When calling out sexism gets stuck at political lines

Comments with sexist undertones are nothing new in Malaysia, with salvo after salvo criss-crossing the political divide even in settings as formal as the Dewan Rakyat in Parliament.So-called classics include the famous “bocor” remark made by Kinabatangan MP Bung Moktar Radin in 2007 in reference to menstruation.Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman meanwhile caused an uproar in 2016 by speaking of “the only woman with ‘kok'”, an allusion to Seputeh MP Teresa Kok.And in 2020, Baling MP Azeez Rahim stirred up a hornets’ nest by commenting on the complexion of Batu Kawan MP Kasthuri Patto.The three men, all from Barisan Nasional, received a huge backlash over their comments with women’s groups and MPs from the opposition coming together to call them out.But while criticism flew thick and fast in these cases, the same is not necessarily the case when the person at the receiving end of the sexist comments is from the opposite side of the political divide.Recently, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rina Harun came under fire on social media over pictures of her hosing down a school affected by the massive floods in December with a crew of people standing behind her with video cameras and phones.She was also previously targeted for her weight, with social media users appearing more interested in this than her responsibilities and performance as a minister.In neither of these circumstances did she receive much support or defence to speak of from political leaders.When, during the furore over her “water jet” pictures, former minister Zaid Ibrahim asked in a comment on Twitter if she was married, only PKR’s Maria Chin Abdullah came to her defence from the opposition camp.She said while Rina should be criticised for not doing a good job, sexist comments should not be used against the Titiwangsa MP.She said fair and even sharp comments could be made but that the majority of remarks instead involved personal, racist and sexist attacks.“We need to learn to respect others as well as to be brave enough to give comments or have a disagreement,” Maria told MalaysiaNow.“Most of the time, comments are not only sexist towards women but also scathing, with the intention of bringing down a person and/or silencing the so-called other.”She said she did not agree with Rina’s act but that she should not be demeaned by sexist statements.“What does her marital status have to do with the event in question?” she said in response to Zaid who has frequently put himself forth as a liberal Malay.She also said that stands against sexism should cross party, individual and group lines.Communications lecturer Shafizan Mohamed said when it comes to social media, many believe they can say what they like without giving a second thought to the implications of their words.“They don’t realise that they are responding in an indirect manner,” she said.In Rina’s case, she said many were already unhappy or angry and had given vent to their emotions without thinking.She also said that on social media, it is easy to separate the physical self from what is being written or said.“If we were face to face with her, would we say the same things that we write? Probably not, because we would be there in person,” she said.Women’s NGO Sisters in Islam meanwhile said that the culture of exclusion – or “cancel culture” – was one way to ensure that a person would be held accountable for their actions.“But criticism of women politicians and ministers is often riddled with sexist remarks,” its spokesman Aleza Othman told MalaysiaNow.“The criticism hurled at Rina should have concerned her performance and responsibilities as well as her actions as a minister.”Shafizan meanwhile said that cancel culture is driven by the internet generation which sees itself as “woke”, or digitally literate and aware of current issues.“They think they are different from the previous generations,” she said.“Whatever they think is not in line with their idealism, they will attack in the name of political and cultural consciousness.”


Daily caseload below 4,000 as another 5 deaths logged

Another 3,913 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 4,927,451.
There were 3,774 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,854,248.
There are now 36,716 active cases, of which 35,039 or 95.4% are undergoing home quarantine.
Meanwhile, 0 (0.0%) are at quarantine centres while 1,610 (4.4%) have been hospitalised.
A total of 67 are in ICU with 50 in need of respiratory assistance.
Another five deaths were reported, including two who were brought in dead. Total deaths now stand at 36,487.


Debate on Petronas assets seizure could reveal Malaysia's strategy to outsiders, MPs told

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Harun today said that any debate on the seizure of Petronas assets by the self-claimed heirs of the Sulu sultanate could reveal Malaysia's strategy for addressing the conflict to outsiders.
He was responding to accusations of attempting to "run away" after rejecting a motion for debate on the issue by MPs.
He also said that he could be brought to debate any issue or problem as long as MPs were not emotional and political.
On Monday, Kota Belud MP Isnaraissah Munirah was suspended for two days after being told to leave the House by deputy speaker Rashid Hasnon.
Rashid made the order after Isnaraissah asked Azhar to explain his decision to reject her motion on the seizure of assets belonging to two Petronas subsidiaries in Azerbaijan.
Sepang MP Mohamad Hanipa Maidin meanwhile said Azhar's move to reject Isnaraissah's motion on grounds of sub judice was inappropriate.
But Azhar said if the issue was discussed in Parliament, it would give opportunity for criticism of the government's efforts.
"Wouldn't that damage the government's interest in the litigation proceedings?" he said.
"Do we want to reveal our strategy to the world? The first rule of litigation is the element of surprise, the same as in war."
Azhar also said his decision was part of efforts to protect Malaysia's sovereignty.
"We are trying to defend our country, and we want to reveal our strategy to others? Do we want to do that?"


Daily caseload inches over 12,000 as 33 more deaths reported

Another 12,017 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 4,268,486.Of the total number of cases recorded, 68 were in Category Three and above.There were 20,431 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,062,154.A total of 558 cases were admitted to hospital, with 221 (39.6%) in Category Three and above and 337 (60.4%) in Category One and Two.Of the 68 cases in Category Three and above reported yesterday:* 15 (22.06%) were not vaccinated or had not completed their vaccination;* 29 (42.65%) had received two doses of vaccine;* 24 (35.29%) had received a booster jab;* 38 (55.88%) were aged 60 and above; and* 40 (58.82%) had comorbidities.There are now 171,172 active cases, of which 167,130 or 97.6% are undergoing home quarantine.Meanwhile, 385 (0.2%) are at quarantine centres while 3,423 (2.0%) have been hospitalised.A total of 234 are in ICU with 131 in need of respiratory assistance. ICU utilisation throughout the country stands at 55.9%, with Covid ICU utilisation at 26.7%.Another 33 deaths were reported, including 10 who were brought in dead. Total deaths now stand at 35,160.The country’s infectivity rate as of April 5 was 0.86.


Sorry.


The day an angry Anwar stormed out of Dr M’s house

PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim had to be persuaded to “fight another day” after he was angered by a compromise deal reached by Pakatan Harapan (PH) to reinstate the original Cabinet with Dr Mahathir Mohamad as prime minister and his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as the deputy, a new book by a senior DAP leader has revealed.Johor DAP chairman Liew Chin Tong also said Anwar had claimed to have the numbers to be made prime minister, following the power vacuum created by Mahathir’s resignation in February 2020.Liew recalled a meeting of the PH presidential council attended by leaders of PKR, DAP and Amanah, just a day after Mahathir’s resignation on Feb 24, 2020 which led to the collapse of the coalition government.“Anwar informed the council that he had a high chance to secure the votes from Sarawak’s GPS as he was negotiating with them. Also, he claimed that his palace contacts informed him that the palace would likely accept a minority government,” Liew, who served as deputy defence minister under the PH government, said in his newly published book “Lim Kit Siang: Patriot, Leader, Fighter”.“As Mahathir was not interested in becoming Harapan’s prime minister anymore, DAP and Amanah had to back Anwar as prime minister at the palace on Feb 26,” he added.Mahathir had not attended the meeting despite a request by DAP.Liew was recalling the days leading to Muhyiddin Yassin’s appointment as prime minister following a series of audiences between MPs and Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah to fill the power vacuum created by Mahathir’s resignation.His resignation followed the move by his party Bersatu to break ranks with PH, and to join hands with several PKR MPs led by Mohamed Azmin Ali to form a new government outside of the coalition, in what is now known as the Sheraton Move due to a series of meetings which took place at the hotel.The move came days after a meeting between top PH leaders to discuss a date for Anwar to take over the prime ministership from Mahathir, amid pressure from pro-Anwar factions in PKR as well as from the Cabinet.Anwar was named by PH to take over from Mahathir mid-term, but no date was fixed. Mahathir had insisted that he would step down after the 2020 summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.Following Mahathir’s resignation and the collapse of the PH government, Liew said there were frantic efforts by DAP leaders to bring Anwar and Mahathir together, in the hope of reviving the tattered coalition.He said leaders including Anwar had gathered at Mahathir’s residence to work out a solution, with intermediaries negotiating between the two politicians.“Mahathir was seated in the dining room with Anwar and the rest of us in the living room. Mahathir’s daughter Marina, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and Loke (Siew Fook) were in and out between the two rooms,” he wrote.But Liew said the efforts failed as Anwar was upset by the proposal to reinstate the original Cabinet with his wife as deputy prime minister.“Anwar, however, stormed off from Mahathir’s house after nearly three hours of negotiations, mostly through intermediaries, apart from the first 20 minutes which saw both men arguing with each other.”Liew said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng had been ready to forgo his position at the finance ministry for Anwar, but that the offer was rejected.As the clock ticked towards the palace’s announcement of who commanded support as prime minister, PH leaders worked hard to convince Anwar to compromise.Liew said as Anwar respects Lim Kit Siang, a group of them went to the latter’s house in Petaling Jaya, woke him up from his nap, and brought him to meet Anwar.“As Kit Siang said ‘let’s live to fight another day!’, Anwar relented and agreed to the proposal of a second Mahathir-Azizah government as a way out,” Liew said.The palace eventually announced that Muhyiddin had the numbers needed to form the next government.The Perikatan Nasional government was later established with the support of Umno, GPS and PAS MPs, ending PH’s 22-month administration.


