead investigator detective chief inspector Simon Harding urged anyone who had seen the family within the last month to come forward “so we can begin to build a full picture of their lives”.


Trump's push for new sex abuse trial is 'magical thinking', writer says

Donald Trump's push for a new trial in the civil case in which a Manhattan jury last month found the former US president sexually abused and defamed the writer E Jean Carroll is "magical thinking," Carroll's lawyers said on Thursday.
Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presential nomination, on June 8 asked for a new trial after the jury awarded Carroll US$5 million (about RM23.2 million), saying the damages were excessive because the jury did not find she was raped and because the alleged conduct did not cause her a diagnosed mental injury.
In court papers filed Thursday in opposition to Trump's request, Carroll's lawyers maintained that the attack has harmed her ability to have romantic and sexual relationships, and she has suffered intrusive memories.
They pointed to a psychologist's testimony at trial that Carroll had some symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
"Trump's motion is nothing more than his latest effort to obfuscate the import of the jury's verdict by engaging in his own particular Trump-branded form of magical thinking," her lawyers wrote.
Trump's lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Carroll's lawsuit, filed in 2022, said Trump raped her in a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in New York in the mid-1990s, and defamed her by denying it happened. Trump has called Carroll's claims a "hoax".
Carroll, a former Elle magazine advice columnist, filed a separate lawsuit in November 2019 for defamation only.
That case has been bogged down in appeals over whether Trump was immune from being sued because he had been president when he spoke. Carroll updated that lawsuit to seek US$10 million from Trump after he called Carroll's account "fake" and labeled her a "whack job" in a CNN town hall after the jury's verdict in the 2022 lawsuit.
The case is one of several legal woes facing Trump, the first current or former US president to face criminal charges, as he seeks to return to the White House.
Last week, he pleaded not guilty to 37 federal counts of retaining national defence documents at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida and obstructing an investigation into his conduct. In April, he pleaded not guilty to New York state charges stemming from a 2016 hush money payment to a porn star.


US lawyer ‘who tried to stage his own murder’ charged with insurance fraud

A prominent US lawyer who allegedly attempted to stage his own murder was charged on Thursday with insurance fraud and lying to the police in the latest twist in a bizarre crime saga.Alex Murdaugh, 53, whose wife and son were murdered in June of this year, is accused of paying a man to shoot him so his surviving son could collect on a US$10 million insurance policy.Murdaugh survived the Sept 4 shooting on the side of a country road in South Carolina and surrendered on Thursday to face charges of insurance fraud and filing a false police report.Hampton County judge Tonja Alexander granted Murdaugh’s release on a personal recognisance bond of US$20,000 to allow him to get treatment at a rehabilitation facility for what his lawyer said was a “tremendous opioid addiction.”Murdaugh, who appeared in court in handcuffs and wearing an olive-coloured jump suit, replied “Yes ma’am” when asked by the judge if he understood the conditions of his release.Murdaugh’s lawyer, Dick Harpootlian, told the court that Murdaugh was “not a danger to his community.”“The only person he’s a danger to is himself,” Harpootlian said. “This crime involved his attempt to have himself shot so that his son could collect insurance.”Murdaugh’s wife, Maggie, 52, and their son Paul, a 22-year-old college student, were shot dead on June 7 at the family’s sprawling hunting lodge in Islandton, in southwestern South Carolina.No arrests have been made in connection with their deaths.One line of speculation surrounding the murders is related to the fact that Paul Murdaugh, at the time of his death, was awaiting trial on charges stemming from a February 2019 boat crash that left a 19-year-old woman dead.‘Put him over the edge’Harpootlian said Murdaugh had a 20-year opioid addiction and “financial issues,” and the deaths of his wife and son had “put him over the edge.”Disconsolate, Murdaugh had paid a man to kill him so his surviving son, Buster, could collect on the insurance policy, he said.But Curtis Smith, the hit man hired by Murdaugh, botched the job. He shot him in the head but the bullet only grazed his skull.Smith, 61, has been charged with assisted suicide, aggravated assault and battery, and insurance fraud.Murdaugh’s lawyers said Smith was a former client of Murdaugh’s who had supplied him with opioids in the past.Murdaugh’s staged murder attempt came a day after he was forced out of his law firm for allegedly embezzling millions of dollars. Police are investigating Murdaugh in that case for misappropriating funds.In another development, police announced on Wednesday that they have opened an investigation into the 2018 death of Gloria Satterfield, 57, a housekeeper at the Murdaugh home.Her death was initially ruled to be the result of a fall.The Murdaugh family has deep roots in law enforcement in South Carolina. Murdaugh’s father, grandfather and great-grandfather all served as regional prosecutors.


No privileges, exceptions in Islamic justice, says Agong

Islamic justice does not give privileges or exceptions to anyone who commits a wrongdoing, be it the persons themselves, their close friends, family members or parents, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said today.
He said the principle of Islamic justice does not allow any form of injustice, including to those unliked, and upholds justice without favouritism as was practised and which raised the dignity of Islam during the time of Prophet Muhammad.
"The principle of justice that is transparent also succeeds in developing a just, fair and prosperous society. The principle of justice according to Islam is upholding God's trust.
"Based on the same principle, shariah courts must also be wise in using discretionary powers and in always being fair to all parties when sentencing, especially those involving family cases.
"If the law is not implemented consistently and fairly, justice will certainly not be achieved as the philosophy behind the enactment of a law would have been tainted, and as a result, the disadvantaged party would end up being victimised by those in power," the king said when officiating the opening of the Pahang Shariah Court Complex in Kuantan today.  Construction of the court complex, officially named Kompleks Syariah Al-Sultan Abdullah, began on June 22, 2015 with a cost of RM44.75 million. It was completed on Sept 23, 2021.
Sultan Abdullah also said that the power to punish and pardon should not be used arbitrarily as there would be an accounting for this in the afterlife.
He also reminded shariah judges to ensure that cases are handled fairly and for judgments not to be delayed, besides calling on court officials and shariah lawyers to facilitate the smooth running of court proceedings.
Sultan Abdullah also expressed hope that the concept of "diyat" or financial compensation to the kin of victims that he had proposed over the past few years could be studied and implemented in Pahang, and the country in general.
"I would also like to ask shariah judges to conduct a detailed study on punishments in the form of community service because there are offences that are not so serious. This should be considered so that they can serve the community… which can be resolved with discretion," he said.


