In Malaysia, refugees continue long wait for change

Hasan Al-Akraa was just 12 years old when he stepped off a plane and onto the tarmac at KLIA, carrying his entire life in a couple of bags.That was in 2012. Now, 10 years later, he is a student and activist but he is also keenly aware of his own history as a refugee and the experiences of others like himself in the country they now call home.Over the past decade, he has seen some positive changes in how refugees are treated. But still, he knows that the majority continue to be seen as inferior – due in part to Malaysia’s own policies on the matter.The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees or UNHCR classifies refugees as those who have fled war, violence, conflict or persecution and have crossed international borders to find safety in another country.In Malaysia, though, refugees, asylum seekers and migrant workers – documented and undocumented alike – are categorised under one umbrella: foreigners or “pendatang asing”.A glaring example of how many in the country view such communities surfaced shortly after the first pandemic lockdown in 2020, when xenophobic posters were circulated in an anti-Rohingya campaign on social media.Malicious comments came flooding in, and Rohingya refugees found themselves on the receiving end of harrassment, threats of rape and even death threats by those who believed that they were responsible for spreading Covid-19.In June last year, meanwhile, the immigration department came under fire from rights groups including Amnesty International Malaysia over a poster warning Rohingya refugees against coming to Malaysia.The poster, which was later removed from the department’s Twitter platform, showed men in uniform carrying guns with military planes overhead against a backdrop of vessels including a boat packed with what appear to be migrants.The caption of the poster read: “Migran etnik Rohingya, kedatangan anda tidak diundangi” (Rohingya migrants, your arrival is not lawful).Davina Devarajan, co-founder of NGO Women for Refugees, said many of the women the group worked with had been affected by the anti-Rohingya campaign.She also spoke of different levels of discrimination even among the refugees themselves.“If you are a Rohingya or you have darker skin, you are likely to face more challenges as a refugee in Malaysia,” she said.Refugees and migrants are also often subject to raids by the authorities, detained and/or deported back to their home countries.Hasan said he knew of children who had grown up in detention centres, adding that many refugees remain at such facilities today.“Refugees are still seen and treated as a threat to the nation when all they want is a temporary place to call home where their rights are respected and upheld,” he said.This is the case even with communities which had spent years or decades integrated into society, he added.“There are third generation refugee families who were born in Malaysia,” he said.“They speak Malay fluently, they celebrate Hari Raya and they enjoy eating durian, tempoyak and budu.”There are an estimated 175,000 refugees in Malaysia at the very least, but the government has not signed the United Nations’ 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol which outline basic human rights for refugees.This means that they cannot apply for jobs, have no access to public education, and are vulnerable to deportation.“The refugee crisis in Malaysia has been going on for decades,” Hasan said. “I came to Malaysia when I was 12, back in 2012, and 10 years later the policies have not changed.“Why can’t refugees have access to basic rights because we are human?”For him, the lack of concrete policies is the crux of the issue.“Refugees cannot rely on NGOs and charities all the time,” he said.“There needs to be a change at the policy level to protect refugees and grant them basic rights.”


PAS says committed to defending Muslim unity

PAS today stressed that it remains committed to defending the unity of the ummah or Muslims in the country.Its deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said this was proven by PAS’ attendance at this year’s Umno general assembly, to strengthen the unity of the ummah through Muafakat Nasional as previously agreed.“It is for the sake of wanting to see Islamic unity in the country,” he told Bernama after Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi delivered his policy speech at the assembly at the World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur.He and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang had attended the opening ceremony of the general assembly along with the leaders of other Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties – MCA president Wee Ka Siong, MIC president SA Vigneswaran, United Sabah People’s Party deputy president Arthur Joseph Kurup – as well as representatives of Friends of BN. PAS is Umno’s partner in the Muafakat Nasional alliance.Zahid, who is also BN chairman, had said that Umno as PAS’ political partner in Muafakat Nasional would continue to be honest in translating the charter and memorandum of understanding signed by the two parties in September 2019.He said the partnership with PAS, which had been proven in the seven by-elections after the 14th general election, had received strong support from the people. He said it was believed that it would open up a space for BN to return to lead the country.Vigneswaran, when met by reporters, said PAS needs to make a decision on its cooperation with Bersatu-led Perikatan Nasional (PN).“Umno doesn’t want to work with PN, so PAS needs to make a decision first. Who knows they might decide not to work with Umno, that is up to them,” he said.On Umno going solo on a BN ticket in GE15, Vigneswaran said it was the right decision.“For now, this is Umno’s intention. We (MIC) will contest on a BN ticket,” he said.Meanwhile, Wee said to win GE15, BN needs to work hard in light of the country’s latest political scenario.“The challenge that we will face is not something that allows us to say with confidence ‘we can do it’. We have to work hard, we must humbly seek the support of all races because this is something that we need to do,” he said.On Umno’s decision to cease cooperation with Bersatu, Wee said this was up to Umno.“This is the party’s AGM, they can discuss anything they want. I think for our part, we can leave it to them (Umno),” he said.


Witness admits to contradictions in statements over RM3.5 million commission sought by Bung

The main witness in the corruption trial of Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Bung Moktar Radin admitted in the Sessions Court yesterday that there were contradictions between his testimony in court and his recorded statements provided by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).During cross-examination by deputy public prosecutor Law Chin How, Public Mutual investment agent Madhi Abdul Hamid, 43, agreed that there had been a contradiction when he told the court there was no request for a commission by Bung at Hotel Continental on May 4, 2015, while his recorded statements in 2016 showed otherwise.“I agree there is a contradiction, but I did make a recorded statement to MACC on Feb 4, 2021, and the contents of that statement on May 4 are the same with my statement in court.“I gave two contradicting versions to MACC because I was stressed at the time. I had never been questioned in the MACC building and I only gave my statement based on what I felt and remembered at that time, because there were many statements,” he said, adding that MACC took his recorded statements on July 13, 14 and 25, as well as Oct 14, 2016, while the last statement was made almost five years later, on Feb 4, 2021.He also disagreed with Law that the recorded statement on Feb 4, 2021 was fabricated with the intention of saving the accused.The situation in court grew tense when deputy public prosecutor Mohd Sophian Zakaria pressed the witness about the contradictions in his statements relating to the RM3.5 million request by Bung.Sophian asked why such a material contradiction existed in the witness’ statement in court and his four recorded statements provided by MACC as he was not threatened or coerced into providing a statement.“After four years and four months, I made a new recorded statement with the MACC. I felt I just had the strength to provide the statement that was supposed to have been made because for four years I had been looking for the strength, I really could not work,” Madhi replied.Sophian also asked the witness to explain his actions in providing different statements, as his recorded statement previously provided to MACC involved the future of a political leader who was then charged in court.“The statement I gave was based on what I remembered and I remember better when I am calm,” he said.Madhi, the prosecution’s 24th witness, was questioned following judge Rozina Ayob’s decision to allow the prosecution to cross-examine him as a hostile witness after his Nov 26 statement in court contradicted his recorded statements when he was questioned by MACC.He had read his recorded statements earlier during the cross-examination, which stated that Bung had sought a commission of RM3.5 million as an inducement to obtain approval from Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Felcra) Bhd to invest RM150 million in the unit trust.Other details in the recorded statements included that the RM3.5 million Bung requested was part of the commission Madhi and another Public Mutual investment agent, Norhaili Ahmad Mokhtar, would receive from the deal.In his recorded statements, Madhi said that he and Norhaili informed Bung’s wife, Zizie Izette Abdul Samad, at Public Bank Taman Melawati that the bank only had RM2.2 million in cash on June 12, 2015, and that Norhaili told Zizie they could only provide RM2.8 million as they had many things to pay, including payments to the agent who would handle the Felcra Bhd account.“Zizie asked Norhaili to tell Bung himself as the money was sought by Bung and not herself. Norhaili then contacted Bung but I did not hear what was said.“After the call, Norhaili told Zizie that Bung agreed that the payment be reduced to RM2.8 million,” he said, reading the recorded statement, adding that he and Norhaili did not give the commission to Zizie.“The RM2.8 million was not a commission payment for Zizie. The RM2.8 million was sought by Bung, which I understood was a reward for Bung as he had assisted Norhaili and I in securing the investment from Felcra,” he read from his recorded statements.On May 3, 2019, Bung, who is also Kinabatangan MP, pleaded not guilty to two counts of receiving bribes worth RM2.2 million and RM262,500 as inducements to obtain Felcra’s approval to invest RM150 million in Public Mutual unit trust.Bung, 63, who was Felcra non-executive chairman at the time, allegedly received the bribe from Madhi through Zizie at Public Bank’s Taman Melawati branch between 12.30pm and 5pm, June 12, 2015.He also pleaded not guilty to receiving a cash bribe of RM335,500 from Norhaili under Zizie’s name for the same reason at the same place on June 19, 2015.Zizie, 43, meanwhile, pleaded not guilty to three charges of abetting her husband in the same matter at the same place, date and time.The hearing in front of Rozina will continue on Dec 20.