UAE issuing tourist visas to Israelis ahead of ‘visa on arrival’ agreement

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) launched tourist visas for Israeli citizens on Thursday in the latest move to follow the normalisation of ties between the two countries.“Abu Dhabi’s foreign ministry announced the activation of tourist entry visas through airlines and travel and tourism offices for Israeli passport holders,” the official WAM news agency reported.The measure is temporary until a mutual visa waiver agreement is put in place meaning Israelis visiting the UAE will be eligible for visas on arrival. The same will apply to Emiratis visiting Israel, reports Reuters.The UAE and Israel have already signed accords on direct flights, investment protection, and science and technology projects.The UAE has temporarily stopped issuing new visas to citizens of 13 mostly Muslim-majority countries over security concerns. Sources did not say what those concerns were but said the visa ban was expected to last for a short period.The full list of affected countries is Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Libya, Yemen, Algeria, Kenya, Iraq, Lebanon, Tunisia and Turkey.It was not clear if there were any exceptions to the ban.The order was issued in November, a week after the French Embassy in the UAE directed citizens to stay alert following a bomb attack in Saudi Arabia on diplomats. The explosion occurred during a World War One remembrance ceremony in Jeddah and was claimed by Islamic State.Last week, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said the UAE had stopped processing new visas for its citizens and those of some other countries.Islamabad said it was seeking information from the UAE on the reason for the suspension but that it thought it was related to the coronavirus pandemic.


Zuraida raps Teresa Kok over comments on petty traders

Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin today criticised Seputeh MP Teresa Kok for her comments on the easing of restrictions for petty traders, calling them “pointless and frivolous objections”.In a statement, Zuraida who is Ampang MP, said the government’s move to create a free zone for such traders in the federal territories was to help them carry out their economic activities as Covid-19 health restrictions continue to eat away at their income.“It was particularly disappointing to hear her insinuate that consequent to the free zone proposal, hawker stalls could be set up in Jalan Parlimen,” she said.“The livelihood of our small traders is not a laughing matter.”Kok had questioned the announcement by Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa that his ministry would allow residents of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan to operate stalls and petty businesses in suitable areas for six months beginning Nov 15.She also said Annuar was treating the city like his rural constituency of Ketereh.“I am perplexed with the minister’s statement because it looks like he considers the federal territories the same as his Ketereh parliamentary constituency in Kelantan, where everyone can open stalls, tables and sell anything anywhere,” she said on Thursday.Zuraida said Kok’s remarks had insulted the Kelantan government, the small traders and civil servants at both the local and state levels.“Contrary to her claims, the proposal to allow traders to set up their stalls was subject to reasonable conditions set by their authorities,” she said.“In times of exigency, put the rakyat first before politics. Teresa Kok and her ilk should remember that small traders do not draw a guaranteed salary from government coffers, as do MPs.”


After 100 days, Malay support for Anwar's govt still under debate

The question of Malay support for the administration of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim remains a topic of debate, 100 days after the coalition government was sworn in, ending the impasse that followed the results of the 15th general election (GE15).
The issue resurfaced after Anwar rejected the findings of a study by analyst Bridget Welsh, putting Malay support for his Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition at 11%.
Anwar, the PKR president, said research by his party had placed Malay support for PH at 31%.
Most recently, another study by research firm 02 in collaboration with several media organisations found that 71% of Malay respondents were unsatisfied with the performance of the coalition government in meeting the vows in its election manifestos.
Political analyst Mansor Mohd Noor said the government should look to the process of its formation and its policies to understand the unhappiness of the Malay community.
"Anwar's rallying call since 1998 has been transparency, accountability and integrity," Mansor, an ethnic relations expert, told MalaysiaNow.
"That battle cry saw the downfall of Barisan Nasional (BN). But the formation of the national unity government is not to the liking of the Malays, who rejected Umno at GE15."
He added that the practice of nepotism and political appointees to public agencies had not been well received either.
Long-time foes PH and BN joined hands to form the government in the wake of GE15, the inconclusive results of which had led to a hung parliament.
Anwar later courted controversy by appointing his daughter, Nurul Izzah Anwar, as his senior economic and financial adviser. Nurul, who lost her Permatang Pauh seat at GE15, was later transferred to the finance ministry, which is also under Anwar.
Mansor also zeroed in on PH's multicultural narrative in nation-building which he said did not have the support of the Malays.
"The new slogan of Malaysia Madani, to the Malays, is a watered-down concept devoid of its roots to the indigenous socio-political culture and other heritages," he said.
"Malaysia Madani as a growth concept failed to mobilise these diverse values in strengthening the nationalistic bond of a shared 'Bangsa Malaysia'."
Methodology
A total of 35,077 respondents took part in the 02 study, carried out together with Sinar Harian, Awani, The Star, Sin Chew, and Malaysia Nanban.
The study found that 76% of the Chinese and Indian respondents felt that the country was heading in the right direction, along with 59% of the Bumiputera in Sabah, 60% of the Bumiputera in Sarawak, and 58% of the other communities.
Sixty percent of Malays in the peninsula, meanwhile, said otherwise.
Hisommudin Bakar of think tank Ilham Centre however questioned the methodology used in the study.
"The study sample cannot be generalised to represent the voice of Malaysians as it does not match the demographic sampling of the population," he said.
"I fear that the findings do not provide a complete picture and may only represent the voice of the readers and viewers of the five media organisations where the questions were presented."
Hisommudin said any study on the sentiments of the Malays towards the government or prime minister should follow the distribution of localities and states.
He said PH and BN still had strong influence in the central and southern parts of the peninsula.
"Study findings should logically be balanced or mixed between the support for the two political blocs," he said.
"If even states under BN and PH do not support the government's agenda, that, to me, would be very worrying."
Mansor meanwhile said that the government should focus on inclusive development for the welfare of the people as a whole, given the uncertain economic predictions for the year ahead.
"The government will be accepted by the people if it doesn't assume that it already knows what the people want," he said.
"It needs to engage with the people beyond ethnic and political party interests, for the sake of the country and the nation."