McDonald’s to exit Russia, sell business in country

American fast-food giant McDonald’s said Monday it will exit Russia in the wake of the Ukraine invasion, ending a more than three-decade run begun in the hopeful period near the end of the Cold War.The restaurant chain, which launched in Moscow in January 1990 to great fanfare almost two years before the Soviet Union was dissolved, characterised the withdrawal as difficult but necessary.“The humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine, and the precipitating unpredictable operating environment, have led McDonald’s to conclude that continued ownership of the business in Russia is no longer tenable, nor is it consistent with McDonald’s values,” the company said in a statement.The chain is looking to sell “its entire portfolio of McDonald’s restaurants in Russia to a local buyer.”The burger giant is one of numerous foreign firms that have pulled out of the country or suspended operations following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in late February.Earlier on Monday, French automaker Renault announced it had handed over its Russian assets to the government, marking the first major nationalisation since the onset of Western sanctions against Moscow’s military campaign.Russia’s President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into pro-Western Ukraine on Feb 24, triggering unprecedented sanctions and sparking an exodus of foreign corporations including H&M, Starbucks and Ikea.In March, citing “unspeakable suffering to innocent people,” McDonald’s closed all of its 850 restaurants in the country, where it says it employs 62,000 workers.But on Monday the “Big Mac” maker went a step further, saying the company “is pursuing the sale of its entire portfolio of McDonald’s restaurants in Russia to a local buyer.”After the sale, the restaurants would no longer be able to use the McDonald’s name, logo, branding or menu, though the company will retain its trademark in the country, it said.Russia currently accounts for 9% of the company’s revenue and 3% of its operating profit.McDonald’s expects a one-time charge of US$1.2 billion to US$1.4 billion to write off the investment.A ‘new era’The withdrawal offers a stark contrast to the optimism that surrounded the arrival of the quintessentially American brand in Russia in the waning days of the Cold War.The company began discussing Russian business at the 1976 Olympics in Canada where McDonald’s let Russian athletes use the “Big Mac Bus” in a sign of good will.That led to 14 years of negotiations, “culminating in the glorious day in January of 1990 when the first McDonald’s opened to so much hope and excitement in Pushkin Square,” recalled McDonald’s chief executive Chris Kempczinski in a message to employees.“In the history of McDonald’s, it was one of our proudest and most exciting milestones,” Kempczinski said. “After nearly half a century of Cold War animosity, the image of the Golden Arches shining above Pushkin Square heralded for many, on both sides of the Iron Curtain, the beginning of a new era.”In the subsequent decades, McDonald’s operations in Russia expanded far beyond Moscow as the company invested billions of dollars and grew its supply chain.But Kempczinski said the Russia investment was no longer viable in terms of business, or consistent with company values.Still, he closed his message on a hopeful note, saying, “let us not end by saying, ‘goodbye’… (but) ‘Until we meet again.'”The company’s decision to divest “underlines a view that relations with Russia will not soon be normalised,” said Neil Saunders, a retail expert at GlobalData.The conditions of the exit, including the financial challenges facing prospective Russian buyers means “it is unlikely the sale price will be anywhere near the pre-invasion book value of the business,” said Saunders, adding that the departure “will leave a hole” in McDonald’s growth plans “that is not easily filled in the near-term.”Shares of McDonald’s fell 0.4% to US$244.04.


Muslim woman sues airline for ‘religious profiling’ over exit row

A Muslim American woman has alleged that a Southwest Airlines flight attendant forced her to move from her seat on the emergency exit row because she “couldn’t speak English” and “would bring the whole plane down in an emergency”.Fatima Altakrouri and her sister Muna Kowni were traveling from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Dallas, Texas, on May 22.“We were down there for a family emergency, my mom was dying in the hospital, so we were expecting at least to have a good flight back home, stress-free,” Muna told media sources.The flight had unassigned seating and the sisters spotted two free seats together in an emergency exit row and sat down.A flight attendant allegedly then told them Fatima, who is the only one of the pair to wear a hijab, would need to move as she could not speak English.The sisters admitted speaking Arabic when boarding but said both speak excellent English. However, the flight attendant didn’t back down, even when Fatima spoke to her in English.“I took it just as a terrorist comment,” Fatima said. “That makes me look like I am some kind of terrorist and I am not.”Fearing the situation would escalate, Fatima and her sister moved to seats at the back of the plane.On May 22, Fatima filed a complaint against the flight attendant with Dallas-based Southwest Airlines. Southwest never responded to her complaint, she said.A complaint has now been filed with the US Department of Transportation, according to Fatima’s lawyer Marwa Elbially, who described the incident as “religious discrimination” and said that it’s in “direct violation of federal law”.“Me being born here, I know my rights,” Fatima said. “I know when it’s necessary to speak up. I’m doing this on behalf of the many other women that have been in the same shoes as I have.”In a statement to NBC 5, a Southwest Airlines spokesman wrote, “Our reports do not support claims made by the passenger. Individuals seated in an exit row are required to verbally indicate that they can perform certain duties inflight.”Faizan Syed, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Texas, said Southwest responded only when Fatima went public with her complaint on Tuesday.Syed said in a press release, the situation was “textbook religious discrimination and religious profiling” based on the flight attendant’s attitude toward Fatima, who was wearing the hijab, and Fatima’s sister, who was not wearing one.“As an American Muslim, when we fly, we understand we have to act different,” he said.  “This is an example of a larger issue that’s happening in America with our community constantly, where when we travel, there is an extra layer of stress.”“Flying While Muslim” is a sardonic term that gained wide use following countless incidents that have occurred in airports and airplanes in recent years. Muslims getting kicked off airplanes for speaking Arabic or women dressing in Muslim clothes is just one example.


Afghan baby girl born on US military plane in Germany

An Afghan woman gave birth to a baby girl on a US military plane shortly after arriving on an evacuation flight to Germany, the US Air Force tweeted on Sunday.During the flight from a staging base in the Middle East, the woman went into labour and began to experience complications, it said.“The aircraft commander decided to descend in altitude to increase air pressure in the aircraft, which helped stabilise and save the mother’s life,” the US Air Mobility Command said later on Twitter.Immediately on landing at the Ramstein base, US military medics helped the woman deliver her baby in the cargo hold of the plane.Mother and child were then transferred to a nearby medical facility “and are in good condition”, it said.Footage released by the US military showed the mother lying on a stretcher being carried off the plane by US soldiers at the base in southwest Germany.A week after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, evacuation operations from foreign countries continue under extreme conditions marked by scenes of panic and desperation at Kabul airport.Since Aug 14, about 17,000 people have been evacuated by the US, including 2,500 Americans, the US government said earlier.The US got the green light from Berlin for some of the evacuees to be directed to Germany, where it has a number of bases.About 1,150 people landed at the Ramstein base on Saturday, from where they are expected to depart for the US within days, a base spokesman said.