Biden dives into US oil reserves to reassure Americans on inflation

President Joe Biden tapped the US strategic oil reserves in a bid to reassure Americans angry about inflation and goods shortages as they head off to Thanksgiving – and to buoy up his sinking poll ratings.Facing growing discontent around the country over inflation and especially the soaring price of fuel in filling stations, Biden on Tuesday announced a coordinated plan with other big consumers to release national oil reserves onto the market.The White House said that following weeks of negotiations, “this release will be taken in parallel with other major energy consuming nations including China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea and the UK.”“It will take time but before long you should see the price of gas drop,” Biden said in a speech at the White House.Beijing and Tokyo confirmed Wednesday that they would join the US but gave few details.Despite the announcement, both main crude contracts surged soon after the news – WTI more than 2% and Brent more than 3% – with analysts saying the release had been well telegraphed but the amount was less than expected. And they extended the gains in Asian trade.While the US economy is rebounding strongly from the Covid-19 lockdowns, supply chain disruption and inflation is stirring anxiety as the holiday season begins with Thanksgiving on Thursday.“Moms and dads are worried asking will there be enough food we can afford to buy for the holidays? Will we be able to get Christmas presents to the kids on time?” Biden said, acknowledging that for many the price rises are “painful.”However, he pushed back at critics who accused him of failing to grasp the challenge. Biden noted that the two biggest trading ports, both in southern California, were now working 24/7, as opposed to just 40 hours a week.In the latest average of polls from fivethirtyeight.com, Biden’s approval rating is just 42.8, with 52.2% disapproving.Biden said the price of gasoline in the wholesale market has fallen by about 10% in the last few years but the price at the pump hasn’t budged.“In other words, gas supply companies are paying less and making a lot more,” he said, accusing companies of “pocketing the difference” between wholesale and retail prices.Republican opponents were not impressed with Biden’s reassurances on tapping the oil reserve.“Joe Biden’s failed leadership caused skyrocketing prices, and now American families are paying more for gas, groceries, and everything this Thanksgiving,” Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel said in a statement.Expensive holiday tripsUS employment is rapidly rising, wages are up and the stock market is climbing ever higher, but inflation, especially for fuel, is spoiling the mood.Average fuel prices at filling stations are US$3.41 a gallon, the highest level since 2014, according to latest figures from the AAA motorists’ association. This represents an increase of US$1.29 over gasoline prices a year ago.Like millions of Americans, Biden and his wife Jill are traveling to see family or friends ahead of Thanksgiving, although in his case it was to be on Air Force One later Tuesday for a short flight to the picturesque island of Nantucket.High transport costs are also juicing costs and scarcity throughout the economy, with supply issues impacting everything from second hand cars to clothing.Biden said the rough patch was temporary and that visions of empty shelves at Christmas would not come to pass.“Families can rest easy. Grocery stores are well stocked with turkey and everything, you know, (that) you need for Thanksgiving,” Biden said.Energy companies under scrutinyThe US strategic reserves, held in underground depots in Texas and Louisiana, are the largest emergency supply of oil in the world.A senior administration official said the releases would start in mid- to late December, and that further intervention was possible to steady the market, “responding to a once-in-a-century pandemic.”“The president stands ready to take additional action if needed and is prepared to use his full authorities, working in coordination with the rest of the world, to maintain adequate supply as we exit the pandemic.”Against a backdrop of rising output, oil prices have already dipped nearly 10% in the last few weeks. But officials echoed Biden’s repeatedly stated concerns that despite easing crude values, prices of gasoline for drivers have only gone up.A senior official speaking on condition of anonymity said the government was looking into “anti-competitive practices” and will “examine whether illegal conduct is costing families at the pump.”


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Villagers in rural Kedah fear fallout if quarry project continues

More than 1,500 villagers from Kampung Padang Che Mas in Baling, Kedah, are up in arms over a quarry project which they fear will not only cause environmental degradation but may even endanger their lives.The quarry activities are being planned along a stretch from Gunung Baling to Gunung Pulai – an area which, according to the villagers, is recognised as a green zone.Speaking to MalaysiaNow, Abdul Mutalib Zakaria also said that his village is a hotspot for eco-tourism in Baling.He hopes the project can be cancelled due to its close proximity to his village.“Quarry activities will be carried out about 3km from our village,” he said, adding that he was initially informed that the bulldozers which arrived to clear a route through the area would do so for research purposes.Kampung Padang Che Mas lies close to Gunung Pulai in Baling, Kedah, an area which they say has been gazetted as a forest reserve.“When we met them, they said the route was to take rock samples for research. At first, the route from the foot of the hill was only 1km but it has now stretched beyond 3km to the peak.”The quarry site is expected to take up 26.3 hectares of space.‘No permit of approval’Another villager, Mohd Khairi Zakaria, said he was told by the Baling land and district office that there was no permit of approval for any quarry activities around the area.“How can this project be approved when there is no permit?” he said while questioning whether the companies had “intruded” into the area without the knowledge of the district officer.“In order to start a quarry project, discussions must be held with the land and district office before any decision is made.”Khairi said Kedah Chief Minister Muhammad Sanudi Md Nor had also informed him that the quarry in Gua Sirih would be cancelled.“That was long ago in the 1970s when the area was not as densely populated. It’s different now,” he said.Khairi said he had sent a memorandum to the chief minister’s office, the environment exco, the director of the environmental department and the director of the Kedah lands and mines department.Villagers walk past equipment which they say is used to drill holes through the limestone hills in which explosives are then placed.“I reached out to the environment and water minister, Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, and he asked us to be patient until we receive a response from the state government,” he said.“He said this matter should be referred to the state government first.”A recent visit to the area by MalaysiaNow found that the quarry activities had stopped although the impact on the environment was clear.‘Bomb-like sound’Kamarudin Azit, another villager from Kampung Padang Che Mas, is afraid that the project will endanger their lives.“While I was out rubber tapping, I heard a huge explosion that sounded like a bomb. It shocked me and almost made me lose my balance,” he said.“It’s even more dangerous as the rubber plantation is on an incline. It’s a hilly area and there could be an accident if we panic.”He said he has heard such explosions several times now. Each time they occur, rocks and debris falls onto the villagers’ farms and gardens.A villager points towards a hole in the hill where explosives are placed in order to clear a route.Environmental activist Mohd Sobri Ramlee has his concerns about the project as well. Sobri, from Sahabat Alam Sik, said it would affect the ecosystem and cause noise and dust pollution to boot.“Gunung Baling is a landmark in the area,” he said. “If the quarry project proceeds, it will be gone.”In a Facebook post, he said the villagers had heard the first explosion on March 15, adding that it had traumatised the children and the elderly among them.He also voiced concern over the impact on the livestock and livelihoods of the villagers.“The explosives and the extracting process of the limestone will produce fine particles in the air,” he said. “According to experts, it could cause lung cancer and perhaps even death.”He said important historical artefacts could be found at Gua Sireh which he said could be explored and further researched.“The national heritage department also discovered a 17,000-year-old artefact around the Gunung Pulai area,” he said.


Improvements, amendments to judges appointment body welcome, says chief justice

The judiciary welcomes improvements or amendments to the Judicial Appointments Commission Act (JAC) 2009 to ensure that it is completely independent of the executive body, says Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat.
However, she said the provisions related to the appointment of judges in the Federal Constitution must also be examined, in line with the amendments and improvements to the JAC.
"In other words, we will not achieve the purpose of having a situation where the appointment of judges is completely independent of the executive body if the existing provision in the Federal Constitution which stipulates that the appointment of judges must go through a negotiation process with the prime minister remains," she told reporters after the opening ceremony for the 2023 legal year in Putrajaya yesterday.
It was previously reported that the Conference of Rulers had proposed that the appointment of five of the nine members of the JAC no longer be made by the prime minister, so that the composition of the commission is more balanced and does not carry the interests of any party.
The Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, who chaired the 260th Conference of Rulers meeting, said in terms of the judicial system, the Conference of Rulers was responsible for the appointment of judges in Malaysia. At present, he said, the process was seen as having weaknesses that could be improved, including with regards to JAC's membership.
On the Malaysian Bar's proposal to raise the retirement age of judges from 65 to 70, Tengku Maimun said she had never discussed the matter.
"We have not discussed the retirement age for judges. There is no decision taken collectively, but I suppose there is no harm in exploring the matter.
"If some judges feel that the current is the ideal age, they can always retire early without waiting for the mandatory retirement age," said Tengku Maimun.
When asked about an increase in judges' salaries, Tengku Maimun said this had not happened since she assumed the position of chief justice, adding that the last salary increment for judges was in 2017, before her appointment.
"I believe the salary review should come from the judiciary before the proposal paper is submitted to the government," she added.


Colombia will not extradite criminals who negotiate govt deals, says president

Colombian President Gustavo Petro proposed on Wednesday that drug traffickers who comply with government surrender conditions and abandon the trade will not be extradited to face charges abroad.
Petro, who was sworn in this month on promises to bring "total peace" to Colombia, said his government is in touch with various armed groups who want to negotiate their way out of conflict.
Leftist Petro has broadly questioned the effectiveness of extradition, a legal tool that the US considers a powerful deterrent to crime.
His government has floated an offer of legal benefits like reduced sentences to crime gang members who provide information about drug trafficking and lay down arms.
"Drug traffickers who do not negotiate with the state will be extradited, drug traffickers who negotiate with the state and re-offend will be extradited, without any kind of negotiation, to the US," Petro told reporters after a meeting with visiting Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
"Drug traffickers who negotiate legal benefits with the Colombian state and definitively stop being drug traffickers will not be extradited," he said.
The government is in communication with various armed groups including the Clan del Golfo crime gang and dissidents from the now-demobilised Farc rebel group, who reject a 2016 peace deal.
"We're full of letters, written words asking for peace, asking to negotiate," Petro said.
Members of a US delegation on a visit to Colombia this week said the Biden administration recognises a shared responsibility for the drug trade and the need to tackle it without hurting already vulnerable populations.
Petro proposed three other points regarding drug policy with the visiting delegation, including crop substitution, interdiction, and tackling money laundering, Rahul Gupta, director of the US White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, told a news conference.
The proposed ending of extradition needed to be discussed with Colombian ministries, US Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Todd Robinson told the news conference.
"This is obviously something that the Department of Justice will have to discuss with the ministry of justice and the State Department will have to discuss with the foreign ministry," Robinson said.