Aussies eye end to lockdown as virus numbers tumble

Australians living under lockdown in the southeast of the country are eyeing a return of freedom this weekend as coronavirus numbers reached a four-month low Friday.The state of Victoria recorded just two new coronavirus infections over the previous 24 hours, signalling a major step toward reopening Melbourne, the country’s second biggest city, after months of lockdown.“We are well-placed to take significant steps on Sunday,” Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews told media in Melbourne.“Today is a very positive day.”But the next move out of lockdown would still be relatively conservative, he said, highlighting the need to keep social distancing measures in place to avoid another outbreak.Australia was beginning to relax virus restrictions in June when a bungled hotel quarantine system in Melbourne leaked coronavirus into the community, sparking a second wave which infected thousands and killed more than 800.After months of restrictions that included an overnight curfew in Melbourne, bans on public gatherings and roadblocks, the nation’s prime minister on Friday congratulated Victorians on suppressing the outbreak.“It’s time to ensure that we can now move forward and give Victorians and Melburnians the opportunity to build back, to recover what has been so terribly lost,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.He also announced an expansion of a quarantine hub in the country’s north to allow more Australians stranded overseas to return home.Tight limits on the number of travellers allowed into the country left some 30,000 citizens stranded overseas.In another sliver of good news, Morrison welcomed the arrival in Sydney Friday of the first flights of a one-way travel bubble with New Zealand, which has been even more successful in stemming the virus spread.There were emotional scenes at Sydney airport after the first flight arrived, reuniting friends and families who had been separated for months.The long awaited fall in Victoria’s case numbers has raised hopes that domestic travel in Australia would open up ahead of the antipodean summer, supplying much needed tourism to regions that have struggled since the pandemic began.But Morrison said it would still be “many, many months” before broader international travel was allowed as Australia strives to protect its success in curbing the coronavirus epidemic that continues to flare in many countries.Successes Down Under stand in stark contrast to the situation in Europe, where authorities from Spain to the UK have this week moved to implement tough new lockdown measures in the face of a continent-wide surge in infections.The US, too, reached eight million confirmed cases on Thursday, with epidemiologists warning the country could be headed towards a feared “third peak” in daily infections.And in a sign of the ongoing threat of the virus even in Australia, a growing cluster of cases in Sydney’s southwest has forced officials to delay a further relaxing of restrictions in the city until next week.The country has recorded over 27,000 cases of the virus and 904 deaths in a population of 25 million.


Another Ramadan bazaar told to close over SOP violations

The Bukit Nyamuk Ramadan bazaar in Kuala Nerang has been ordered to close after an inspection by the Padang Terap District Council (MDPT) found that traders and visitors had failed to comply with SOPs.MDPT president Suhaimi Abd Rahman said the closure would begin today, and that all traders were required to comply with the order.He did not state the duration of the closure.“This is a precautionary measure to avoid the spread of Covid-19 in the community,” he said in a statement.Suhaimi said there were no customer registration tools and no control at the bazaar’s entrance and exit.“There weren’t any registration records, either manual or through MySejahtera, and both traders and visitors did not wear face masks, nor did they practise physical distancing,” he said.He added that if the council’s orders were not obeyed, enforcement and legal action would be taken under Section 72(1)(f) of the Local Government Act 1976.


Suit against Singapore minister to be heard in Malaysia after lawyers group wins appeal

The Court of Appeal has reinstated a suit by Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) against the Singapore government over the city-state's attempt to enforce a draconian internet law against the Malaysian rights group.
Three panel judges today overturned a Kuala Lumpur High Court decision in 2020 striking out LFL’s suit against Singapore Home Minister K Shanmugam, paving the way for the suit to be heard in Malaysia.
LFL's suit revolves around Singapore's issuance of a correction direction under its Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma), after the group published shocking details of instances of prisoners being executed in a brutal and unlawful manner at Singapore's Changi Prison.
Shanmugam had instructed LFL to amend the statement published on its website, a move condemned by the group as "outrageous".
"Singapore has no business interfering with the freedom of speech of Malaysian citizens making statements within our own country," LFL had said.
LFL then proceeded to file a civil suit against Shanmugam, which failed after it was struck down.
The suit sought a court declaration that Singapore has no jurisdiction to enforce its law on LFL.
The appeals court decision today means that Shanmugam must now appear in the Malaysian court to fight the suit.
The panel judges today were Yaacob Sam, Vazeer Alam Mydin and Mohd Nazlan Ghazali.
LFL was represented by Gurdial Singh, Latheefa Koya, Shahid Adli and Abraham Au, while Suzana Atan acted as counsel for the government.


Tunisia fail to advance despite 1-0 win over much-changed France

An invigorated Tunisia claimed a famous victory over a French team made up mostly of back-up players on Wednesday but their 1-0 win over the reigning champions was not enough for the North Africans to progress to the World Cup knockout stages.
Tunisia, who needed to beat the already-qualified France and hope for Denmark to avoid defeat against Australia in the other Group D game to advance, roared onto the pitch to challenge a disjointed French side featuring nine changes from the side that beat the Danes.
But their win against the 2018 World Cup winners failed to see them through to the next stage after Australia defeated Denmark 1-0 and clinched second place in Group D. Tunisia thus keep their unwanted record of not progressing from the group stage in six World Cup appearances.
French-born Wahbi Khazri lifted Tunisia to their third win in 18 matches at the finals, dribbling into the box in the 58th minute and slipping the ball past back-up goalkeeper Steve Mandanda, who at 37 is the oldest Frenchman to play in a World Cup match. Tunisia's win also ended France's six-match winning streak at the World Cup.
Tunisia also threatened early on, with Nader Ghandri flicking the ball into the net off a free kick but the play was ruled offside.
Hostility from the stands was palpable from the start, with a portion of Tunisian supporters at Education City whistling at the French national anthem as it was played before kickoff. The same had happened at an emotionally-charged 2008 friendly in Paris between France and its former colony.
In a tactic designed to rest his stars for the Round of 16, French manager Didier Deschamps gave players who generally see very little of the pitch a taste of the action. But France's bench showed little cohesion and their back line was consistently pushed back and split wide open by a Tunisian side desperate to score.
The Tunisian captain's goal mobilised the French into action, with Deschamps bringing in stars like Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann to jump start an attack that had so far been tepid.
Mbappe and Griezmann energised the French, who were aided by Tunisia sitting back in the hope of preserving their win. On the Tunisian bench, substitutes and staff had their eyes glued on the other decisive group stage game in the dying minutes of their own match.
Hoping to spare themselves the embarrassment of a loss, France pressed on but a stoppage-time goal by Griezmann was disallowed over an offside.


PN submits motion to debate suspected nicotine poisoning of 2-year-old

Tanjong Karang MP Zulkafperi Hanapi has submitted a motion for debate to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul on the recent case of suspected nicotine poisoning involving a two-year-old girl.
The motion, submitted under Standing Order Clause 18(1) and (2), which allows MPs to request permission to debate matters that are "urgent and of public importance", was filed yesterday and received by the speaker's office on the same day, health portal CodeBlue reports.
"This motion is clearly related to nicotine which can now be freely used by the public, including children, following the exemption from the Poisons Act 1952 given by the health minister's own authority," Zulkafperi was quoted as saying.
"This motion is urgent, as nicotine is already in the market and there is no legislation regulating its use.
"This motion is also a matter of public interest as it (nicotine) can be abused by anyone, including babies, children, schoolchildren, women, or pregnant women."
He also expressed concern that the public would believe nicotine is safe for open use and does not pose a danger.
Describing this as a wrong impression, he said it stemmed from Putrajaya's move to delist liquid or gel nicotine – the main component of vape products – from the Poisons Act.
Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa recently said that nicotine would no longer be a controlled substance under the act, a decision implemented despite objection from the Poisons Board.
The move allowed the government to tax the vape industry, as announced in the 2023 Budget.
"The case of this two-year-old might be just the tip of the iceberg, and the people might see worse cases in the days ahead," Zulkafperi was quoted as saying.
"Who will be blamed or should take full responsibility for this nicotine disaster?"
The health ministry had said that the girl was believed to have suffered acute nicotine poisoning on May 30.
It said she was found to be coughing, vomiting and having difficulty breathing, and that a disposable e-cigarette or vape device was found on the floor near her.
She was sent to hospital as she needed respiratory assistance at the children's ICU. She reportedly suffered two seizures while receiving treatment, but was last reported to be stable and breathing without the aid of a ventilator.