Asean concern over Cambodia PM’s Myanmar visit, says Saifuddin

Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said yesterday that some Southeast Asian countries had reservations about last week’s visit to Myanmar by Cambodia’s leader, with concerns it could be seen as regional recognition of its ruling junta.Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, the new chair of Asean, met last week with military ruler Min Aung Hlaing, the first such visit by a head of government to Myanmar since last year’s coup, dealing a blow to international efforts to isolate the generals.Speaking to reporters late yesterday, Saifuddin said there were different opinions within Asean about Hun Sen’s visit, with some of its 10 members concerned it could be seen as legitimising the coup-makers.“There are people who think that he should not have taken the visit because his visit has been construed or interpreted as a recognition of the military in Myanmar,” he said.“Malaysia is of the opinion that he has the right to visit Myanmar as the head of government of Cambodia. However, we also feel that because he has already assumed the chair of Asean, he could have probably consulted the other Asean leaders and sought our views as to what he should do if he were to go to Myanmar.”Asked if he thought Hun Sen’s visit achieved anything, Saifuddin said: “No”.Myanmar has been in turmoil since the coup, with the military using deadly force to quell protests and facing armed resistance on multiple fronts from opponents it calls “terrorists”.Thousands have been arrested and ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, 76, has been convicted of crimes including incitement and breaching coronavirus rules.Asean late last year took the unprecedented step of sidelining junta boss Min Aung Hlaing from its leaders’ summit over his failure to implement a five-point peace plan to end hostilities and start inclusive dialogue, which he had agreed to with Asean.Saifuddin said it was unclear whether Cambodia, as Asean chair, would continue to exclude Myanmar’s junta from Asean meetings until it showed progress, a position favoured by previous chair Brunei, which Malaysia backed.Cambodia’s foreign minister Prak Sokhonn on Saturday said his country as Asean chair would take “different approaches” to the Myanmar crisis.According to Myanmar’s state media, Min Aung Hlaing thanked Hun Sen for “standing with Myanmar”.


Thunderstorm warning issued for 5 states

Thunderstorms, heavy rain, and strong winds are expected to occur in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor, and Sabah until 9am today.
MetMalaysia, in a statement issued at 6.30am, said that in Selangor, heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected in the Hulu Langat area, while in Johor the warning areas are Tangkak, Segamat, Muar, Batu Pahat, Kluang, Pontian, Kulai and Johor Bahru.
In Sabah, the same weather conditions are expected in the interior of Nabawan, Kunak and Lahad Datu in Tawau, and Tangod in the Sandakan.
Meanwhile, MetMalaysia said that cloudy weather is expected in Sarawak, in several areas in Bintulu, Miri and Limbang.
Today is voting day for the 15th general election.


Facebook fails in bid to derail US$15 billion privacy suit

The US Supreme Court on Monday declined to consider an appeal by Facebook that would have derailed a US$15 billion lawsuit over whether it illegally tracked users about a decade ago.The nation’s top court issued an order denying a request by the leading social network to review a California federal court’s decision to allow the litigation accusing Facebook of violating wiretap laws.Facebook did not respond to a request for comment.It had argued in court filings that it was a legitimate “party” for exchanges involving digital content received from software tools such as “like” or “share” buttons plugged into other websites.“Rather than eavesdropping on a separate communication, the communication with Facebook contained distinct content intended for Facebook,” the leading social network said in a legal filing.US wiretap law makes it illegal to snoop on electronic communications unless one is a party to the exchange.The suit accuses Facebook of wrongly tracking users away from the social network, then making money from the data by selling it to marketers for targeting ads.The class action lawsuit consolidated more than 20 related cases filed in an array of US states in 2011 and early 2012 and seeks more than US$15 billion on behalf of members of the world’s largest social network.Facebook has since changed the way it uses software snippets such as like and share buttons that gather information about users’ internet activities.The Silicon Valley tech giant added that allowing the case to proceed would have “sweeping, and detrimental consequences”.Critics and regulators have repeatedly taken aim at Facebook over user privacy.


Ismail to defend Bera seat in 3-way clash

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob will be up against two contenders from Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) in his bid to defend his Bera parliamentary seat at the 15th general election (GE15).
Ismail, who has held the seat since 2004, will be challenged by Abas Awang (PH-PKR) and Asmawi Harun (PN-Bersatu).
The official list of candidates for the seat was announced by returning officer for Bera, Zaman Azam Mohamet Sarif, at 11.23am after the nomination process at the Bera District Council Convention Hall today.
Ismail and his wife Muhaini Zainal Abidin arrived at the nomination centre at 8.55am, along with three other BN candidates for state seats in the Bera constituency, as well as hundreds of supporters.
Asmawi and Abas arrived earlier at 8.30am and 8.50am respectively.
In the 2018 general election, Ismail, who is also Umno vice-president, retained the seat after defeating PKR candidate Zakaria Abdul Hamid and PAS’ Musaniff Ab Rahman with a 2,311-vote majority.
Based on the electoral roll, Bera has 77,669 registered voters comprising 73,860 normal voters, 3,521 military personnel and their spouses, 279 police personnel and their spouses, and nine overseas voters.
Meanwhile, Zaman also announced a four-cornered fight for the Guai state seat, involving Sabriah Saidin (BN), Nor Hashimahi Mat Noh (PN), Noraini Abdul Ghani (PH), and independent candidate Jafari Mohd Yusof.


Taliban’s arms seizures embarrass Washington

Videos of Taliban fighters parading in US-made armoured vehicles, wielding US-supplied firearms and climbing on American Black Hawk helicopters after the defeat of Afghan government forces have embarrassed the White House.The Islamist insurgents, who easily captured control of the country after a months-long campaign, seized huge amounts of weaponry, equipment and munitions from the Afghan armed forces, most of it supplied over the past two decades by Washington.Social media showed Taliban fighters carrying M4 and M18 assault rifles and M24 sniper weapons, driving around in the iconic US Humvees and, in one video, apparently wearing US-style special forces tactical uniforms.The images are underpinning a political attack on President Joe Biden for alleged mishandling of the US withdrawal from the country after 20 years of war.Most of the equipment has been seized from the Afghan forces who, despite two decades of training and tens of billions of dollars from the US, conceded the capital Kabul at the weekend without a fight.“We don’t have a complete picture, obviously, of where every article of defence materials has gone. But certainly, a fair amount of it has fallen into the hands of the Taliban,” said White House National security adviser Jake Sullivan on Tuesday.‘Botched withdrawal’“Obviously, we don’t have a sense that they are going to readily hand it over to us,” he said.Republicans seized on the admission to pounce on Biden.“Thanks to Biden’s botched withdrawal, the Taliban is better equipped today than they ever have been,” said Republican national chair Ronna McDaniel.According to official figures, the US military supplied the Afghan army with more than 7,000 machine guns, 4,700 Humvees and 20,000 grenades in recent years.The Afghans have also received artillery and reconnaissance drones from Washington, as well as more than 200 aircraft, both fixed-wing and helicopters.Their continued operation depended heavily on US technical support and parts, however.According to photographs published Wednesday by Janes, the defence specialists, some 40 Afghan military aircraft were flown into Uzbekistan over the past week to escape the Taliban advance, including five UH-60 Black Hawk and 16 Russia Mi-17 helicopters and 10 A-29 Super Tucano attack airplanes.In its 16-month drawdown, the Pentagon removed huge amounts of its own equipment from Afghanistan, and handed some of it to the Afghan army.But hardware supplied to the Afghan forces that is now in Taliban hands has raised concerns.Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday that the department is looking at the issue.Limited threat“We obviously don’t want to see our equipment in the hands of those who would act against our interests, or the interests of the Afghan people,” Kirby told reporters.“There are numerous policy choices that can be made, up to and including destruction,” he said, without giving specifics.The captured arms and vehicles only expand the Taliban’s powers in limited ways, experts say.“The most dangerous weapons the Taliban have captured are the D-30 howitzers and Afghan Air Force assets,” said Jonathan Schroden, director of the Countering Threats and Challenges Program at CNA, a Washington security consultancy.“It is not clear that they have the ability to use all of the air platforms that they have captured, but they have already demonstrated the ability to use those howitzers,” he said.Even then, it makes them at best a limited direct threat to better-armed neighbours.On the other hand, the massive amounts of small arms and munitions they inherited, said Schroden, could “conceivably find their way to many different parts of the globe and to a variety of other terrorist groups.”“Probably the best thing the US can do at this point is to work with Afghanistan’s neighbours to try and interdict the transport of any of this equipment across the country’s borders,” he said.