Dewan Rakyat to focus on govt plans for postponing, scrapping new projects

The government's plans for postponing or cancelling new projects are expected to be the focus of today's Dewan Rakyat sitting.
According to the Order Paper uploaded on the Parliament's official website, the topic will be raised by Ahmad Fahmi Mohamed Fadzil (PH-Lembah Pantai), who will ask the prime minister to name the projects with cost savings involved during ministerial question time.
Also listed is a question to be posed by Wong Hon Wai (PH-Bukit Bendera) to the defence minister on the form of the trilateral cooperative arrangement among the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia and whether military cooperation will be extended to other Asean countries.
During the question and answer session, Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PAS-Pasir Mas) will ask the prime minister to state the total amount of allocations for flood relief channelled to affected states for the victims of the 2021/2022 northeast monsoon floods.
Mohd Hatta Md Ramli (PH-Lumut) will ask the works minister to state the measures taken to address the issue of the 50,000 Bumiputera contractors who will soon go bankrupt due to the increase in the price of construction materials.
After the session, the health ministry is expected to table the Poisons (Amendment) Bill 2022 for the second reading and to be debated by MPs.
The Constitution (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2022 and the Provision on Prohibition of MPs Switching Parties meanwhile is listed as item number six on the Order Paper.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar earlier said that the bill was proposed for debate on July 27 and 28, subject to the discretion of the Parliament speaker.
He also said the meeting had proposed a timeline for the engagement of the Legal Affairs Division and the Attorney-General's Chambers with government MPs to be held on July 25 and with opposition MPs on July 26.
Wan Junaidi said after obtaining the approval of the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara, the bill would be presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong between Aug 11 and 26 for approval and is expected to be gazetted between Aug 29 and Sept 2.
The current Dewan Rakyat sitting will run for 12 days until Aug 4.


New UK aircraft carrier strike force sailing for Asia next month

A fleet of British warships and military aircraft billed as the “largest concentration of maritime and air power to leave the UK in a generation” will depart next month for visits to India, Japan, South Korea and Singapore.The voyage will be a display of Britain’s ambition to exert a much stronger presence in Asia, reports the Associated Press.New aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, the most powerful surface vessel in the Royal Navy’s history, will be accompanied by six Royal Navy ships, a submarine armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles, 14 naval helicopters and a force of Royal Marines.The carrier, named after the first Queen Elizabeth, who reigned in the 16th century, weighs 65,000 tonnes and has a top speed of 25 knots. The carrier and its sister ship HMS Prince of Wales cost more than US$8 billion to build.“The mission aims to show that Britain is not stepping back but sailing forth to play an active role in shaping the international system,” Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said on Monday. “It will help deepen security and political ties and support Britain’s exports and international trade.”Wallace noted China’s increasingly assertive military build-up, but said the deployment was not meant to be “confrontational”.“We are not going to the other side of the world to be provocative. We will sail through the South China Sea, we will be confident but not confrontational,” he told Parliament.The deployment is expected to last about six months and visit more than 40 countries. It will take part in dozens of engagements, including an exercise to mark the 50th anniversary of the Five Power Defence Arrangements with Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.Last month, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the Indo-Pacific region will become Britain’s defence and foreign policy focus as the UK reconsiders its place in the world order after leaving the European Union.


Guan Eng in self-quarantine, graft trial postponed

Lim Guan Eng’s corruption trial has been postponed to Sept 22 as he is undergoing self-quarantine after coming into close contact with a Covid-19 patient.His lawyer Gobind Singh Deo told the court that his client was ordered to self-quarantine for 10 days from Sept 1 to 10.“I hereby request for a postponement for the trial which should take place from today until Sept 10. We apologise for all convenience caused,” the lawyer said.With no objection from deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi allowed the postponement and ordered the trial to resume as scheduled from Sept 22 to 24.Lim is facing four charges related to the undersea tunnel and major road construction projects in Penang.On the first amended charge, Lim is accused of using his position as then Penang chief minister to obtain a bribe of RM3.3 million for helping a company secure the construction projects worth RM6,341,383,702. The offence was allegedly committed between January 2011 and August 2017 at the Penang Chief Minister’s Office.On the second amended charge, Lim is accused of soliciting bribes amounting to 10% of the profits earned by the company as gratification to secure the project. The offence was allegedly committed near The Gardens Hotel, Lingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City, between 12.30am and 2am in March 2011.The Bagan MP also faces two charges of causing two plots of land belonging to the Penang government, worth RM208.8 million, to be disposed of to two companies linked to the state’s undersea tunnel project. The offences were allegedly committed at the Penang Land and Mines Office, Level 21, Komtar, on Feb 17, 2015, and March 22, 2017.


No expiry date for govt-PH MoU, says Annuar

The government’s memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Pakatan Harapan (PH) has no “expiry date”, Communications and Multimedia Minister Annuar Musa says.Annuar, who was part of the committee on the negotiation and implementation of the MoU, said the deal had instead stated that the government and PH agreed not to hold the 15th general election (GE15) before July 31.“The MoU has no expiry date, many who misunderstand need to be corrected. What was agreed was that GE15 cannot be held before July 31.“But the MoU with the MPs, including the opposition, with the government, specifically the prime minister (Ismail Sabri Yaakob) has no expiry date, and the MoU provides for backing for the PM until Parliament is dissolved.“Upon dissolution, it’s up to the prime minister and the leadership to decide,” he told reporters in Kota Kinabalu last night.On Sept 13, 2021, the federal government and PH had inked an MoU to establish bipartisan cooperation covering the areas of strengthening the plan to fight Covid-19, transformation of the administration, parliamentary reforms, ensuring judicial independence, the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the formation of a steering committee.Asked for a suitable date for the dissolution of Parliament and the holding of GE15, Annuar said it shouldn’t be so late that it gave Barisan Nasional (BN) opponents an advantage, and not so early that the party itself was not sufficiently prepared.“It will be held when we are ready. The party leadership will decide when that will be.“Preparation is in terms of organisation, data collation, funding and the situation the people are in. If we do it (hold GE15) when the people are suffering, we won’t feel happy… all these have to be studied in detail,” he said.Earlier this week, Ismail said he would not delay even for a second the dissolution of Parliament to make way for GE15 if BN was ready.


France protesters defy bans to rally against police violence

Around 2,000 people defied a ban to join a memorial rally in central Paris Saturday for a young black man who died in police custody, while marches took place throughout France to denounce police brutality, as tensions run high after days of rioting engulfed the country.
Nationwide, around 5,900 people took to the streets, according to the interior ministry.
Seven years after the death of Adama Traore, his sister had planned to lead an annual commemorative march north of Paris in Persan and Beaumont-sur-Oise.
But fearful of reigniting recent unrest sparked by the police killing of 17-year-old Nahel M at a traffic stop near Paris, a court ruled the chance of public disturbance was too high to allow the march to proceed.
In a video posted on Twitter, Assa Traore, Adama's older sister, denounced the decision.
"The government has decided to add fuel to the fire" and "not to respect the death of my little brother", she said.
She instead attended a rally in central Paris's Place de la Republique to tell "the whole world that our dead have the right to exist, even in death".
"We are marching for the youth to denounce police violence. They want to hide our deaths," she said at the rally, also attended by several lawmakers.
"They authorise marches by neo-Nazis but they don't allow us to march. France cannot give us moral lessons. Its police is racist and violent," she said.
The Paris rally had also been banned on the grounds that it could disrupt public order and a legal case has been opened against Assa Traore for organising the event, police said.
Youssouf Traore, another of Assa Tarore's brothers, was arrested and taken into custody on suspicion of violence against a person holding public authority, public prosecutors told AFP.
"The march went off peacefully, it was a success, we don't understand his arrest," Assa Traore said.
Jean-Luc Melenchon, the outspoken head of the radical leftist France Unbowed party, castigated the government on Twitter.
"From prohibition to repression... the leader is taking France to a regime we have already seen. Danger. Danger," he tweeted, referring to the World War II regime of Vichy leader Philippe Petain who collaborated with the Nazis.
Many at the rally shouted "Justice for Nahel" before calmly dispersing later in the afternoon.
Around 30 demonstrations against police violence also took place across France, including in the southern port city of Marseille and in Strasbourg in the east. Authorities in Lille banned a gathering.
Grief and anger
Several trade unions, political parties and associations had called on supporters to join the march for Traore as France reels from allegations of institutionalised racism in its police ranks following Nahel's shooting.
Traore, who was 24 years old, died shortly after his arrest in 2016, sparking several nights of unrest that played out similarly to the week-long rioting that erupted across the country in the wake of the point-blank shooting of Nahel.
The teenager's death on June 27 rekindled long-standing accusations of systemic racism among security forces, and a UN committee urged France to ban racial profiling.
The foreign ministry on Saturday disputed what it called "excessive" and "unfounded" remarks by the panel.
The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination – 18 independent experts – on Friday asked France to pass legislation defining and banning racial profiling and questioned "excessive use of force by law enforcement".
"Any ethnic profiling by law enforcement is banned in France," the ministry responded, adding that "the struggle against excesses in racial profiling has intensified".
Far-right parties have linked the most intense and widespread riots France has seen since 2005 to mass migration and have demanded curbs on new arrivals.
More than 3,700 people have been taken into police custody in connection with the protests since Nahel's death, including at least 1,160 minors, according to official figures.