Born in a war: Kyiv maternity hospital carries on under siege

Sitting on a temporary bed set up along a gloomy underground passageway, expectant mother Alena Shinkar reads a book to try to stay calm.The Ukrainian has been at a Kyiv maternity hospital since before the Russian invasion began on Feb 24 waiting to give birth, but with the capital city under siege from rockets and missiles, her nerves are fraying.“I should not be stressed now so I am trying to cool myself down, but of course it is terrible what is happening,” she told Reuters in English.“We are living in real hell. I never imagined that something like this could happen in the 21st century.”She said she saw women who had just given birth by Caesarean section rushed from the wards to underground passageways to protect them from bombardment, with no time to rest in between.Elsewhere in the facility, young mothers are treated by nurses and newborns rest in incubators or lie in parents’ arms, being rocked back and forth.Yula, who gave birth to a son, Mark, on Feb 28, praised hospital staff for carrying on during a conflict that Russia describes as a “special military operation.”“We are safe here, the best personnel in the world, the best staff works here and we are very proud of them.”Dmytro Govseyev, head of the maternity hospital, said most of his team had not left the premises since the invasion began a week ago.“About 70% of staff stay here permanently, we take turns at work,” he said. “The only difference is that labour that normally takes about 10, 15 hours starts and then there may be an air raid alert and the women need to move to the shelter.”Back underground, Shinkar recalls the moment the attack on Kyiv began.“I woke up on Feb 24 at 5 o’clock in the morning from the hit (rocket strike), I heard the explosion and women scream. The war started. And I could not believe. I thought it was some nightmare, but it is what it is. This is how we are living.”“Hopefully, this one will see peace,” she added, rubbing her stomach.


Azmin accused of breaching Hari Raya SOPs

Putrajaya police have confirmed the receipt of a report claiming that International Trade and Industry Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali violated the SOPs related to the ban on Aidilfitri visits.District police chief ACP Mohd Fadzil Ali said the report, received at 3pm yesterday, was based on a Facebook post by Ummi Hafilda Ali who claimed that Azmin’s family members had travelled interdistrict and gathered to celebrate Aidilfitri, violating the movement control order SOPs under Regulation 17 P.U (A) 225/2021.Fadzil said Azmin and his family members, General Operations Force personnel who were deployed at the residence and Facebook account owner Ummi Hafilda Ali as well as other witnesses would be called up to have their statements recorded to help in the investigation.“Preliminary information revealed that the gathering only involved Azmin’s family members who live in the residence. The staff at the official residence’s control post also confirmed that on May 13, there was no movement of guests in and out (of the property) as alleged in the viral Facebook post,” he said in a statement today.The incident allegedly happened on May 13 at about 8am at Azmin’s official residence at Precinct 10.Fadzil advised the public not to make statements or comments that could tarnish the image, credibility and dignity of a person or department.


Apandi says ready to cooperate in police probe

Former attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali has assured that he will cooperate with the police in their investigation following a number of police reports lodged against him.
“No problem, I will give my fullest cooperation,” he told MalaysiaNow.
Bukit Aman earlier today confirmed that an investigation paper had been opened into Apandi.
Police spokesman Noorsiah Mohd Saaduddin said the case was being conducted under Section 217 of the Penal Code.
Section 217 deals with the offence of public servants who disobey the law with the intention of saving others from torture or property from confiscation.
It carries a maximum prison term of two years, a fine, or both upon conviction.
One of the reports was lodged by Klang MP Charles Santiago who cited the May 23 judgment delivered by High Court judge Azimah Omar in rejecting Apandi’s defamation suit against DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang.
Azimah said Apandi had shown a disregard of the law regarding the RM2.6 billion donation case involving former prime minister Najib Razak.
Pejuang had also made a police report against Apandi over his role as a middleman between the government and fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho.
Apandi previously said he had only facilitated the series of meetings between Low’s lawyer and the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had also wanted Apandi investigated over the matter.


‘Light’ after darkness as Philippines Covid-19 vaccinations begin

The Philippines launched its Covid-19 vaccination drive on Monday, with health workers, soldiers, police and government officials first in line to get donated Chinese jabs despite concerns over their effectiveness.Key aides of President Rodrigo Duterte, who were among hundreds to get jabs, described getting inoculated as a moral duty.The rollout started at six Manila hospitals a day after the government, under fire over delays in vaccine procurement, received 600,000 donated doses from Beijing.“It kindles hope that, after nearly a year in darkness, the light is back on,” said presidential spokesman Harry Roque.The Philippines has recorded more than 576,000 virus cases and 12,000 deaths, with infections at a four-month high as the vaccine rollout began.The donated doses represent a fraction of the shots Manila has been negotiating with seven manufacturers to secure.The bulk of the supply is not expected until later this year.But the challenge is not limited to stock.Low public confidence in vaccines remains after the country became the first to deploy the dengue vaccine Dengvaxia in 2016.A botched rollout led to unfounded claims that several dozen children had died from the jab, and recent surveys showed almost half of the population were unwilling to be inoculated against coronavirus.Duterte’s chief vaccine negotiator Carlito Galvez lashed out at critics who he said were spreading “fake news” that the Sinovac jab, called CoronaVac, is no good.“Getting a jab is a moral obligation for everyone. We must not wait for the so-called best vaccine because there is no such thing,” he said.CoronaVac only obtained regulatory approval for emergency use days before the doses arrived, and the regulator initially did not recommend it for healthcare workers due to its comparatively low efficacy.The government later allowed it to be offered to those willing to take it, but many nurses and doctors have opted to wait for other vaccines.


Space aged: wine matured aboard ISS expected to sell for US$1 million

If a bottle of Petrus 2000 that Christie’s is selling tastes out of this world it might be because it aged for 14 months aboard the International Space Station (ISS).Christie’s hopes the bottle, now up for grabs in a private sale, will fetch US$1 million, which would make it the most expensive wine ever sold.The bottle is one of a batch of 12 that European startup Space Cargo Unlimited sent into orbit as part of research into how food and drink matures in space.The wine spent almost 440 days in space, or the equivalent of 300 trips to the moon, Space Cargo Unlimited Nicolas Gaume said in a press release.It left for the ISS on Nov 2, 2019 in a spacecraft known as a Cygnus capsule and returned on Jan 14, aboard a Dragon capsule manufactured by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.Tests carried out in March by a wine science institute in Bordeaux found that the bottles “positively endured all the constraints of preparation, travel, and storage on the ISS”, Christie’s said in its press release.At the end of a blind tasting, the researchers noted “remarkable differences in the colour, aroma and taste components”, between the celestial bottles and equivalents which had remained on earth.“The wines sampled were commended for their complexity and considered to be great wines,” Christie’s added.The sale is expected to smash the record price for a standard 750ml bottle of wine.The most expensive was a 1945 Romanee-Conti Burgundy which sold at Sotheby’s in New York for US$558,000 in 2018.The private sale means the buyer and price will remain confidential unless the buyer chooses to identify themselves publicly.Proceeds will go towards funding future space missions focused on agricultural research.Petrus, from the Pomerol region near Bordeaux, is considered one of the world’s finest wines. A classic bottle of Petrus 2000, considered a great vintage, currently sells for around US$5,400.