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Short-term gain might be long-term pain, experts warn on EPF withdrawals

Experts have cautioned against an unfettered embrace of the government’s budget provision for EPF withdrawals, saying contributors from the lower income bracket may find it difficult to replace funds used now to tide them over through the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.The provision, announced as part of the budget presented on Friday, allows contributors to withdraw up to RM6,000 from their Account 1 over a period of a year beginning January 2021.A researcher from think tank The Centre said the fund itself might have the resources to support such a measure but questioned if savings meant for retirement should be treated as emergency cash, even in unprecedented times.Using the example of a contributor earning RM3,000 a month, he said it would take him or her roughly 15 months to replace the funds, assuming that the maximum amount of RM6,000 is withdrawn.This in turn would depend on the contributor’s future job and earning prospects which he said might be uncertain in such challenging times.“Since a precedent has now been set, will future withdrawals be allowed?” he added.“How will this affect retirement age policy down the road? These are some of the concerns we have over this policy,” he told MalaysiaNow.“Drawing down from your future savings will impact your future, unlike short-term measures such as cash aid and rebates.”The suggestion for withdrawals to be allowed from Account 1 was initially made by former prime minister Najib Razak, who proposed that the government allow one-off withdrawals of up to RM10,000 as a means of buffering the effects of the pandemic which has wreaked havoc on businesses and economies around the globe.The government had previously allowed eligible contributors to make withdrawals from their second account every month under the i-Lestari programme.But academic Izlin Ismail also warned of the long-term impact of allowing EPF withdrawals now.“Drawing down from your future savings will impact your future, unlike short-term measures such as cash aid and rebates,” she told MalaysiaNow.Izlin, a professor of finance and banking at Universiti Malaya, said it was understandable if depositors were thinking about the immediate impact of the pandemic on their livelihoods instead of looking further ahead to their retirements.But she too voiced concern for contributors from the lower end of the earning spectrum.“RM6,000 may not seem like a lot for higher income groups, but if you are in the lower income group, this is a big loss for your retirement savings.”She also noted recent reports that more than half of depositors in their 50s have less than RM50,000 in their EPF accounts.“Remember that those aged 50 may not have the time to make back that RM6,000 drawdown in their Account 1, and they may not be likely to put it back because this group tends to be more indebted with financial commitments such as mortgages.”Even for younger contributors in their 20s and 30s, she said, there is still a risk.While time may be on their side, the future economic situation may not be. For them to make back the money taken now, Izlin said, they would have to be sure of jobs in the next 12 months as well as an increase in salary.She also highlighted another budget provision allowing a reduction in minimum employee EPF contribution rate from 11% to 9% for a period of 12 months beginning next January.While the measure was welcomed by some as a way to stimulate spending, in tandem with cash aid, rebates, and debt-repayment relief measures, Izlin said some, especially those in the gig economy, might find it difficult to boost their retirement savings even after the pandemic subsides.


Gunman shoots 2 dead, wounds 5 others at US high school graduation

A man armed with four handguns killed two people and wounded five others when he fired into a crowd outside a high school graduation ceremony in Richmond, Virginia, on Tuesday, police said.
Police said they arrested one suspect, a 19-year-old man who knew one of the victims and shot at him amid the crowd that had just emerged from the Huguenot High School's commencement ceremony inside a theater on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University.
The suspect was likely to be charged with two counts of second-degree murder in addition to other offenses, interim Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards told a press conference.
Edwards called the shooter's behavior "disgusting and cowardly," since his dispute appeared to be with just one person.
"When you have a crowd like this, innocent people are going to be caught up in the mayhem, and that's what happened today." Edwards said. "Obviously, this should have been a safe space... It's just incredibly tragic that someone decided to bring a gun to this incident and rain terror on our community."
The US has grown accustomed to mass shootings in public places such as schools, shopping centres and churches.
The mass shooting was the country's 279th in the first 157 days of 2023, according to the Gun Violence Archive, using the definition of four or more people are shot or killed in a single incident, not including the shooter.
The deceased were men aged 18 and 36, Edwards said. He did not confirm a WWBT television news report that the victims were father and son.
Among the wounded, a 31-year-old man suffered life-threatening injuries and four other males aged 14, 32, 55 and 58 were expected to survive, Edwards said.
In addition, a 9-year-old girl was struck by a car in the chaos that ensued, and multiple other people were injured in falls or suffered from anxiety, Edwards said.
The suspect fled the scene on foot and was captured in possession of four handguns, three of which may have been fired, he said, stressing that it was too early in the investigation to be certain.


78.5% of population fully vaccinated

A total 25,647,708 individuals or 78.5% of the country’s population had completed their Covid-19 vaccination as of yesterday while 23.9% or 7,809,058 individuals had received a booster dose.According to the CovidNow portal, the total number of fully vaccinated individuals comprises 22,881,770 adults and 2,765,938 teenagers.A total of 110,258 vaccine doses were administered yesterday, 1,500 as second doses, 910 as first shots, and 107,848 as booster jabs.


Anwar appoints aide's father to head finance ministry's MyHSR Corp

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has named the father of one of his political secretaries as chairman of MyHSR Corporation Sdn Bhd (MyHSR Corp), a government company formed in 2015 to develop the long-stalled high-speed rail (HSR) project.
Fauzi Abdul Rahman, a former PKR MP, is the father of Farhan Fauzi – a political secretary to the prime minister who doubles as the finance minister.
The appointment, effective June 22, is a continuation of several controversial political appointments by ruling parties and comes months after Anwar's decision to pick his eldest daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar as an adviser at the finance ministry sparked controversy.
Fauzi is a former Pahang Umno leader who served as deputy minister under the Barisan Nasional government, before switching to PKR in 2008 and later becoming the party's Pahang chairman.
He is currently Pahang PKR's adviser.
In a statement today, MyHSR said Fauzi served on the board of Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd between 2018 and 2021 and is "well-versed in the development and challenges within the industry".
The company's CEO Mohd Nur Ismal Mohamed Kamal meanwhile said Fauzi's "long history of astute leadership and unwavering commitment to positive growth will strengthen the group's resolve in bringing the project to fruition".
The HSR project was proposed by former prime minister Najib Razak in 2010 to link Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. It was supposed to be fully completed by 2026.
However, the project was delayed after the then-ruling party, Barisan Nasional, lost in the 14th general election in 2018.
When the Pakatan Harapan coalition took over the federal government, the prime minister at that time, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, announced that the project would be temporarily postponed due to high costs.
On Sept 5, 2018, however, the government announced that the HSR operations would recommence in January 2031.
The project was later cancelled under the administration of former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Jan 1, 2021.