Anti-hopping bill doesn't apply to senators, PM says

The Constitution (Amendment) (No.3) Bill prohibiting MPs from switching parties does not apply to senators or the members of Dewan Negara.
Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, when tabling the bill for a second reading at the Dewan Negara today, said the matter was agreed on by the special select committee after taking into consideration several issues.
"This is because there are two categories of members of the Dewan Negara, namely those appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and those selected by their state based on their membership in the state legislative assembly representing their respective political parties.
"Therefore, the provision to ban party-hopping at this level does not apply to the members of Dewan Negara, taking into consideration several aspects of the legislation at the state level, as well as the fact that it requires consultation and consent from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong if it involves members who were appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
"All senators and other stakeholders will be provided with an explanation through an engagement session before the amendment to the constitution on party-hopping is made for members of Dewan Negara," he said.
He also reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring political stability and preventing the country from facing a continuous political crisis through the tabling of the bill.
He said he was also confident that the amendment bill was capable of stopping any elected representative from changing parties without valid or reasonable excuse, hence ensuring political stability in the country in the long run.
"I have high hopes that the bill will be supported and passed unanimously by the members of the Dewan Negara in the spirit of Keluarga Malaysia.
"This bill is indeed a historic political milestone for the country as it was formulated through consultation and discussions between the two blocs – the government and the opposition," he said.
On July 28, the constitutional amendment dubbed the anti-hopping bill was passed by the Dewan Rakyat after receiving two-thirds majority support from the members through a bloc vote.


Zahid would help after receiving money, ex-UKSB director tells court

The Shah Alam High Court was told yesterday that Ahmad Zahid Hamidi would assist Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB) after receiving financial assistance from the company.Former UKSB director Wan Quoris Shah Wan Abdul Ghani, 42, said he would not have given the money if Zahid had not given support and assistance.At previous proceedings, Wan Quoris told the court that the financial assistance he gave to Zahid was aimed at strengthening UKSB’s position as a contractor for the home ministry.During examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, Wan Quoris, the 16th prosecution witness, said the contributions were received by Zahid between 2014 and 2018.Wan Shaharuddin: How much money did you give Zahid every time you met him?Wan Quoris: I do not remember much. I can only remember a few times, especially those occasions when I brought about S$300,000.Before this, the 15th prosecution witness, former UKSB director Harry Lee Vui Khun, told the court that UKSB sent cash to Zahid each month in Singapore dollars from 2014 to 2018 in connection with the foreign visa system (VLN) contract.Meanwhile, during cross-examination, Wan Quoris agreed with Zahid’s lawyer, Hamidi Mohd Nor, that UKSB could not give financial contributions as bribes or expensive gifts based on the company’s net profit and cash in bank from 2014 to 2018.Hamidi said he was making the suggestion as the company’s financial statement in 2014 showed that it recorded a profit of about RM625,000 while cash in bank was RM1.5 million.“In 2015, UKSB’s profit was about RM114,000 with cash of RM2.8 million, followed by RM4.9 million profit and cash of RM4.6 million in 2016, RM12.8 million profit and RM9 million cash in 2017, and RM351,000 profit and RM1.3 million cash in 2018,” he added.Hamidi also mentioned the names of several individuals, including former youth and sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin, which were listed in UKSB’s ledger.The UKSB ledger, also known as “Buku 555”, tendered at the trial, contained records of payments made by UKSB to several individuals between 2014 and 2018.The witness also agreed with the lawyer that there was a payment of more than RM15,000 made by UKSB for boarding a helicopter in 2015.Hamidi: The payment was for Khairy and you to ride a helicopter?Wan Quoris: Yes, during disasters.Zahid, 69, faces 33 charges of receiving bribes amounting to S$13.56 million from UKSB for himself as home minister to extend the contract of the company as the operator of OSC service in China and the VLN system, as well as to maintain the contract agreement to supply the VLN integrated system to the same company by the home ministry.On another seven counts, he was charged with obtaining for himself S$1,150,000, RM3 million, 15,000 euros and US$15,000 from the same company which had official links with his official duty.He was charged with committing the offences at Seri Satria, Precinct 16, Putrajaya, and Country Heights Kajang between October 2014 and March 2018.The trial before judge Mohd Yazid Mustafa continues today.


Daily cases inch over 4,300

Another 4,362 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 2,711,764.Another 5,098 patients recovered, bringing total recoveries to 2,625,245.Meanwhile 400 are in the ICU, including 315 confirmed Covid-19 patients.A total of 198 are in need of respiratory assistance including 143 confirmed Covid-19 cases.Of the 4,362 cases reported today, 89 (2.0%) are in Category Three and above. The remaining 4,273 (98.0%) are in Category One and Two.


Daily caseload dips to 24,200 as 59 more deaths logged

Another 24,241 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 3,951,678.There were 26,615 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 3,623,068.There are now 294,366 active cases, of which 284,592 or 96.7% are undergoing home quarantine.Meanwhile, 1,791 (0.6%) are at quarantine centres while 7,600 (2.6%) have been hospitalised.A total of 383 are in ICU with 222 in need of respiratory assistance. ICU utilisation throughout the country stands at 59.7%, with Covid ICU utilisation at 43.2%.Another 59 deaths were reported, including 13 who were brought in dead. Total deaths now stand at 34,244.


Muhyiddin charged with receiving RM5 million from unlawful activities

Former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin was charged at the Shah Alam Sessions Court today with receiving RM5 million in proceeds from unlawful activities.
The Bersatu president pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out to him before judge Rozilah Salleh.
"I understand the charge. I plead not guilty," he said.
Muhyiddin, as Bersatu president, was alleged to have received proceeds from unlawful activities amounting to RM5 million from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, said to be deposited into the party's AmBank account at the bank’s Amcorp Mall branch, Petaling Jaya on Jan 7, 2022.
The Pagoh MP was charged under Section 4(1)(b) read together with Section 87(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, the penalty of which is provided for under Section 4(1) of the same act.
The section provides for a maximum jail term of 15 years and a fine of up to five times the sum or value of the proceeds from the unlawful activities or RM5 million, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission asked the court to adopt the RM2 million bail with two sureties and additional condition set by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court last week.
"I also request that this case be transferred to the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court since it is related to another case there, the mention date of which has been set for May 26," he said.
Muhyiddin’s lawyer K Kumaraendran did not object to the application.
Rozilah agreed to use the bail amount and additional condition set by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court, namely that Muhyiddin surrender his passport to the court, and allowed the case to be transferred.
On March 10, Muhyiddin pleaded not guilty at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court to four charges of corruption amounting to RM232.5 million and two counts of money laundering involving RM195 million.
The prosecution was also conducted by deputy public prosecutors Mohd Fadhly Mohd Zamry, Zander Lim Wai Keong, Kalai Vani Annadorai and Maziah Mohaide.
Muhyiddin meanwhile was also represented by lawyers Chetan Jethwani, Dev Kumaraendran, Amiratu Al Amirat Saleh Mohamed Garbaa, Mohamad Isa Mohamad Basir, Teh See Khoon, Varsha Chelvi and Raja Syuhada Raja Khairuddin.


Fresh from Sabah win, GRS still undecided on Batu Sapi polls

Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) has yet to decide whether to contest the Batu Sapi by-election, a day after Barisan Nasional (BN) said it would withdraw from the race over concerns on the spike in Covid-19 cases.Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu said parties supporting Perikatan Nasional in the GRS coalition would need to meet to discuss the matter.“We will have to wait and see, given the increase in Covid-19 cases,” he told MalaysiaNow.GRS, comprising PN, BN and PBS, recently won the Sabah election, toppling the Warisan Plus coalition which had led the state since Pakatan Harapan’s victory in the 2018 polls.The Batu Sapi seat fell vacant last Friday with the death of incumbent MP Liew Vui Keong.PCS, led by former foreign minister Anifah Aman, has also withdrawn from the contest. Its secretary-general Ansari Abdullah said the decision was made after taking into consideration public safety, given the increase in positive cases in the state.He said Sabah could not afford a further increase in cases if campaigning and voting commences for the by-election.“We pray that Sabah and its people will be protected from the spread of Covid-19,” he said in a statement on Facebook.“For us, the lives and safety of the people take precedence over all political considerations.“Sabah is being flooded with new cases, and it is clear that the SOPs issued for the recent state election failed to curb the transmission of Covid-19.”The Election Commission has already said that a by-election will be held for the Batu Sapi seat in line with Article 54, Clause (1) of the Federal Constitution.However, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said yesterday that the coalition would not contest the seat, in order to prevent further infections especially in Sabah.