India's top court to hear petition reversing release of gang-rape convicts

India's Supreme Court will hold a hearing on a petition challenging the release last week of 11 men convicted of gang-raping a pregnant Muslim woman during Hindu-Muslim riots in 2002 in the western state of Gujarat.
Last Monday, authorities in the Panchmahals district of Gujarat released the men after considering the time they had served after their conviction in 2008 and their behaviour while jailed. However, critics contend that their discharge contradicts the government's stated policy of uplifting women in a country with numerous, well-documented instances of violence against them.
The Court verbally agreed on Tuesday to hear a Public Interest Litigation petition to reverse the state's remission order freeing the men, Kapal Sibal, an attorney representing a group of women seeking the reversal, told Reuters.
The women include Subhashini Ali, an Indian politician and member of the Communist Party of India, Revati Laul, an independent journalist, and Mahua Moitra, a member of parliament form the opposition Trinamool Congress Party, Sibal said.
The petition holds that the men must serve their full life sentences.
The violence in Gujarat in 2002 was one of India's worst religious riots and more than 1,000 people died, most of them Muslims.
The months-long riots were triggered after a train carrying Hindu pilgrims caught fire. Hindus accused Muslims of setting the fire but Muslims said the train attack was part of a conspiracy to target their community.
During the riots, the 11 men, all Hindu, gang-raped a pregnant Muslim woman and her three-year-old daughter was among those 14 killed by a mob.
Current Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was Gujarat's chief minister at the time of the riots and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party continues to rule the state.
The rape victim's husband, Bilkis Yakoob Rasool, earlier said the courts and the government did not tell them the convicted men would be released and that it had shaken his faith in justice.


The battle for social media narrative ahead of state polls

Analysts say that the opposition may have the upper hand in terms of social media narrative, ahead of critical elections to be held in six states in the first test of support since the 15th general election last year.
The inconclusive results of the November polls saw Pakatan Harapan (PH) joining hands with Barisan Nasional (BN) and several other coalitions to form the government at the federal level.
Some five months after the election, though, debate on social media continues to revolve around issues such as the economy and cost of living.
Other topics of interest include the call for targeted withdrawals from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and the viability of small businesses struggling to keep up with economic challenges.
Zaini Hassan, a former senior editor at Utusan Malaysia, said the opposition appeared to be taking a more aggressive stance, especially on the matter of EPF withdrawals.
"The attacks seem to be favouring the opposition," he said.
"Perikatan Nasional's (PN) cybertroopers have been more consistent than those of the government since the last general election."
He added that bread-and-butter issues – a thorn in the flesh for the government under Najib Razak – might be enough to topple the BN-PH administration at the coming polls.
"These are issues that need to be tackled regardless of who is in power," he said.
"The government says that inflation is under control, but in reality, the people's purchasing power is on the decline."
Political observer Mak Khuin Weng meanwhile said that PN appeared adept in using communication channels.
"The increase in price of goods is dominating the public discussion, and PH cannot address it," he said.
"BN meanwhile is just spouting bravado that no one believes."
BN, which saw its worst ever performance at the last election, won just 30 seats throughout the country.
Its lynchpin party Umno, which was instrumental in committing the support of the coalition's MPs, re-entered the limelight over a string of political appointments linked to its president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
It is also spearheading efforts to obtain a royal pardon for former prime minister Najib Razak, who recently lost his final bid for a review of his conviction and sentence in his RM42 million SRC International case.
TikTok
On social media, PN has been turning to TikTok to pull in the views, with leaders such as Arau MP Shahidan Kassim and Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor making prominent use of the platform.  But Mak, for one, said the strategy is unlikely to win new support.
"I think PN is just reserving its expenses until the elections," he said.
Meanwhile, on the government side, questions remain over the social media narrative.
Former PKR Youth exco Wan Ji Wan Hussin, for example, recently criticised Putrajaya's use of its "Madani" tagline.
"They cannot frame the narrative of Islam in a Madani approach so as a result, only the term Madani is popular in the media but the average person doesn't actually know what it means," he said in a Facebook post.
The government's propaganda unit J-KOM under its director Agus Yusoff has also come under pressure ahead of the polls.
Agus recently defended Anwar in several issues including the prime minister's trip to Saudi Arabia and his remarks on Malaysia's territory in the South China Sea.
But Mak questioned his work so far, saying: "He looks like he is going here and there, but who is his target audience?"
Zaini meanwhile said Agus was an academic trained to conduct political research.
"Propaganda is a different issue," he said.
"J-KOM should be working at full gear now given that the state elections will be held in a matter of months.
"But there doesn't seem to be any momentum yet. J-KOM is still complacanet while the opposition is being very consistent."


As harvest time looms, China tells farmers to replant or switch crops

As China's record heatwave starts to subside, farmers are assessing the damage caused by a prolonged drought and the government is urging them to replant or switch crops where they can.
More than 70 days of extreme temperatures and low rainfall have wreaked havoc along the basin of the Yangtze, which supports more than 450 million people as well as a third of the country's crops.
Though rain is expected over the coming 10 days, farmers near the depleted Poyang Lake in central China's Jiangxi province, normally a flood outlet for the Yangtze, worry that the heat has already done too much damage.
The agriculture ministry in an emergency notice on Tuesday called on farmers to harvest and store rice and take action to strengthen grain growth in coming weeks. In areas where the drought has already inflicted heavy damage, farmers are encouraged to switch to late-autumn crops like sweet potatoes, but that is no easy task.
"We can't switch to other crops because there's no land," said Hu Baolin, a 70-year old farmer in a village on the outskirts of Nanchang, Jiangxi's provincial capital.
He said his plants, including rapeseed oil and sesame, were far less developed compared to normal years, and his pomelos were just a third of their usual size.
Nearby wells were severely depleted, and a gaggle of geese milled around a pond that had completely dried up around 10 days ago. Villagers had also been battling a brush fire nearby.
"Don't let people see it and think I brought you here on purpose. You can go anywhere you like (in this village), it's all the same."
The agriculture ministry said on Tuesday that the hot weather posed a "serious threat" to autumn grain production and urged local governments to "do everything possible" to find more water.
Drones were deployed in the worst hit province of Sichuan in China's southwest on Thursday to seed clouds and induce rain, while other regions along the Yangtze have been mobilising firefighters to spray parched crops, state broadcaster CCTV said.
Analysts saw rice production as the most vulnerable.
"I think the biggest impact of the heatwave is going to be on the rice crop - corn also has issues but not that much," said Ole Houe, director of advisory services at agriculture brokerage IKON Commodities in Sydney.
China, the world's biggest rice consumer and importer, was already expected to import a record 6 million tonnes in 2022/23, according to estimates from the US Department of Agriculture.
Power curbs extended
Chongqing and Sichuan province in the southwest are reeling after more than two weeks of temperatures in excess of 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) - causing crop damage, forest fires and power rationing.
Factories in Chongqing were originally ordered to restrict output from Aug 17 until Aug 24 in order to save power, but curbs have now been extended and normal operations will not resume until weather conditions improve and authorities approve restarts.
Although national forecasters reduced their heat alert level from "red" to "orange" from Tuesday, temperatures are still expected to exceed 40C in some places in Chongqing, neighbouring Sichuan and other parts of the Yangtze delta until the weekend.
Low rainfall has also affected the Yangtze's lower reaches, including Zhejiang and Jiangsu on the eastern coast.
Water levels at Lake Tai, sandwiched between the two provinces, have fallen to their lowest in 20 years despite the diversion of 500 million cubic metres of Yangtze river since mid-July, the Ministry of Water Resources said on Thursday.
China's water ministry said on Aug 11 that the drought had already affected nearly 33 million mu (22,000 square kilometres) of arable land and 350,000 livestock, but the final impact is likely to be far bigger.


Sorry.