Malaysia sees 5% GDP growth in first quarter of 2022

Malaysia’s economy rebounded in the first quarter of 2022 (Q1 2022), registering a 5% growth versus a contraction of 0.5% in Q1 2021.The positive economic performance was underpinned by improving domestic demand as economic activities continued to normalise with the easing of containment measures.The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) also met the projections set by economic analysts who were optimistic about the country’s improving domestic demand, especially private consumption which forms 58.8% of the GDP.“The improvement also reflects the recovery in the job market, with the unemployment rate declining further to 4.1% (Q4 2021: 4.3%), as well as continued policy support,” said Bank Negara Malaysia governor Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus.Speaking at the press conference on Malaysia’s Q1 2022 GDP performance in Kuala Lumpur today, she said that strong external demand amid the continued upcycle in global technology had also helped boost growth.On the supply side, the services and manufacturing sectors continued to drive economic growth, expanding by 6.5% and 6.6% respectively.On a quarter-on-quarter seasonally adjusted basis, the economy grew by 3.9% in Q1 2022, compared to 4.6% in Q4 2021.Headline inflation moderated to 2.2% during the quarter from 3.2% in Q4 2021.


PKR Youth attacks Syed Saddiq over LCS remarks

PKR Youth yesterday hit out at Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, accusing him of "moving the goal post" in the matter of a motion to debate the littoral combat ship (LCS) issue and calling for the matter to be taken into account in the evaluation of his party's bid to join the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition.
In a statement, it noted the speaker's response that reports on the LCS issue were presented in Parliament every three months.
"Therefore, it is appropriate for this matter to be objectively determined based on the latest information and developments, with and additional commitment by the speaker to allow this matter to be debated once the full report is obtained," it said.
"Syed Saddiq's claim that the motion was rejected because it was not a matter of public interest is an attempt to divert from the real issue."
Accusing Syed Saddiq and his party Muda of "continuously spreading misinformation and half-truths that discredit the government", it said the matter should be examined and taken into account in the evaluation of Muda's application to join PH.
Syed Saddiq said on June 8 that his proposal for an emergency motion on the LCS project had been rejected by Johari Abdul.
According to him, the speaker had said that the issue was neither urgent nor of public interest.
He said it was crucial for the defence ministry to provide a detailed explanation of the project, which became the centre of controversy after it was revealed that not one of the six ships had been delivered despite billions of ringgit spent.
PKR Youth said Syed Saddiq had given the impression that the Dewan Rakyat and government as a whole was indirectly "evading and protecting" the LCS investigation.
"But the real issue is that his motion to the speaker was considered incomplete because it did not clearly state three important issues, namely 'specific matters, urgent need, and concerning public interest'," it said.
"Each of these elements need to underscore the rationale, which should not be based only on the issues that he wants to raise."
It also said that Syed Saddiq's questions on the increase in cost and reduction in ship numbers had already been answered by the defence ministry.
"Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari has also assured of his commitment to completing the first LCS, which is expected to be done in November 2024 and commissioned for the use of the navy at the end of 2026," it said.


Oct 19 hearing for Najib's challenge to prison no-go for Dewan Rakyat proceedings

The Kuala Lumpur High Court has fixed Oct 19 to hear Najib Razak's application to challenge the Prison Department’s decision not to allow him to attend Dewan Rakyat proceedings.
Judge Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid set the date when the case was brought for mention before him today in the presence of federal counsel M Kogilambigai, who acted for the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC), and Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, representing Najib.
Earlier, Kogilambigai informed the court that she would need at least one week to study the former prime minister’s application for leave for judicial review.
"We need time to study the submissions and we will inform the court if the AGC raises any objection over that matter," she said, adding that there was no urgency over the matter as Parliament was dissolved two days ago.
Shafee however said the matter was urgent as there were serious legal issues to be determined by the court, including whether Najib could be nominated as a candidate and be present at the nomination centre where he would be contesting.  "I suggest that the application be heard this Friday (Oct 14)," the lawyer said.
On Oct 5, Najib, 69, filed the application naming the government, the home minister, and the prison commissioner-general as the first to third respondents.
He is seeking an order to quash the decision of the third respondent not to allow him access to his officers/aides for the purposes of parliamentary, legislative and constituent work.
He is also seeking an order to set aside the decision not to allow him to attend Parliament on the scheduled dates of sitting.
In his supporting affidavit, Najib said the decision of the first and third respondents in rejecting his application on the grounds of security was conveyed to him via the Kajang Prison Office on Sept 28.
Najib also said that the first and third respondents’ refusal to allow him access to his officers and aides for the purposes of parliamentary and constituent matters and the subsequent inaction by the second respondent was an exercise of unreasonableness or irrationality.
He said pursuant to Article 59 of the Federal Constitution, he had a constitutional obligation to discharge his duties effectively and with substance as a member of Parliament, in the representation of the constituents of Pekan.


1,240 new cases, death toll up by 7

A new high of 1,240 cases was recorded today, pushing total confirmed infections to 27,805.Of these, 927 were recorded in Sabah, followed by Selangor (177), Penang (61), Negeri Sembilan (25) and Kuala Lumpur (17).Perak recorded eight new cases, followed by Sarawak (seven), Labuan (six), Johor (four), Terengganu (three), Kedah (three) and Melaka (two).No new cases were recorded in Perlis, Kelantan, Pahang and Putrajaya.Active cases now stand at 9,744 with 94 in the ICU and 31 in need of respiratory assistance.A total of 691 patients were discharged from hospital, taking recoveries to 17,825 or 64.11%.However, seven more deaths were also reported, all in Sabah, taking the virus toll to 236 or 0.85%.