Long break over, Langkawi ready to welcome back thousands in ‘new norm’ tourism

The holiday island of Langkawi is bracing for the arrival of thousands of tourists as Malaysians eager for a break from pandemic restrictions begin planning for a good dose of sun, sea and sand after months of virus lockdown.MalaysiaNow understands that hotels and resorts have already received thousands of bookings following the government’s announcement that Langkawi would reopen to visitors as part of a travel bubble scheme to restart the tourism industry.The Langkawi Tourism Association (LTA) said hotels registered with it have received some 6,000 bookings, and expects to make about RM24 million in the first three days.“We estimate some 24,000 tourists will come in the first three days after Sept 16,” said the association’s CEO Zainudin Kadir, referring to the date set by Putrajaya for the reopening of the resort island.Langkawi was closed off to visitors early this year after the detection of tourism-linked clusters.Zainudin reckons the island has suffered losses of more than RM1 billion since then.But while tourism operators are eager to begin welcoming back visitors, he said those who come to the island must not lie about their vaccination status.Only tourists who have been fully vaccinated are allowed to visit Langkawi, and entrance checks will be strict.Zainudin said the entrance at the jetty and the airport would be tightly monitored to make sure that only those who have completed their vaccination are allowed in.“Tourists must have completed 14 days since receiving their second jab,” he said.“If anyone is found to have flouted this rule, they will not be allowed to enter. We will tell them to turn back.”Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced last week that Langkawi had been chosen as a pilot project for the travel bubble programme.Zainudin said those looking for their first getaway in months could make hotel reservations and enter the island through the Langkawi International Airport or the Kuala Perlis jetty.The Kuala Kedah jetty remains closed for now due to the implementation of enhanced movement control order in the area, scheduled to end on Sept 19.Zainudin said there would be no room for compromise, even if tourists beg to be let in.“We will conduct screening tests and temperature checks using infrared scanners,” he said.“Anyone who has a high temperature will be barred from entering as well.”The LTA will also station squads at entrances as well as resorts to ensure that tourists comply with the SOPs, especially on maintaining a safe distance.No limit has been set on the number of tourists allowed into the island, but resorts must cap their visitors at 50% of their premise capacity.Such measures are a far cry from pre-pandemic times when hotels and homestays would be packed with tourists, especially during peak season.The idea of being constantly monitored may also be a turn-off for some eager to leave the pandemic behind.But for now, this appears to be the new norm for tourism, and most would-be travellers appear undaunted.The association anticipates the addition of extra flights to the island once the programme begins, as families flock to Langkawi’s famous beaches for a breath of fresh air. Even children will be allowed in as long as the rest of their family have been fully jabbed.Their long break finally over, hotel operators and service providers have been brushing up on their customer relations skills and have all attended a course on how to receive visitors again under Covid-19 restrictions.All that’s needed now is for the tourists to begin arriving.


Agong undergoing medical procedure, follow-up care at IJN

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah has consented to undergo a medical procedure and follow-up examination at the National Heart Institute (IJN) for several days, starting today.
Comptroller of the Royal Household for Istana Negara Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, in a statement, said the king would return to Istana Negara after undergoing the follow-up examination, which is expected to be completed this weekend.
"His Majesty’s health is generally good and not worrying," he said.
Fadil said Sultan Abdullah was scheduled to undergo the procedure in mid-September, but that it had to be postponed.
This was due to the king and queen's five-day visit to London, UK, from Sept 16, to attend the state funeral ceremony of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
"The people are urged to pray that the procedure and follow-up examination will go smoothly and that His Majesty is granted lasting good health," said Fadil.


Daily caseload still hovers at 1,800 as 2 more deaths reported

Another 1,877 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 4,510,196.There were 1,715 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,451,308.There are now 23,208 active cases, of which 22,204 or 95.7% are undergoing home quarantine.Meanwhile, 30 (0.1%) are at quarantine centres while 945 (4.1%) have been hospitalised.A total of 29 are in ICU with 17 in need of respiratory assistance. ICU utilisation throughout the country stands at 60.7%, with Covid ICU utilisation at 6.2%.Another two deaths were reported. Total deaths now stand at 35,680.


China gifts Vietnam 500,000 Sinopharm Covid-19 jabs

Vietnam has received a shipment of half a million Sinopharm vaccine doses donated by China, the health ministry said on Sunday, as the country is increasing inoculations to battle a persistent outbreak.Vietnam approved China’s Sinopharm vaccine for emergency use against Covid-19 in early June, Reuters is reporting.The vaccines will be used for three groups: Chinese citizens in Vietnam, Vietnamese who have plan to work or study in China and people who live near the borders with China, the health ministry said in a statement.Vietnam’s domestic inoculation programme, which started in March, has so far relied heavily on around four million shots of AstraZeneca’s vaccine.Nearly 2.4 million people in Vietnam have had one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, while just over 100,000 have been fully vaccinated, according to official data.The country of 98 million also received a batch of nearly one million AstraZeneca doses of vaccine donated by the Japanese government on June 16.Vietnam is tackling a stubborn wave of infections. The country’s business hub, Ho Chi Minh City, on Sunday banned public gatherings of more than three people and imposed lockdown orders on some virus-prone areas.Vietnam’s latest outbreak, which includes the highly transmissible Delta coronavirus variant, has accounted for about 75% of its overall cases during the pandemic, with just under 10,000 infections and 31 fatalities since late April.Vietnam had been calling on the World Health Organization (WHO) to speed up the Covax vaccine drive as the country’s new daily infections hit record highs.The country successfully contained outbreaks for most of last year, but the new outbreak prompted calls for the government to accelerate its vaccination programme.Vu Duc Dam, head of the country’s Covid-19 task force, urged WHO to accelerate the transfer of vaccine manufacturing technology so Vietnam can become one of the vaccine production hubs in the region.WHO said last month it was reviewing a proposal by an unidentified vaccine manufacturer in Vietnam to become an mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccine technology hub.


RM13 million losses as only 28 of 136 ventilators procured could be used, audit report shows

Only 28 of the 136 ventilators obtained by the health ministry through the emergency procurement procedure could be used, according to the Auditor-General's Report for the Year 2021 Series 2 released yesterday.
The remaining 108 units, supplied by a company only referred to as 260790-T, could not be used because they were unsuitable and unsafe for patients.
The ministry returned only 15 of them to the manufacturer while compensation amounting to RM13.07 million for the other 93 units could not be claimed because there was no procurement documentation between company 260790-T and the health ministry. "No documents related to ventilator procurement transactions were submitted to the auditors, who were also unable to confirm the role and responsibility of company 260790-T as a company managing the procurement of ventilators and who dealt with the manufacturers," the report said.
Auditor-General Nik Azman Nik Abdul Majid earlier said findings from the audit report revealed that 93 ventilators at government hospitals were found to be non-functioning and did not meet the required standards.
He said the health ministry in response had also said that the machines could not be modified as they were purchased off the shelf and without warranty, and that attempts by contractors to fix them had been unsuccessful.
The audit report also stated that the ventilator procurement process was initiated after the Cabinet on March 25, 2020 agreed to give an exception to the health ministry to acquire 500 additional ventilator units from company 260790-T to meet an urgent need for them at the time.
The procurement, estimated at RM50 million, was made through the emergency procurement procedures under Treasury Circular (PB) 3.3 and Treasury Directive 99.
However, based on health ministry procurement records, the company was only able to supply 136 ventilator units at a procurement cost of RM20.1 million, which was later revised to RM24.07 million on Sept 1, 2020.
The report also stated that the health ministry spent a total of RM4.462 billion on the procurement of 75.88 million doses of Comirnaty, AstraZeneca, CoronaVac and Convidecia vaccines up until April 2022.
However, the audit report revealed that of that number, 11.59 million doses were not used and 1.1 million doses expired between one and 212 days.
It said the health ministry had a significant excess in stock of personal protective equipment which caused storage problems and which potentially could not be used due to their expiry dates.


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Ikea stores owner Ingka starts on first NZ store

Ikea stores owner Ingka group has announced the official start of work on its delayed first store in New Zealand, which it predicts will be followed by other outlets as the Asia-Pacific region recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic and macro-economic shocks.
In a filing in 2022 the company referred to a proposed opening date of December 2024, but the store in Auckland, New Zealand's biggest city, is now expected to open late in 2025.
Head of Retail at Ingka group Tolga Oncu told Reuters preliminary opening dates were often subject to change.
"These are long projects so quite often the original intent of when you actually can open doesn't become the reality," Oncu said, adding that the macro-economic situation in the last three years has been extraordinary.
Oncu said Asia is a fast growing market - with the latest six-to-eight months showing a positive development - helped by China's reopening after Covid-19.
Asked about possible stores in other parts of New Zealand, Oncu said he did not expect the one in Auckland to be enough.
"So one can expect that Ikea in the long term is going to continue to look for opportunities to expand in New Zealand," he said.
Although the store will be geographically furthest away from Ikea's main operations in Europe, Ingka said the company could mitigate the logistics impact through existing operations in Australia.
"We have learned how to manage that, how to become more effective, efficient, more sustainable, but of course I can't shy away from the fact that every kilometre comes with a price tag," Oncu said.
Globally, there are more than 450 Ikea stores, most of which are owned by the Ingka group. The rest are controlled by other franchisees.
The group was hard hit by supply chain issues and raw materials costs linked to the pandemic as one of the world's biggest users of wood.


Chocolate giant Ferrero to stop buying palm oil from Sime Darby over labour concerns

Italian confectionary giant Ferrero said it will stop sourcing palm oil from Sime Darby Plantation after the US customs service found the Malaysian planter used forced labour, in a reputational blow for the palm producer and for Malaysia.Labour practices across Malaysia have come under scrutiny in the past two years, with six companies including Sime Darby banned by US customs over forced labour allegations.Palm oil, the most widely used vegetable oil, is a key ingredient in Ferrero Rocher chocolates and Nutella spread, giving the iconic products their smooth texture and shelf life.“On April 6, we requested all our direct suppliers to stop supplying Ferrero with palm oil and palm kernel oil sourced indirectly from Sime Darby, until further notice,” Ferrero told Reuters by email.“Ferrero will comply with the US Customs and Border Protection’s decision,” it said.Although Ferrero buys relatively little of the edible oil from Sime Darby, its move – following similar halts by Hershey Co HSY.N and General Mills Inc last year – is a further reputational blow for Sime Darby and for Malaysia, which faces mounting allegations of labour abuses of migrant workers in various industries.Sime Darby told Reuters it has taken steps in the area of human rights and that all its stakeholders who are committed to sustainability can be assured of its commitment and leadership in the industry. Ferrero is not a customer, it added.“We are also in regular communication with all key stakeholders, particularly customers who have their own commitments,” it said.Ferrero, responding to queries this week from Reuters about suppliers receiving its requests to stop buying from Sime Darby, said it does not buy directly from the firm, which it said supplies 0.25% of its palm oil volumes.Following a 2020 decision that indicated “forced labour indicators” at Sime Darby, US Customs and Border Protection said in January it had sufficient evidence of forced labour and that the firm’s goods were subject to seizure.Ferrero said its products and brands in the US had stopped sourcing from Sime Darby in January 2021.Sime Darby, seen as the leader in sustainably produced palm oil, has promised “sweeping changes” to its governance and some labour practices following the US finding.Palm oil is one of the world’s cheapest and fastest-growing vegetable oils, used in products from food to cosmetics to biodiesel. But the industry has faced scrutiny over the years for widespread deforestation in Southeast Asia and exploitation of migrant workers.Migrant workers from countries like Indonesia, India and Bangladesh account for around 80% of the palm oil labour force in Malaysia, the world’s biggest producer of the commodity after neighbouring Indonesia.Ferrero says it uses only certified sustainable palm oil. It sources 85% of its palm oil from Malaysia, which traditionally has a better reputation for its sustainability than Indonesia.