Rights group slams Singapore for intimidation, harassment of prominent lawyer

Rights group Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) today hit out at the authorities in Singapore over what it described as a “breathtaking” number of disciplinary and contempt of court actions against prominent lawyer M Ravi, ascribing these to his years of work defending the rights of drug mules on death row in the city-state.LFL chief coordinator Zaid Malek said Ravi faces seven separate professional disciplinary inquiries which could result in him being fined, suspended or struck off as a lawyer.He also faces three contempt of court proceedings as well as a number of police investigations.“These proceedings include actions taken against Ravi for his vigorous defence of mentally disabled Malaysian Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam, who was executed amid international outcry last week,” Zaid said.“The number of pending cases launched by the government, AG and courts is simply breathtaking.”LFL had previously criticised the Singapore government for attempts to stop or discourage rights lawyers from taking on public interest cases, warning that such moves would deprive prisoners of their right to legal representation and undermine the rule of law.It said then that Ravi and fellow rights lawyers such as Violet Netto and Charles Yeo, who had worked to defend Nagaenthran and other mentally disabled prisoners on death row, were being “punished” for their efforts.Zaid said today that the proceedings against Ravi threatened “to bring him to financial ruin, jeopardise his profession as a lawyer and brings the risk of imprisonment”.“The right to freedom of expression and the right to legal representation, both of which are enshrined in the Singapore constitution, are all but trampled on by the might of the state in its fervour to deny Ravi the ability to continue to advocate human right causes,” he said in a statement.He also referred to the recent cases of Nagaenthran and fellow death row inmate Datchinamurthy Kataiah who were forced to defend themselves in court as they could find no lawyer in the city-state willing to represent them.“There is no doubt that this is due to the oppressive atmosphere created by the punitive actions taken against Ravi and other lawyers like Violet and Yeo for representing Nagaenthran last year,” he said.“The rule of law must be upheld, and this can only be done if the right to legal representation is respected and lawyers can execute their duties without fear of punitive consequences.”


Army to set up field hospital at Penang Hospital car park

The armed forces will set up a field hospital for the treatment of Covid-19 patients in the staff car park of the Penang Hospital, Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said today.Speaking at a press conference, he said the field hospital would be for the treatment of patients in Category Four and Five.“I have already instructed the army to set up a field hospital in Penang,” he said, adding that the hospital would be able to cater to up to 100 patients in the more severe categories with four units for ICU patients.He added that 50 armed forces personnel would be deployed to the field hospital which is expected to begin operating this Sunday.Last week, the minister said the armed forces were well prepared to help the health ministry set up field hospitals for the treatment of Covid-19 patients beyond Category Three in the five worst affected states of Sabah, Johor, Kedah, Penang and Kelantan.He said the armed forces have ample infrastructure, expertise and assets that can be mobilised at any time.


Anti-stalking bill to be tabled this year, says deputy minister

A bill related to the crime of stalking is expected to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat this year, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Mas Ermieyati Samsudin says.
She said the Anti-Stalking Bill is in the final process of being refined at the Attorney-General's Chambers.
"I will hold a briefing with MPs and senators next week about the bill.
"We will provide notification and the latest status to all relevant stakeholders. The bill is in tandem with the Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill, I will be very happy if it can be tabled this year," she told reporters after the "Wanita Bangkit" 2022 round table conference in Shah Alam yesterday.
She said the bill is expected to protect victims, especially women, from harassment in either offline or online environments.
"With the passing of this bill, many victims will dare to come forward, and this is a gift for them," she said, adding that it would give a sense of security and hope to the victims.
Mas Ermieyati said the roundtable conference had also urged for the bill to be expedited.
Meanwhile, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rina Harun said the conference had reached three resolutions involving the leadership, legal and socioeconomic clusters, adding that the resolutions will be submitted to the government to improve policies and implementation including the 2023 Budget.


Deepavali, community and Amma Asha Devi

Deepavali morning witnesses the older members of a household giving the younger ones a warm oil bath. A gentle massage of gingelly oil before sunrise is followed by a scrub with a concoction of powdered herbs. The cleansing of self is finished with a shower, after which the whole family sits together to pray before putting on new clothes dotted beforehand with turmeric.The rituals continue with a visit to the temple for more prayers before the celebration and feast awaited by old and young alike.It has been almost 30 years since Kak Nasha participated in these rituals with her family. She left home at 19 after years of abuse over her identity as a transwoman.She is now nearing 50, but memories of the rituals surrounding the celebration are still fresh in her mind, and she insists on keeping them alive. She follows the Vedic tradition of refraining from meat for three days, as well as from tasting the food prepared for the deceased and the Devas that present themselves throughout Deepavali.She also remembers the traditional feast, snacks and sweets that are the staple of any Deepavali celebration – but the ones in her memory will always taste better than those found today in Jalan Ampang, Brickfield or Jalan Tengku Kelana in Klang.But she was not always so fervent about maintaining these traditions.A vital variable in the strength of a belief is always family. As people detach themselves from their families, their beliefs and spirituality are also affected.Kak Nasha experienced the detachment that is the common theme for sexual minorities. For the first five years after leaving home, she felt a wedge between herself and the temple that kept her beliefs alive. She would turn her face away from the building as she passed by, a sign of disrespect to the gods which made it their home. Prayers, another sign of faith, were also put aside as they offered no solace from the abuse and discrimination she faced.The abuse did not stop when she left home. She managed to find a job in the service industry, but there too she found discrimination. There was no opportunity for any lateral movement although those she had trained were promoted. She stayed in a position which paid her a fraction of what she felt she deserved.Eventually, a fight broke out between her and her manager which ended in her termination.Living in Kuala Lumpur has never been cheap, even in the 90s. Her loss of income forced her to seek survival in the alleys.Even before Kak Nasha left home, she had known of Amma Asha Devi, or simply Amma, famous as the mother of all trans in Malaysia. The first Malaysian transwoman to undergo sexual reassignment surgery, she was held as a leading figure in the trans community.As she owned land and a business in Chow Kit, her residence became a shelter which other trans individuals sought when they were chased out of their homes or found themselves in moments of conflict which needed her wisdom to resolve.When Amma found out about Kak Nasha’s predicament, she offered her a space to rent and a community to call her own, reviving the sense of kinship Kak Nasha had lost years ago. The area Amma owned was also the residence of other transwomen like Kak Nasha, and became a place where they could do sex work under Amma’s protection. The community was held together by Amma and their common struggles as transwomen.In the world beyond the rows of shop lots and shelters in Chow Kit, the transwomen were foreigners in their own land. But as soon as they entered Amma’s territory, they knew that they had reached a welcoming presence.Kak Nasha was one of Amma’s frequent targets. If Amma saw Kak Nasha passing by her home, she would give her an English newspaper for her to read aloud. Unlike many trans who shied away from current news, Amma was keen on keeping up with politics and sports. Perhaps this was a way for her to bring forth news for other transwomen in her community, to reconnect them with the world outside the streets of Chow Kit.Deepavali was an important occasion for Amma. She would prepare a grand feast for everyone, no matter who they were. The feast would be finished as soon as she set it on the table, but she never considered it a bother to go back to the kitchen and prepare more.She would also set up a projector and screen old Indian films for visitors. This was when Kak Nasha could give herself a break and enjoy the food and films along with the rest of the transwomen in the area.Celebrations are not always a joyous occasion. Discrimination tarnishes the chance for many to celebrate anything. For the sexual minorities driven out from their own families, celebrations are a reminder of what they could not achieve.Amma was a chance for many transwomen to regain lost beliefs. With Amma, Kak Nasha found a reason to celebrate Deepavali. It is a day during which she commemorates the memory of Amma and her community and celebrates the life beyond the struggle she went through – a life which she is now content to live.Until the community that was once present in Chow Kit may be found everywhere for sexual minorities, semoga kita terus berbakti dan merai.


China says US should act to undo negative impact of Biden's Xi remark

China's ambassador to Washington has protested remarks President Joe Biden made about Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday, and its embassy said the US should act immediately to undo the negative impact or bear all the consequences.
China was enraged after Biden referred to Xi Jinping as a "dictator" at a fundraising event on Tuesday, an unexpected flare-up just a day after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken completed a visit to Beijing aimed at stabilising relations between the superpowers.
Analysts have said that despite the controversy, both countries have little interest in allowing Biden's remark to derail efforts to improve ties. There was no coverage of the issue in official Chinese media on Thursday.
A statement from China's embassy early on Thursday said the Chinese ambassador, Xie Feng, "made serious representations and strong protests" to senior officials at the White House and the US State Department on Wednesday.
"The Chinese government and people do not accept any political provocation against China’s top leader, and will resolutely respond," the statement said.
"We urge the US side to immediately take earnest actions to undo the negative impact and honor its own commitments. Otherwise, it will have to bear all the consequences."
On Wednesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning called the remarks "extremely absurd" and "irresponsible." She said they seriously violated facts, diplomatic protocol and China's political dignity and were an "open political provocation."
US State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel said on Wednesday that Washington continued to expect diplomatic engagements with China "in due course, when the time is appropriate" and that Biden believed diplomacy was the way forward, but added: "That does not mean, of course, we will not be blunt and forthright about our differences."
The Chinese embassy statement said Biden's remarks ran "counter to the commitments made by the US side, and undermines mutual trust."
"President Biden said explicitly before that the US respects China’s system, does not seek to change it and has no intention for a new Cold War. But with the latest irresponsible remarks about China’s political system and top leader, people cannot help but question the sincerity of the US side," it said.