Automation could ease labour crunch but Malaysia lagging behind, say experts

With many economic sectors in the country still hampered by the labour crunch which began after the onset of Covid-19, questions have arisen over the possibility of automation as an alternative to Malaysia’s long dependence on foreign labour.Billions of ringgit have been lost so far in the plantations industry alone due to a shortage of harvesters, with similar problems also reported in sectors such as manufacturing, tourism and construction.But while automation might seem a logical route, experts say implementation is another story.Amalina Amir of Universiti Teknologi Mara said the country had actually allocated millions of ringgit for automation in collaboration with technology giant Japan.“But no company that has this technology will transfer it to other companies or nations as these would then become their competitors,” Amalina, who is head of the university’s Innovative Electromobility Research Lab, told MalaysiaNow.She said the patents for technology and automation processes registered by other parties would present a challenge for Malaysia in its quest to obtain such technology of its own.The development of artificial intelligence technology for the Industrial Revolution 4.0 also makes it difficult for Malaysia to offer automation systems to global manufacturing companies as it lacks expertise in the field.The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) estimates that most industries are at least 40% automated, based on a survey conducted with the Malaysian Institute of Economic Studies.Such technology is mostly utilised in operational activities like assembly, inspection and testing, material handling, packaging, process control, machining, information management and warehousing.But Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers president Soh Thian Lai said the levels of automation would differ from company to company.“It depends on the nature of the industry and product,” he added.“Some processes are still more suited to manual operations than being fully automated, for example due to the small volumes produced, or the need for customisation and greater flexibility in handling the different sizes of raw products.”In such cases, he said, automating these processes might lead to higher costs and a drop in competitiveness.Nevertheless, Soh added, Malaysia had a lot of room to improve on its automation processes.This would also increase productivity through consistent quality and higher production rates instead of merely reducing dependence on unskilled or low-skilled labour.Perhaps the best example of Malaysia’s dependence on such labour is the plantations sector. In terms of palm oil production, Malaysia is the second largest producer in the world, behind Indonesia.The country’s agriculture also depends heavily on cheap labour.The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) said for now, automation in palm oil plantations was still a new development.MPOB director-general Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir said much of the technology in this sector was still at the research and development phase.“Automation in the palm oil processing sector like the mills and refineries is at a more mature stage.“But there is always room for improvement in line with technological advances,” he added, citing harvesting activities as one example.“Applications like the use of robotic arms, haptic systems and sensors can be developed and combined with other technologies such as unmanned ground vehicles, drones and so on.“But the support systems need to be in place to ensure that the automated system can function in an effective manner.”Ahmad Ibrahim of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia said automation requires a great deal of digital infrastructure like 5G technology.“We still have problems developing 5G and our broadband prices are among the most expensive in the world,” he said.“Efforts must be made to further reduce the cost.”Soh agreed that automation requires large and long-term investments, depending on the resources and capacity of individual firms.Other necessary components include the know-how, human resources, equipment and data analysis.“There must be continued support for automation and upgrading activities in all of these areas, particularly for SMEs as they require more effort and investments to increase the automation of plant operations,” he said.Amalina meanwhile praised the steps taken by the government to provide technical and vocational education and training, saying this would help spur automation in the country.“Follow what even hi-tech companies have done to improve the quality and efficiency of their production by using KUKA Robotic Corporation as their provider of automated production lines,” she said, referring to the automated solutions firm.“Malaysia can use similar major companies for manufacturing and save the millions being spent on research and development that is going nowhere.”


It’s the bats, WHO-China study confirms on Covid-19 origins

A joint World Health Organization (WHO)-China study on the origins of Covid-19 will say that the international investigating team has declared that transmission of the virus from bats to humans via another animal is the most likely scenario.Rumours that a lab leak was responsible, are dismissed as “extremely unlikely”, according to a draft copy of the report obtained by The Associated Press.The findings are largely as expected and leave many questions unanswered. The team proposed further research in every area except the lab leak hypothesis.The report’s release has been repeatedly delayed, raising questions about whether the Chinese side was trying to slant the conclusions to prevent responsibility for the pandemic falling on China.A WHO official said late last week that he expected it would be ready for release “in the next few days”.The report is based largely on a visit by a WHO team of international experts to Wuhan, the Chinese city where Covid-19 was first detected, from mid-January to mid-February.Peter Ben Embarek, the WHO expert who led the Wuhan mission, said on Friday that the report had been finalised and was being fact-checked and translated.The Associated Press received what appeared to be a near-final version on Monday. The source was a Geneva-based diplomat from a WHO-member country, who did not want to be identified.In the report, the research team listed four scenarios in order of likelihood.They concluded that transmission through a second animal was the most likely way the virus spread.They evaluated direct spread from bats to humans as likely, and said that spread through “cold-chain” food products was possible but not likely.The closest known relative of the virus that causes Covid-19 has been found in bats, which are known to carry coronaviruses. However, the report says that “the evolutionary distance between these bat viruses and SARS-CoV-2 or Covid-19 is estimated to be several decades, suggesting a missing link”.The report said that highly similar viruses have been found in pangolins, but also noted that mink and cats are susceptible to the Covid virus, which suggests they could be carriers.“I expect that in the next few days, the whole process will be completed and we will be able to release it publicly,” Embarek said.It wasn’t clear whether the report might still be changed prior to its release.


No need to scan MySejahtera app when filling up fuel

Customers do not need to use the MySejahtera app if they do not enter the store section of petrol stations to make payments for fuel, Senior Minister for Security Ismail Sabri Yaakob said today.He said the same applies to those who pay using credit or debit cards, online transactions, and through the cashier’s window, as well as those who use the station’s pumps to inflate their vehicles’ tyres or the automatic car wash services.He added that individuals who make payments or transactions in the store section, whether for fuel or the purchase of items, or use the ATM for withdrawals, are required to register either manually or using the MySejahtera app.“Those using the surau or toilet also have to scan the MySejahtera app or register their details,” he said.“The same applies to those who send their vehicles to workshops at petrol stations and use the manual car wash services.”Speaking at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, he said the decision was made by the National Security Council.He also said the government had agreed to expand the work-from-home ruling to cover civil servants nationwide as it was aware of the difficulties parents faced following the closure of schools and childcare centres in states placed under conditional movement control order (CMCO).He said those in non-CMCO states – Perlis, Kelantan, and Pahang – would also be allowed to work from home.Those in the industrial sector meanwhile must wait for further announcements by the international trade and industry ministry regarding permission to work from home.Ismail said this does not apply to those working in the informal sector such as retail, shopping complexes, plantations, and agriculture.