New cases creep past 5,000

Another 5,020 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 2,673,019.Another 4,525 patients recovered, bringing total recoveries to 2,581,395.Meanwhile 428 are in the ICU, including 359 confirmed Covid-19 patients.A total of 237 are in need of respiratory assistance including 159 confirmed Covid-19 cases.Of the 5,020 cases reported today, 87 (1.7%) are in Category Three and above. The remaining 4,933 (98.3%) are in Category One and Two.


Ex-Goldman Sachs banker seeks mercy in 1MDB case

Roger Ng, the former Goldman Sachs Group Inc banker convicted for helping to embezzle the 1MDB sovereign wealth fund, appealed to a New York court on Saturday not to force him to spend more time in prison.
In anticipation of his sentencing hearing scheduled for March 9, Ng's lawyers asked the court to show mercy and to sentence him to the prison time he has already served in Malaysia.
Ng, Goldman's former head of investment banking in Malaysia, spent six months in a Malaysian prison before he was picked up by the US authorities on Nov 1, 2018, according to the court filing.
In October 2020, Goldman agreed to pay US$2.9 billion (RM12.86 billion) and its Malaysian unit pleaded guilty to a corruption charge, to settle probes into the looting of billions of dollars from 1MDB and payment of bribes to win business for the Wall Street bank.
A federal jury in Brooklyn convicted Ng in April last year of conspiring to violate an anti-bribery law and commit money laundering. Ng faces up to 30 years in prison.
"Stripped of his dignity in a Malaysian prison, he has been made to be sick, afraid, alone and hopeless, and still suffers the debilitating effects of PTSD," the lawyers said while they asked the judge to allow him to return to Malaysia, where he is still subject to criminal charges related to the massive theft of Malaysian funds.
Reuters was not immediately able reach prison officials to comment on the conditions.
Prosecutors said that he helped his former boss Tim Leissner embezzle money from the fund, launder the proceeds and bribe officials to win business for Goldman.
"Ng's role in the offence was minimal, and the only claim to the contrary was provided by Tim Leissner, who was patently incredible," the defence said in the court filing.


Govt plans automatic registration as it announces major steps to boost vaccination programme

The government is considering an automatic registration system for vaccination to facilitate the people in signing up under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said today.“I have also asked the Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee (JKJAV) to review the registration process for vaccination to make it easier, including the suggestion for the implementation of an automatic system to ensure that as many as possible are vaccinated,” he said in a speech marking 100 days since PICK was launched on Feb 24.He added that he had instructed JKJAV to speed up the process for those who have already registered so that they are given appointment dates as soon as possible.“I take note of the concern of many who have yet to receive an appointment date for vaccination,” he said.Nearly 13 million people have registered through PICK for vaccination against Covid-19.The government aims to inoculate 80% of the population by the end of the year.


Weekly dengue cases down 9.5%

The number of dengue fever cases in the 43rd epidemiological week (ME 43/22) decreased by 154 cases or 9.5% to 1,460 compared to 1,614 in the previous week.
Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah in a statement today said four deaths due to dengue fever complications were also reported in ME 43/22.
"The cumulative number of dengue fever cases reported so far is 49,569, compared to 21,707 cases for the same period in 2021, an increase of 27,862 cases (128.4%)", he said.
Noor Hisham said 33 deaths due to dengue complications were reported compared to 16 last year, an increase of 13 deaths or 81.3%.
He said the number of localities where the disease was detected last week also went up, to 56 compared to 51 in the previous week.
Noor Hisham said 35 of the localities were in Selangor, followed by Sabah (15), Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (four) and one each in Negeri Sembilan and Melaka.
Regarding chikungunya, he said surveillance had recorded one case in ME 43, in Selangor.
The cumulative number of chikungunya cases to date is 670, he added.


Fernandes double fires perfect Portugal through to World Cup last 16

A second half brace from a stunning Bruno Fernandes fired Portugal into the last 16 of the World Cup on Monday to join France and Brazil, after a 2-0 win that outclassed an uninspiring Uruguay given little chance to get into the match.
For a Portugal whose World Cup narrative has so far been crafted by the controversy and brilliance of Cristiano Ronaldo, the night belonged to Fernandes, who shone throughout and always looked threatening.
His first goal set the tone of how the match would play out, with a 55th minute cross intended for Ronaldo that sailed fortuitously into the net, before a perfectly executed spot kick in stoppage time that guaranteed his side's passage to the knockout stages with a match remaining.
Ronaldo had celebrated the first goal ecstatically as his own and smiled awkwardly as it was announced as belonging to Fernandes, who twice came close to completing a hat-trick in the dying moments.
The win was the third time at a World Cup that Portugal have won two successive group stage matches, and the previous two times led to streaks into the semi-finals.
Fernandes played down talk of his starring role and said his focus was the next match against South Korea and getting a perfect nine points for Portugal.
"What's important is we were able to go on to the next round and very important was the win against a tough opponent," he said.
"Our objective is to think match after match and we have to do our best because we obviously want to win all the matches."
Uruguay, the dark horses in a succession of World Cups, looked nothing like the side that knocked Portugal out in the last 16 in Russia in 2018 and struggled to get into the match as the European side piled on pressure from the start and never relented.
Flashes of flair
Portugal had the lion's share of the possession and pressed continuously but laboured in the final third and lacked clear-cut scoring chances until the second half, in a game where Uruguay were scrappy, off kilter and lacking initiative.
The result leaves Uruguay with a difficult final match against Ghana, who kept themselves in contention by beating South Korea 3-2 in the earlier Group H match.
Ronaldo had a few flashes of flair that drew loud roars from the Lusail stadium crowd, including a moment three minutes in when he used his shoulder to redirect a long throw into the path of William Carvalho, whose powerful volley sailed over the bar.
Portugal were dangerous on the approach and controlled both flanks, with Bernardo Silva, Fernandes and an industrious Joao Felix combining well and each frustrated in their efforts to put Portugal ahead.
Uruguay had a few chances, with the best coming on 32 minutes from Rodrigo Bentancur, who ran half the length of the field and skipped past three defenders before his low shot was stooped by advancing keeper Diogo Costa.
Portugal battled hard and finally broke the deadlock nine minutes after the break when Fernandes' cross floated past Uruguayan goalkeeper Sergio Rochet, who was rooted to his line as Ronaldo rose to head home ball but fell short.
Uruguay rallied to try to get back into the match around the hour mark after coach Diego Alonso made a raft of substitutions to shake up his attack, with Facundo Pellistri making an instant impact, Luis Suarez coming close and Maxi Gomez blasting his shot into the post.
But the fightback was shortlived, with Portugal quickly regaining control and winning a penalty at the end after a handball in the box that required a VAR review.
Fernandes coolly converted his penalty in stoppage time and scrambled to get a third, with his effort saved at the near post by Rochet and a strike in the dying seconds that cannoned agonisingly off the post.
Portugal coach Fernando Santos commended his team's professionalism in a performance he described as brilliant.
"We clearly showed we are a very strong unit, both in the quality of the game and in the bond between them," Santos said.
"That's how positive things are achieved. We will always work like this."


Nothing ‘strange’ about transfer of judge who convicted Najib, says judicial source

The transfer of the High Court judge who found former prime minister Najib Razak guilty of seven corruption charges in July last year is a normal practice and does not raise any suspicions as far as those familiar with the judicial structure are concerned, MalaysiaNow has learnt.This comes after news portal Malaysiakini reported that the approval for the transfer of judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali could “raise eyebrows” about the independence of the judiciary, quoting a lawyer who described it as “strange”.Nazlan’s transfer was approved by Chief Judge of Malaya Azahar Mohamed and will take effect in March.Several individuals familiar with the judicial process told MalaysiaNow that the transfer of judges was a routine process which takes place every three years.“It’s a normal exercise. It is normal for judges to themselves ask for transfer, or the administration to give them an opportunity to gain experience somewhere else.“Nothing to be read into it,” one source told MalaysiaNow in exchange for anonymity.Nazlan, 54, was a commercial court judge before he was transferred to the High Court in August 2018 ahead of Najib’s trial for criminal breach of trust and abuse of power linked to RM42 million from SRC International.In July last year, Nazlan sentenced Najib to 12 years’ jail and fined him RM210 million after convicting him of all seven charges related to the misappropriation of funds from SRC International.Najib’s appeal, in which his lawyers have filed more than 300 grounds to set aside the conviction, will be heard on Feb 15.In December, Nazlan gave former federal territories minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor a discharge not amounting to an acquittal for a charge of accepting a RM1 million bribe in 2013, after the prosecution inform the court of new details on the case.Another source dismissed suggestions that Nazlan’s absence from hearing Najib’s trials would undermine the court’s independence.He said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had specifically mentioned the independence of judiciary in detailing the state of emergency to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.“The judiciary will continue to be the beacon of justice in our country and I will never interfere in the business of the courts,” Muhyiddin had said on Jan 12 in announcing the suspension of Parliament to prevent pandemic-season elections.