Daily caseload dips to 1,300 as 5 more deaths logged

Another 1,307 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 4,820,197.
There were 1,830 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,758,797.
There are now 25,083 active cases, of which 23,866 or 95.1% are undergoing home quarantine.
Meanwhile, two (0.0%) are at quarantine centres while 1,160 (4.6%) have been hospitalised.
A total of 55 are in ICU with 36 in need of respiratory assistance. ICU utilisation throughout the country stands at 61.9%, with Covid ICU utilisation at 15.0%.
Another five deaths were reported, including one who was brought in dead. Total deaths now stand at 36,317.


Ex-Goldman banker testifies at 1MDB trial that he ‘lied a lot’, misled women

Former Goldman Sachs banker Tim Leissner, the prosecution’s star witness in a criminal trial tied to the 1MDB sovereign wealth fund, admitted under cross-examination on Tuesday that he had “lied a lot” in his life.Leissner is testifying in the trial of Roger Ng, 49, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiring to launder money and violate an anti-bribery law.Leissner, 52, who was Ng’s boss at Goldman, pleaded guilty to similar charges in 2018 and agreed to cooperate with the government.A key piece of Ng’s defence is attempting to show that Leissner was the true architect of the scheme, and was lying about Ng’s involvement in a bid to spare himself prison time.The charges stem from one of the biggest financial scandals in history. Prosecutors say Goldman from 2009 to 2014 raised US$6.5 billion for 1MDB through bond sales and earned US$600 million in fees, but that US$4.5 billion was diverted to officials, bankers and their associates through bribes and kickbacks.On Tuesday, Ng’s attorney Marc Agnifilo grilled Leissner about his romantic relationships with five different women. The former banker admitted that he had twice been secretly married to two women at the same time, and had on at least one occasion forged a divorce certificate to mislead a woman he wanted to marry.“I have lied a lot sir, and I have regretted those choices,” Leissner said.Leissner testified that he and Ng played a key role in the scheme and that he personally transferred US$35 million in kickbacks to Ng, Goldman’s top banker for Malaysia. Leissner oversaw the firm’s Southeast Asia team.Ng left Goldman in 2014, Leissner said.Leissner testified earlier on Tuesday that after the FBI served him with a subpoena in February 2016, Ng and his wife, Hwee Bin Lim, suggested he consult a feng shui master they trusted to ask whether they “would be in trouble.”At the end of the meeting, Leissner said he, Ng and Lim concocted a “cover story” involving Lim and Leissner’s then-wife, Judy Chan, to justify the US$35 million in funds.The testimony could prove problematic for Ng, who argued that the money prosecutors call ill-gotten gains was actually derived from a legitimate business venture between the two men’s wives.Lawyers for Ng are expected to call Lim to testify in her husband’s defence.Goldman in 2020 paid a nearly US$3 billion fine and arranged for its Malaysian unit to plead guilty in US court.


Collective of US states investigate TikTok’s impact on children

A consortium of US states announced on Wednesday a joint investigation into TikTok’s possible harms to young users of the platform, which has boomed in popularity especially among children.Officials across the US have launched their own probes and lawsuits against Big Tech giants as the national government has failed to pass new regulations due in part to partisan gridlock.The consortium of eight states will look into the harms TikTok can cause to its young users and what the company knew about those possible harms, said a statement from California attorney general Rob Bonta.Leading the investigation is a coalition of attorneys general from California, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, Tennessee and Vermont.The investigation focuses, among other things, on TikTok’s techniques to boost young user engagement, including efforts to increase the frequency and duration of children’s use.“We don’t know what social media companies knew about these harms and when,” Bonta said in a statement.“Our nationwide investigation will allow us to get much-needed answers and determine if TikTok is violating the law in promoting its platform to young Californians,” he added.TikTok’s short-form videos have boomed in popularity with the youngest users, prompting growing concern from parents over the potential their children could develop unhealthy use habits or be exposed to harmful content.Series of probes and lawsuitsThe platform welcomed the investigation as a chance to be provide information on its efforts to protect users.“We care deeply about building an experience that helps to protect and support the well-being of our community,” TikTok’s statement said.“We look forward to providing information on the many safety and privacy protections we have for teens,” it added.Social media’s impact on young users came under renewed scrutiny last year when Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen leaked a trove of internal company documents raising questions over whether it had prioritised growth over users safety.The documents were given to lawmakers, a consortium of journalists and US regulators by Haugen, who has become a figurehead of criticism of the leading social media platform.While the rush of media attention on the issue and hearings before US lawmakers, no new rules have drawn close to being enacted on the national level.States have instead proceeded with their own efforts to look into Big Tech companies, but also lawsuits seeking to force the firms to make changes on matters such as privacy protection.For example, a consortium of US states announced a joint probe in November of Instagram’s parent company Meta for promoting the app to children despite allegedly knowing its potential for harm.The consortium of attorneys general – states’ top law enforcers and legal advisors – included some of the same states as Wednesday’s probe like California, Florida.Instagram sparked fierce criticism for its plans to make a version of the photo-sharing app for younger users, but later halted development.


Israel’s Netanyahu returns to court as graft trial ramps up

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returns to court on Monday to formally respond to the corruption charges against him, as his trial enters an intensified phase six weeks before he faces re-election.Netanyahu, the first Israeli premier to be indicted in office, was charged last year over allegations that he accepted improper gifts and sought to trade regulatory favour with media moguls in exchange for positive coverage.The combative 71-year-old prime minister blasted the charges as “fabricated and ludicrous” ahead of his first court appearance in May, and has claimed to be the victim of a witch-hunt.Repeatedly suggesting the charges against him have been trumped up, Netanyahu has taken direct aim at his hand-picked attorney-general, Avichai Mandelblit.At the Monday hearing, which was pushed back multiple times due to coronavirus restrictions, Netanyahu is compelled to appear in person to deliver the defendant’s formal response to the allegations.This marks the beginning of the trial-proper, with subsequent sessions focused on testimony and evidence.The trial schedule may force Netanyahu to appear in court multiple times a week, as he campaigns ahead of Israel’s fourth election in less than two years to be held on March 23.‘Election meddling’?When Netanyahu last appeared in court nine months ago, he was fresh off a political victory, forming a coalition government with his election rival Benny Gantz, following three inconclusive votes.But that fraught coalition proved short-lived and collapsed in December, with Gantz branding Netanyahu as serially dishonest.It is unclear whether the cloud of the trial will hurt the premier’s re-election chances in March.Israel’s parliament speaker and Netanyahu loyalist Yariv Levin insisted the court must “postpone” the trial’s upcoming phase.Proceeding now “will be lending a hand to blatant meddling in the elections”, he told the right-wing Israel Hayom newspaper on Sunday.Levin charged that it was unfair for the prosecution to present its case during the election campaign, while the defence rebuttals are scheduled for after election day.Several recent polls show that Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud remains the strongest party by a comfortable margin, but it is not certain that it will be able to form a 61-seat majority with its conservative and religious allies.For the first time in his political career, Netanyahu is also facing a challenge from a prominent Likud defector: Gideon Saar, who broke with the prime minister to form his own New Hope party.4,000, 2,000, 1,000The charges against Netanyahu are divided into three separate cases.The most serious – known as Case 4,000, in which the premier is accused of bribery, fraud and breach of trust – centres on the allegation that Netanyahu negotiated with Shaul Elovitch of the telecommunications giant Bezeq to secure positive coverage on his Walla! news site in exchange for policies benefiting Bezeq.Elovitch and his wife were also indicted.Case 2,000 concerns allegations Netanyahu sought a deal with the owner of the Yediot Aharonot newspaper that would have seen it give him more favourable coverage.Case 1,000 involves allegations Netanyahu and his family received gifts, including luxury cigars, champagne and jewellery estimated to be worth more than US$213,000, from wealthy individuals, in exchange for financial or personal favours.The prime minister denies wrongdoing.Weekly protests against him have rumbled on for months, with demonstrators from the “Crime Minister” movement focusing on the graft allegations.Others have protested against the government’s handling of the pandemic.A counter-protest movement in support of Netanyahu has also taken to the streets.The prime minister on Sunday urged his followers to not demonstrate outside the court, citing the danger from coronavirus mutations.“I know you are planning on coming to the court tomorrow. I know you want to offer me strength in the face of the crumbling and deceitful cases against me,” he said.“For your health, I’m asking you, don’t come.”