France strains to avert power cuts as cold snap tests Europe's energy resolve

France expects to avoid electricity cuts on Monday but faces a difficult week as the first cold snap of the winter tests Europe's resolve to save energy and mitigate the economic impact of the Ukraine war.
Leaders across the region have said everyone needs to get serious about using less fuel after unusually mild weather until now had made the task relatively easy.
Although Europe's gas storage is almost 90% full after concerted efforts following the disruption of Russian supplies linked to its invasion of Ukraine, a series of nuclear outages, especially in France, are adding to nervousness of outages.
A technical glitch briefly cut off the power in parts of Paris late on Thursday, prompting one Twitter user to ask: "Is it starting?", while posting an image of a street in darkness.
The country is in focus as corrosion has taken a record number of reactors out of action, reducing its nuclear output to a 30-year low.
But despite concerns that supply could fall short at the start of the week as temperatures in Europe plunge, RTE grid operator said there were no planned cuts for Monday for now.
An 8.3% drop in electricity use last week will help, RTE said, adding that 41 of EDF's nuclear reactors should be available from Monday, generating an output of 39 gigawatts, and that should be enough.
EDF said it had ramped up output at three nuclear reactors following repairs, and it hoped to start corrosion repairs at its Penly 2 nuclear reactor in mid January.
Risks rise if cold weather persists
Emeric de Vigan, vice president of power at data and analytics firm Kpler said efforts by companies and households to reduce consumption should allow France to avoid imposed load-shedding on Monday but risks could increase if the cold spell persisted all next week.
Energy prices, which have hit record levels this year, surged on Friday in response to nervousness demand would outstrip supply, before easing in later trade.
France is one of the most nuclear-power dependent countries and typically generates more than 70% of its electricity from its fleet of 56 reactors as well as providing about 15% of Europe's total power through exports.
The government, which has warned power cuts could happen this winter, said any outages would not exceed two hours and would be flagged ahead of time.
Elsewhere in Europe, Finland's national grid operator Fingrid said the risk of power outages on winter days had increased in the country following another postponement of the start-up of the new Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power reactor.
In neighbouring Sweden, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told a news conference: "Many Swedes have saved electricity for purely cost reasons. Now we want to ask the Swedish people to save electricity also to reduce the risk of power cuts."
Meanwhile, Belgium's natural gas supply could be at risk this winter in the event of a cold wave, Belgian newspaper De Tijd reported on Friday citing a leaked government-ordered report.


Peter Jackson sells special effects firm in US$1.6 billion ‘metaverse’ deal

New Zealand film director Peter Jackson on Wednesday announced the sale of his Oscar-winning Weta Digital special effects business to a US software firm intent on using it to develop the virtual-reality “metaverse”.San Francisco-based Unity Software said the US$1.6 billion acquisition would “shape the future of the metaverse”, an immersive 3D version of the internet tipped to transform workplaces and online interactions.The firm said Weta’s technology – used in blockbusters such as “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and “Avatar” – would allow its subscribers to create their own ultra-realistic corner of a virtual world.“We are thrilled to democratise these industry-leading tools and bring the genius of Sir Peter Jackson and Weta’s amazing engineering talent to life for artists everywhere,” Unity president John Riccitiello said in a statement.Under the deal, Unity takes over Wellington-based Weta Digital’s technology and engineering assets while Jackson retains majority ownership of a standalone film effects company called WetaFX.Jackson said the opportunity to use Weta’s ground-breaking programmes was a “game-changer” for those working in creative industries.“Together, Unity and Weta Digital can create a pathway for any artist, from any industry, to be able to leverage these incredibly creative and powerful tools,” he said.The metaverse is expected to develop into an online platform that makes virtual experiences – such as chatting with a friend or attending a concert – feel face-to-face.It grabbed headlines last month when Facebook changed its parent company name to “Meta” to reflect founder Mark Zuckerberg’s commitment to the concept.Zuckerberg’s firm has announced plans to hire 10,000 people in the European Union to build the metaverse, but other tech players are also scrambling to stake a claim in the online world.The technology might, for example, allow someone to don virtual reality glasses that make it feel as if they’re face-to-face with a friend – when in fact they are thousands of miles apart and connected via the internet.“The metaverse has the potential to help unlock access to new creative, social, and economic opportunities. And Europeans will be shaping it right from the start,” Facebook said in a blog post.Zuckerberg predicted in July that Facebook will transition from “primarily being a social media company to being a metaverse company” over the next five years.Facebook bought Oculus, a company that makes virtual reality headsets, for US$2 billion in 2014 and has since been developing Horizon, a digital world where people can interact using VR technology.


‘Cunning arguments’ against emergency no surprise, says Sarawak MP

A Sarawak MP says the declaration of emergency has been the most effective tool to date to disrupt politicians scheming for power at a time when strong authority is needed to stop the multiple crises caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.Saratok MP Ali Biju said as such, it was no surprise to see critics attacking Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin over the move to declare an emergency.“This sudden invocation of Article 150 of the constitution has thrown a spanner in the works of some quarters bent on politicking when the rest of the world is focusing on battling an invisible enemy that threatens millions of lives. And they are fuming,” he said in a statement.Ali also predicted “many objections and clever arguments” against the PM’s move in the coming days.Saratok MP Ali Biju.“I can’t help but draw a parallel with how some Republicans in the US are doing exactly the same thing; self over nation in the name of false patriotism,” he added.He said Muhyiddin had proven to be credible and diligent in leading the government’s fight against the pandemic, adding that his actions are guided by medical experts.“His track record in tackling the pandemic is impeccable and cannot be faulted, and even his harshest critic would have to acquiesce,” Ali said.The state of emergency announced yesterday came amid a spike in Covid-19 cases which has seen daily numbers entrenched in the four-figure range.The move came just as the movement control order was reinstated, bringing stricter control over public mobility to curb the virus spread.Muhyiddin had said that the state of emergency which was agreed to by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah would not lead to military rule, adding that civilian institutions including the judiciary would operate as usual.But Pakatan Harapan leaders accused Muhyiddin of seeking wider powers through the emergency move.Ali said many quarters have made clear their objection to snap polls during the pandemic.Calls for a general election have been gaining ground among a section of politicians aligned with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his predecessor Najib Razak, who are campaigning for the Malay party to revoke support for the ruling bloc.The state of emergency will however put a stop to such a likelihood.“Do Malaysians really want political instability that would lead to a general election when we are in the throes of a massive wave of new infections instead of firm leadership?” Ali asked.“The PM did the right and logical thing yesterday and no amount of artful propaganda or cunning and foxy arguments can detract from this self-evident fact: Malaysia needs strong leadership that is stabilising and firm in order to recover and heal before we can safely return to the rakyat for a fresh mandate.”


Number of Singapore millionaires could rise by over 60% in next 5 years

The number of Singaporean millionaires may increase by more than 60% in the next five years following a surge in millionaires forecast in the region after financial capitals emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, VNA reports.According to the 2021 Global Wealth Report released by Credit Suisse Group AG, Singapore may have 437,000 millionaires by 2025 compared with 270,000 in 2020, representing a rise of 62%.This is a faster growth than Hong Kong’s estimated 60% for the period, but slower than the growth forecast in China, India, Australia, South Korea, and Taiwan.Singapore’s millionaire density – or percentage of millionaires in the total population – was 5.5% in 2020, the second highest in Asia after Hong Kong’s 8.3%, the report says.The country’s Gini coefficient – a more broad-based measure of wealth inequality – was at 78.3 in 2020, higher than Japan’s 64.4, South Korea’s 67.6 and Taiwan’s 70.8.The wealth share of the top 1% in Singapore was almost 34% at the end of 2020, compared with 18% in Japan, 24% in South Korea and 28% in Taiwan.