Mapping Malaysia’s road to food nationalism

The ongoing food and supply crisis around the world has seen countries cutting off exports in a bid to conserve enough for their own citizens – a move generally termed as food nationalism.The crisis which began with the closure of borders due to Covid-19 has been exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, adding to food inflation and putting global food supplies at risk as the conflict between the world’s third and fourth largest grain exporters rages on.In Asia, India has moved to block exports of wheat while Indonesia, the world’s largest top palm oil producer, imposed a now-lifted ban on exports last month in a bid to ease prices and boost domestic supplies.Most recently, Malaysia halted all exports of chicken, a move which authorities said would remain in place until local production and costs stabilise.The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that a number of countries will soon be faced with food shortages, making the situation worse for more than 800 million people throughout the world already grappling with such problems.Against this backdrop, a debate on the need for food nationalism or food protectionism has re-emerged.Malaysia’s Food Security and Sovereignty Forum said food nationalism is not necessarily at odds with democratic principles as governments are responsible for first guarding the interests of its own people.Forum coordinator Nurfitri Amir Muhammad said food nationalism is in fact a form of economic protectionism already practised in the country through measures such as subsidy policies, import quotas, licences, tariffs and price controls.“It’s nothing out of the ordinary for countries to practise food nationalism,” he told MalaysiaNow.“It’s about the authorities’ political survival so that the country remains peaceful.”He compared this to the move by European countries as well as the US to stockpile Covid-19 vaccines – a decision that drew criticism from a number of quarters including the World Health Organization.“It’s the same issue – protecting national interests so that they can remain in power,” he said.“This is a normal human reaction. National policies must prioritise the local production of food, not the open market.”Chee Yoke Ling of research organisation Third World Network said food nationalism presents a dilemma for many countries which need to balance their needs with their exports to countries that do not produce their own food.“It’s a deeper problem of insufficient domestic food production and increasing dependency on imports, resulting in spikes of food shortages caused by a range of vulnerabilities,” she said.“These include natural disasters in food exporting countries, drops in production due to the rising costs of agricultural inputs, wars such as the Ukraine-Russia conflict, and border lockdowns as in Covid-19.“We cannot blame a government for restricting exports so that its own population has sufficient food.”Geopolitical interestsEven as countries begin to look more towards their own citizens, others have been seen as riding the food crisis for geopolitical interests.Thailand and Vietnam, for example – counted among the world’s top rice producers – are reportedly seeking to cooperate to increase the export price of rice as part of efforts to boost their power at the negotiation table.Nurfitri said Western countries are averse to food nationalism, which they see as unprofitable in terms of trade freedom.“They want to invest and conduct business in Malaysia without certain controls, which threatens industry players and the country’s food sovereignty,” he said.He also spoke of pressure on countries to move towards an open market which is exposed to exploitation and global economic effects through trade pacts such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.Chee agreed, saying countries that had practised vaccine nationalism were the same ones which hit out at others for prioritising their people through food nationalism.She referred to the ongoing debates and discussions in Geneva ahead of the 12th ministerial conference of the World Trade Organization.Nevertheless, she added, there appeared to be no black and white solution to the issue.“The way forward is through genuine cooperation and trust building on every front among the global community,” she said.“The long-term solution to food shortages and the crises of food importing countries is a set of policies and measures that maximises domestic food security.”


Monsoon storms expected to continue until Dec 24

The current monsoon is expected to last until Dec 24, potentially bringing strong winds, big waves and persistent rainfall in the northern and east coast states of the peninsula and east of Sabah.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions) Armizan Mohd Ali said reports received by the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) from the meteorological department (MetMalaysia) yesterday evening said the situation would also cause big waves at the South China Sea.
"Following this, MetMalaysia issued a persistent rain warning for Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Johor until Dec 21 and a warning of strong winds and turbulent seas in the South China Sea until Dec 22," he said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Armizan said the Disaster Operations Control Centre (PKOB) coordinated by Nadma was activated this morning.
He said, all state PKOBs had been directed to inform the central PKOB of any needs and issues that require immediate intervention to ensure a smooth management response.
According to the Welfare Department (JKM) Disaster Info application as of 8.40pm last night, the number of flood victims nationwide had continued rising to 10,347 victims from 3,081 families.
They have been placed at 149 temporary evacuation centre (PPS) in six states, with 58 PPS in Kelantan, three in Johor, 84 in Terengganu, two in Perak, and one each in Sarawak and Pahang.
As of 2pm, reports were received regarding slope landslips, sunken roads and damaged bridges at 51 locations.
Armizan said the incidents were reported in 18 districts in Terengganu, 16 in Kelantan, four each in Kedah, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang, three in Johor, and one each in Perak and Selangor involving 18 federal roads and 33 state roads.
Armizan advised residents, especially in flooded areas, to be vigilant and follow the instructions of the authorities.


Remove power to create money from banks, govt urged

A former banker has proposed that the power to create money be taken away from financial institutions and instead given to the government under the authority of Parliament.
Muhammad Zahid Abdul Aziz of the Movement for Monetary Justice said at the moment, commercial banks possess the power to create credit under the conditions laid out by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).
According to these conditions, the loans given out cannot at any one time exceed a BNM chosen percentage, for example 80% of the commercial banks' total deposits.
Nevertheless, commercial banks are also allowed to create deposits in order to lend out more than the actual amount of cash deposits.
Speaking to MalaysiaNow, Zahid said this was validated by both the Bank of England and the European Central Bank.
"Without realising it, we have appointed commercial banks as the creators of money," he said.
"In Malaysia, 95% of the money is created by commercial banks. Only 5% is created by the government."
The money created by commercial banks is in the form of numbers in bank accounts, while the money created by the government comes in the form of bills and coins.
Zahid said statistics show that 65% of bank loans are private loans such as loans for personal use, credit cards and housing, while only 35% is given to the real economy.
This has landed the country in a situation of avoidable general inflation as new money is created without production or goods, in addition to bubble inflation in the housing sector, he said.
"Much of the money that goes to the real economy goes to the big companies because the banks are afraid of the risk of giving loans to small businesses," Zahid said.
Under the existing system, for example, SMEs which contribute roughly 40% of GDP and produce 70% of jobs in the country only receive about 16% of the money given by banks.
Commercial banks originally held on to gold and produced what were known as promissory notes as proof of their depositors' savings.
Eventually, they began producing promissory notes without adding to their stock of gold, as the gold itself was rarely withdrawn by depositors.
According to Ahmed Razman Abdul Latiff of the Putra Business School, this is how banks gained the right to create credit without accepting additional cash deposits, but this time through the creation of temporary customer deposit accounts each time they approve loans.
The statutory reserve requirement ratio was also lowered by BNM during the pandemic to 2%, a move which he said had increased liquidity while contributing to the current inflationary situation.
Zahid, who has more than 30 years of experience in Islamic finance, said the government could create a central monetary authority with the authority to create money.
Adding that such a method had already been proposed by monetary reformers, he said the body should be placed under Parliament.
"After it is approved by Parliament, the money can be given to a new entity, that is a state investment bank, and fully channelled to the real economy," he said.
He said this would increase economic output, eliminate graduate and youth unemployment, increase their starting salaries and reduce the general inflation rate, in addition to lowering house prices, shrinking the wealth gap and strengthening the ringgit.
By placing the power to create credit under Parliament and the government, Zahid said, instead of nine local commercial banks profiting a total of RM34 billion a year, this profit would now belong to the new entity from which it could be withdrawn and made into government property to be spent on the people.
"Right now, the government can also create money, but it chooses to borrow from banks and pay RM34 billion a year in interest," he added.
He also said that transferring the right to create money from banks would generate approximately RM64 billion in annual revenue for the government.
This, he said, could be spent on basic income for the B40 group and free education until the university level for Malaysians, and possibly reduce the burden of income tax for the low- and middle-income brackets.
He said banks could fall in one of two categories: payment banks that manage the country's payment system without being involved in loans or financing, and investment banks that receive investment money from customers without handling current accounts.
Razman meanwhile said that banks could still operate without the right to create credit.
"Only the authority to create money would rest with one body, while the operations could be handled by commercial banks.
"They can still generate income through transaction charges and investments," he said.


Muhyiddin urges govt to defer proposed hike in public health facility fees

Former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin has called on the government to defer and reassess its proposed hike in medical fees at public healthcare facilities.
He said the increase in health care service fees would further burden the people who are currently suffering from rising prices of goods and daily necessities, inflation rates and the increase in the overnight policy rate.
The Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman also hopes the government will exempt the low-income or B40 group from healthcare treatment fees in an effort to alleviate their burden.
"However, many not under the B40 group have also fallen into poverty due to the rising cost of living," he said during a debate on the health white paper in the Dewan Rakyat.
"So if there is a proposal to increase the rates for public health care treatment, I request that it be postponed and reconsidered."
The health white paper tabled in the Dewan Rakyat today outlines that the ministry was looking to review the fee structure at public healthcare facilities.
According to the 57-page document, the current structure which imposes the same fees for all has led to huge disparity between what patients need to pay and the costs to provide the services.
The Pagoh MP meanwhile welcomes the government's proposal to increase public health care expenditure to 5% of Malaysia's gross domestic product, adding that it is one of the promises outlined in the PN manifesto for the 15th general election.
"I understand that in a situation where the government is facing fiscal constraints, alternative sources need to be sought to fund government expenditures, including imposing certain fees for services provided to the public.
"However, I would like to remind the government not to rush to increase health care service fees in hospitals and government clinics, as this will further burden the people," he added.


Greenland holds election closely watched by rare earths mining giants

Greenlanders began voting in a parliamentary election on Tuesday that could unseat the ruling political party and help decide the fate of vast deposits of valuable rare earth metals which international companies want to exploit, Reuters is reporting.The immense Arctic island of 56,000 people, which former US president Donald Trump offered to buy in 2019 only to be told it was not for sale, is part of the kingdom of Denmark but has broad autonomy.Trump’s offer for Greenland was intended to help counter China’s current dominance of global rare earth supplies and secure vital sources for US high-tech industries.International companies are watching the election closely as they compete for the right to develop Greenland’s untapped deposits of rare earth metals including neodymium, which is used in wind turbines, electric vehicles and combat aircraft.Global warming and melting ice have made Greenland more attractive for investment as access by sea has become easier.But concern in Greenland is mounting about the potential environmental impact of plans to build a large mining complex at Kvanefjeld in the south of the island, a site that contains uranium as well as neodymium.A junior party withdrew from the coalition government in February as opposition to the project mounted, prompting the decision to call Tuesday’s snap election to the 31-seat parliament.Opinion polls before the election showed the social democrat Siumut Party, which has led all governments since 1979 except for one period between 2009-2013, trailing the main opposition party, Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA).Support from Siumut helped secure preliminary approval for the Kvanefjeld project, which is licensed to Australian Greenland Minerals, in which Chinese Shenghe Resources is the biggest shareholder.If IA can form a coalition to govern, it could raise questions about the project. IA has a zero-tolerance policy for uranium and has criticised the project.Apart from mining, election campaign issues have included housing, the fishing industry and efforts to gain more autonomy.Greenland’s mining potential is widely seen as vital to its prospects of achieving more economic independence, as its US$3 billion economy and large public sector are heavily reliant on grants from Denmark.A majority of Greenlanders view independence from Denmark as a long-term goal but say economic development is needed first.


Nearly 50% of adults given booster dose as total jabs top 63 million

A total of 199,251 adults received a Covid-19 booster dose yesterday, bringing the cumulative number of booster jabs administered in the country to 11,531,403 or 49.3% of the adult population.According to the CovidNow portal, a total of 22,921,716 or 97.9% of adults have completed their vaccination while 23,199,172 individuals or 99.1% have received at least one dose.In terms of teenagers, a total of 2,785,992 individuals or 88.5% have completed their vaccination while 2,866,545 or 91.1% have received at least one dose of vaccine.A total of 203,613 vaccine doses were administered yesterday, including 1,660 first doses and 2,702 second jabs, bringing the cumulative number of vaccine doses administered under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme to 63,100,577.According to the health ministry’s Github portal, 10 Covid-19 deaths were reported yesterday with three in Selangor, two each in Kelantan and Kuala Lumpur and one each in Johor, Perak and Sarawak.


Daily caseload at 236 as death toll up by 2

Another 236 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 5,035,613.
There were 312 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,989,126.
There are now 9,549 active cases, of which 9,133 or 95.6% are undergoing home quarantine.
Meanwhile, 0 (0%) are at quarantine centres while 402 (4.2%) have been hospitalised.
A total of 14 are in ICU with 11 in need of respiratory assistance.
Two more deaths were reported, taking the death toll to 36,938.


Bacterial infections the 'second leading cause of death worldwide'

Bacterial infections are the second leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for one in eight of all deaths in 2019, the first global estimate of their lethality revealed on Tuesday.
The massive new study, published in the Lancet journal, looked at deaths from 33 common bacterial pathogens and 11 types of infection across 204 countries and territories.
The pathogens were associated with 7.7 million deaths – 13.6% of the global total – in 2019, the year before the Covid-19 pandemic took off.
That made them the second-leading cause of death after ischaemic heart disease, which includes heart attacks, the study said.
Just five of the 33 bacteria were responsible for half of those deaths: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
S. aureus is a bacterium common in human skin and nostrils but behind a range of illnesses, while E. coli commonly causes food poisoning.
The study was conducted under the framework of the Global Burden of Disease, a vast research programme funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation involving thousands of researchers across the world.
"These new data for the first time reveal the full extent of the global public health challenge posed by bacterial infections," said study co-author Christopher Murray, the director of US-based Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.
"It is of utmost importance to put these results on the radar of global health initiatives so that a deeper dive into these deadly pathogens can be conducted and proper investments are made to slash the number of deaths and infections."
The research points to stark differences between poor and wealthy regions.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, there were 230 deaths per 100,000 population from the bacterial infections.
That number fell to 52 per 100,000 in what the study called the "high-income super-region" which included countries in Western Europe, North America and Australasia.
The authors called for increased funding, including for new vaccines, to lessen the number of deaths, also warning against "unwarranted antibiotic use".
Hand washing is among the measures advised to prevent infection.


Hong Kong police make multiple arrests as Tiananmen gatherings banned

Hong Kong authorities on Saturday detained multiple people as they pounced on any attempt at public commemoration of the 33rd anniversary of the Tiananmen crackdown, as China vies to remove all reminders of the deadly event.Discussion of June 4, 1989, when China set troops and tanks on peaceful protesters, is all but forbidden on the mainland.Semi-autonomous Hong Kong had been the one place in China where large-scale remembrance was still tolerated – until two years ago when Beijing imposed a national security law to snuff out dissent after huge pro-democracy protests in 2019.AFP reporters saw at least half a dozen people being taken away by police on Saturday, the majority in the evening, including activist Yu Wai-pan from the League of Social Democrats (LSD) party.LSD said Yu was later released without charge, while fellow member Lau Shan-ching was arrested for wearing a shirt with a portrait of late Chinese democracy activist Li Wangyang with a mask that read “mourn June 4”.Police confirmed that an 80-year-old man was arrested for obstructing officers earlier in the day, but have yet to confirm the number of arrests made after nightfall.Authorities had warned that “participating in an unauthorised assembly” on Saturday risked the maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment.They also closed large parts of Victoria Park, once the site of packed annual candlelight vigils.The park and adjacent Causeway Bay shopping district were heavily policed Saturday, with multiple people targeted for searches.Yu and two other LSD members, all wearing white masks with a black cross across the mouth, came to Causeway Bay in the evening and stood silently on the street.Within 30 seconds, police had taken them away for a search.They were released but as they approached Victoria Park they were stopped and Yu was taken away.“For 33 years it has always been peaceful, but today it’s like (police) are facing a big enemy,” Chan Po-ying, head of the LSD, said.“The candlelight will not go out; the hearts of people will live on.”‘Hong Kong is dead’Near the park in the evening, dozens of scattered people turned on their phone lights.Over a megaphone, police said to turn them off, warning the people they risked breaching the law on unauthorised assembly.When asked why that would constitute a crime, an officer told AFP he would “leave it to my colleagues to explain in a press conference”.Earlier, police had also told people turning on LED candles to desist.Police searched one man for over 20 minutes and then told him to leave.“They’re even afraid of an old person like me, I’m over 60,” the man, surnamed Chan, said. “Hong Kong is already dead.”Others were stopped and searched for carrying flowers, wearing black and in one case, carrying a toy tank box.Some people left candles in phone booths or on street corners, or distributed small stickers with candles drawn on them.“We can’t make a big fuss, but there are still small ways… to tell everyone they are not alone,” one young woman told AFP.


Zahid says charges against him fabricated

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has alleged that the criminal charges against him in conjunction with millions of ringgit of funds from Yayasan Akalbudi were fabricated, calling them “political accusations”.“The fact is, when accusations are deliberately designed by the leaders before this and thankfully continued by the leaders now, I must face up to this issue,” he said in an interview with Malaysia Post.“Let me clear my name,” he added. “These charges are without a doubt political accusations.”Of the charges against him, 12 are for criminal breach of trust, eight are for bribery and 27 are for money laundering.Zahid had claimed trial to all 47 charges in 2018. His case is pending in court as he is currently undergoing home quarantine after coming into close contact with an Umno Supreme Council member who tested positive for Covid-19.In the interview, he also hit out at the autobiography recently released by former attorney-general Tommy Thomas, saying it was clear from his writing in “My Story: Justice in the Wilderness” that the charges against him were “deliberately designed”.“If we read Tommy Thomas’ writing, it is clear that these charges were deliberately designed to humiliate, to bring down and to overthrow not only the individual but also the organisation or political party he leads,” he said.“That is clear, although it was not said literally, it was implied in his writing. If I am wrong, please make a police report and have me investigated.”


Anwar names ally Maszlee as PKR candidate in Johor polls

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim has named Maszlee Malik as one of the party’s candidates for the upcoming Johor polls.Maszlee, a first-term MP, will be contesting in the Layang-Layang state seat, which comes under the Simpang Renggam federal seat which he won as a Bersatu candidate in 2018.PKR is joining the Johor polls outside of the Pakatan Harapan coalition led by its president, and has opted to use its own oval-shaped logo citing its failure to win any seats in the recent Melaka election.Anwar’s annnouncement that Maszlee will represent PKR comes on the back of an idea that the former education minister, who served less than 20 months before resigning from Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Cabinet in 2020, should be the opposition’s candidate for Johor menteri besar.Maszlee, who is active in several Islamist organisations, has been an ardent supporter of Anwar.In October 2020, MalaysiaNow reported that Maszlee signed a statutory declaration to support Anwar as a prime ministerial candidate, joining Umno leaders Najib Razak and Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who also wrote a letter to the palace backing the opposition leader.