Ex-IGP to IGP: Name corrupt senior officers in police force

Former inspector-general (IGP) of police Musa Hassan today urged top cop Abdul Hamid Bador to name the senior officers in the force whom he had said were involved in taking money from syndicates, saying this would allow an investigation to be carried out.Speaking to MalaysiaNow, he said this would also ensure fairness for other officers as not all of them were on the payroll of crime syndicates.He said this was especially the case if there were former police chiefs involved.“Otherwise, no action will be taken.”Hamid said on Monday that the “culture of taking money” had existed in the force “from the bottom to the top”.“Even the officers on the ground are afraid to take action because the IGP wants it. This was happening before,” he said.Musa said he supports Hamid’s efforts to clean up the force but that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission should also investigate the matter.“Every allegation has to be investigated, especially when it involves a top personality who carried the duty of keeping the country safe,” he said.He said the same applies for any other officers including those in the cartel whom Hamid said were working to topple him.“The cartel should be revealed so that action will be taken.”When contacted, two other former IGPs, Mohamad Fuzi Harun and Khalid Abu Bakar, declined to comment on Hamid’s remarks.“I have no further comment, my time has passed,” Fuzi said, while Khalid said: “Let him alone talk, I have no comment.”


No strong evidence linking houseman's death with bullying, task force finds

There is no strong evidence linking the death of a houseman attached to the Penang Hospital (HPP) with elements of bullying at the workplace, an analysis by the Healthcare Work Culture Improvement Task Force has revealed.
HWCITF chairman Siti Hamisah Tapsir said the analysis was done on the health ministry's Integrity Unit’s Detection and Verification Report on the incident.
"HWCITF maintains this view as long as there is no additional information related to the death of the houseman received from the police following their investigations into the case," she said at the media briefing on the Healthcare Work Culture Improvement Report 2022 in Putrajaya today.
The HWCITF was set up on May 13 following the death of the houseman attached to HPP, and in light of reports and complaints received on bullying incidents and psychological stress faced by housemen as well as health service staff.
The 25-year-old houseman was found dead on April 17. He was believed to have fallen from his apartment building near HPP. On the findings of a survey on the healthcare work culture involving 110,411 respondents from the health ministry, Siti Hamisah said 60% of them stated that the ministry work culture was positive, especially in regards to patient care, community and teamwork.
She said incidents of burnout, bullying and unhealthy work culture did occur at the ministry but at different levels and not at all health facilities.
"The bullying culture does not only occur among housemen, but across all levels of health ministry employees, either directly or indirectly.
"Among the contributing factors are a lack of competence, skills and level of readiness to carry out the assigned tasks," she said.
Siti Hamisah said the task force also found that compliance with the housemen's flexible work system was not comprehensive while housemen’s training was not consistent from one hospital to another.
The long working hours for housemen was also listed in the report.  "Hence, the HWCITF proposes a more structured and consistent approach through compliance and strengthening of the existing standards and guidelines," she said.
Siti Hamisah said the task force also found a need to optimise the number of human resources and infrastructure facilities to ensure the continuity of the best patient care.
"Most of the work is still carried out manually, and the lack of digitalisation has caused an increase in avoidable workload and delays in the delivery of health services," she said.
The HWCITF also outlined 10 main recommendations to improve and empower health services at the health ministry and all its facilities, including the improvement of the e-housemen system and the establishment of a housemen support group.
"The proposed improvement of work culture must not have a negative impact on the quality of the medical officers and services," she said.


Covid-19 infection rate soars to 1.72

The health ministry says the Covid-19 infection rate of Rt or R naught (R0) has climbed to 1.72 from 0.72 two weeks ago, reflecting an increase in risk with more transmissions taking place in the community.Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the significant increase also meant that people might be becoming more negligent and disregarding the SOPs.Based on the health ministry’s assessment, he said, there was also an increase in community movement.“The advice that has been given is starting to be taken lightly, and this includes frontline staff among health workers as well as other agencies.“Frontline workers are at high risk of being infected with Covid-19 or other infectious diseases while in government or private health facilities,” he said at a press conference in Putrajaya yesterday.He said health workers could also become infected while in the community.“Therefore, 100% compliance with guidelines and procedures while on duty and off-duty is very important.“Non-compliance with the guidelines will result in the transmission of Covid-19 infections,” he said, giving the example of a health worker from the River cluster who infected seven other members of his family.“Take precautions, take care of ourselves and our families at all times.”


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Hong Kong Disneyland closes for one day as staff take Covid-19 tests

Hong Kong’s Disneyland will close for a day on Wednesday for staff to take compulsory Covid-19 tests after authorities found one person who visited the theme park over the weekend was infected with the coronavirus.Disneyland, majority-owned by the city government with Walt Disney holding a minority stake, said in a statement the closure was out of “an abundance of caution” and advised visitors to reschedule.Any person who visited the park, which had to close multiple times for prolonged periods since the start of the pandemic, on Nov 14 between 11am and 6pm would also have to get tested by Thursday, the government said separately.Despite barely recording any local coronavirus cases in recent months, authorities in the global financial hub have tightened up quarantine and patient discharge rules.Hong Kong is following Beijing’s lead in retaining strict travel curbs, in contrast to a global trend of opening up and living with the coronavirus. The city government hopes the tighter rules would convince China, its main source of economic growth, to gradually open its border with Hong Kong.At Shanghai Disneyland last month, guests who were already inside were told to undergo tests at the exit related to Covid-19 investigations linked to other Chinese provinces and cities.International business lobby groups have warned Hong Kong could lose talent and investment, as well as competitive ground to rival finance hubs such as Singapore, unless it relaxes its restrictions on travel.The president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong said on Tuesday she is resigning as she cannot appeal to authorities to ease Covid-19 restrictions at the same time as having to undergo quarantine herself.JPMorgan Chase & Co chief executive Jamie Dimon, who was in Hong Kong on Monday and was exempt from quarantine under current rules for some executives, said the city’s Covid-19 policy was making it tougher to retain staff.


Denmark to lift all Covid restrictions by Sept 10

Denmark will lift all of its Covid-19 restrictions by Sept 10, health officials said Friday, adding that the virus no longer posed “a threat to society” due to the country’s broad vaccination coverage.More than 70% of Danes are fully vaccinated.“The epidemic is under control, we have record vaccination levels. That is why, on Sept 10, we can lift the special rules we had to introduce in the fight against Covid-19,” Health Minister Magnus Heunicke said in a statement.However, he stressed that “the epidemic is not over” and said the government “will not hesitate to act quickly if the pandemic once again threatens the essential functioning of society.”Denmark was one of the first countries to introduce a partial lockdown in March 2020, shutting down schools and non-essential businesses and services.It has relaxed and reinforced its measures throughout the pandemic, and in April introduced a “corona passport” granting holders access to businesses like restaurants, cinemas, gyms and hair salons.That requirement, already lifted in some places such as museums on Aug 1, will end in more places on Sept 1, though it will still be required to enter nightclubs and other large events until Sept 10.Masks have not been mandatory on public transport since Aug 14.