Elon Musk greeted with flattery and feasts during China trip

He's "a pioneer", "Brother Ma" and some want him to be US president. Billionaire Elon Musk has been showered with praise by the Chinese public during his trip to China and while also securing audiences with three government ministers.
Since landing in Beijing on Tuesday, the Tesla Inc chief executive has met with China's foreign, commerce and industry ministers and has dined with Zeng Yuqun, chairman of top battery supplier CATL.
While little is known of those discussions – the industry ministry has only said Musk and its head Jin Zhuanglong exchanged views about the development of electric vehicles and connected cars – that hasn't stopped an outpouring of enthusiasm for Musk on Chinese social media.
"He's a global idol," commented one user. "Elon Musk is just great, if only China could have someone like Elon Musk," said another.
Musk's unannounced trip is the latest by a major US CEO to China since the country reversed its zero-Covid policy and reopened its borders. Apple's Tim Cook visited in March, while JP Morgan's Jamie Dimon and Starbucks' Laxman Narasimhan are also in China this week.
But compared to lower-key welcomes for his counterparts, Musk's visit is a hot trending topic and his popularity comes despite rising US-China tensions, with keen interest shown in his comments on artificial intelligence and electric vehicles.
Even the menu for the 16-course meal at the upmarket Man Fu Yan restaurant he shared with CATL's Zeng on Tuesday evening was effusive, photos posted on social media showed.
Illustrated with two rearing horses – a play on the character for horse used in Musk's Chinese name – the menu described Tesla as a dark horse "standing out from traditional automotive companies".
In contrast to the social media storm in China and his propensity at home to make waves on Twitter (which he now owns), Musk has yet to make any public statements during his trip. Twitter is blocked in China.
Tesla and CATL did not respond to requests for comment. The commerce ministry also did not respond to a request for comment. The foreign ministry quoted the billionaire as describing the US and China economies as "conjoined twins" and saying that he was opposed to their decoupling.
Musk's first visit to China in three years comes as Tesla faces intensifying competition from Chinese-made electric vehicles and some uncertainty about expansion plans for the Shanghai plant.
The factory produced over 700,000 Model Y and Model 3 vehicles last year, more than half of the company's global output.
It was not clear if Tesla is facing any regulatory hurdles to expanding the plant.
Investors are also keen to know whether China regulators will clear the release of Tesla's advanced driver assistance features. The features are available in the US as part of the "Full Self Driving" software it sells for US$15,000 (RM69,367) per vehicle.
Musk is expected to meet other senior Chinese officials and visit the Shanghai plant later in the week, sources have said, though it was not clear who exactly he would meet or what issues they would discuss.


Malaysia’s first student rocket team on tenterhooks ahead of blast-off at international contest

Malaysia’s first ever university rocket team is on tenterhooks ahead of the Spaceport America Cup in the US which will see its project put to the test in front of an international audience this week.Team leader A Vanmitha said that Wau Rocketry, of Universiti Sains Malaysia, was now in the final stages of creating its rocket, “Hebat”.Speaking to MalaysiaNow, she said her team members had also met with the jury who will examine the rockets on the day of the launch on June 23.“Today and yesterday, we did the rocket installations and full integration tests, as well as the electronic tests,” she said.Team members pose with their Hebat rockets at the Universiti Sains Malaysia lab.“We have also registered and been briefed.”On launch day itself, the jury will visit the contestants’ booths at random, asking questions about their rockets and examining the components piece by piece.The 12-member Wau Rocketry team has been in the US since June 16. It is one of 66 teams fighting it out for first place at the Spaceport America Cup, the world’s largest student rocket competition.Vanmitha said her team members had mixed emotions ahead of the event as they were the first group from Malaysia to participate in the contest.“They have all given their best,” she said. “When the jury members came to examine our rocket, we were able to answer all of their questions. This gave me confidence.”Recalling the trip to the US from their headquarters in Penang, Vanmitha said the minute they landed, they had hurried off to buy what they needed for their rocket.“During the jury examination, we were asked to change the battery orientation. So we did, and now we need to meet with them again for the flight safety review.“Only after that will we receive the flight card for take-off at the launch pad.”There will be two categories at the competition: the 10,000-foot launch and the 30,000-foot launch.These categories are further divided into “commercial off the shelf” or COTS, and “student research and development” (SAD).Wau Rocketry will be contesting the 10,000-foot COTS event.Their rocket, “Hebat”, is 2.87m long and weighs 22.67kg.Using solid propellant, it will carry a nanosatellite created by USM that will take environmental data.Today, the team will have to bring the avionics for assessment and participate in a conference.“The launch phase will depend on how quickly we can assemble the rocket,” Vanmitha said.“If we can get it done quickly and it passes the security checks, then we can continue to the launch.”


More than 200 residents told to evacuate at Ampang landslide location

More than 200 residents from 48 homes in Taman Bukit Permai 2, Ampang, were ordered to vacate their houses after cracks were found at the landslide location due to land movements.Hulu Langat district officer Ani Ahmad said the order to evacuate immediately was issued to give space to the authorities to conduct a detailed study.“Occupants of 48 houses in four lanes were directed to relocate to avoid any untoward incidents considering the uncertain weather now.“We are setting up a temporary evacuation centre (PPS) at the Ampang Jaya Municipality Council (MPAJ) community hall near the landslide location,” she said at a media conference in Kuala Lumpur today.Ani said so far, no victims were at the PPS as they had chosen to stay with relatives or at nearby hotels or homestays.Nonetheless, the PPS remains open to residents who wish to stay there temporarily.She said a district disaster management centre involving the cooperation of several agencies, among them the MPAJ, Public Work Department, police, and the Fire and Rescue Department had been set up to formulate a more organised strategy for handling the incident.“So far, cleaning work cannot be carried out as the stability of the slope has not been established,” she said.The landslide in Taman Bukit Permai 2, Ampang at 5.54pm yesterday took four lives and left one person injured. It also caused damage to 15 houses and 10 vehicles.


Vaccines won’t give instant immunity so hang on to your masks, experts say

US President Donald Trump’s Covid-19 expert Dr Anthony Fauci is saying people should still wear masks and practise social distancing even after getting vaccinated.On Monday, Moderna announced that its vaccine is more than 94% effective. On Nov 9, Pfizer and BioNTech said theirs was 90% effective.“Obviously, with these vaccines, you could feel much more confident about not getting the virus,” Fauci told CNN. “Even though for the general population it might be 90 to 95% effective, you don’t know how effective it will be for you. Up to 10% of vaccinated people may still get the virus.”Dr David Ho, a virologist at Columbia University, said, “The protective effect of a vaccine may take at least one month, if not slightly longer. Therefore, for the foreseeable future, we will need to continue our mitigation measures, including wearing masks.”Dr Bruce Hirsch, an infectious disease expert, adds that many people have strong negative feelings about vaccines and may not take them, which “will impact the general population from being immune and prolong the threat of the pandemic”.Experts all agree that as the vaccine trials progress, efficacy numbers could change, and it is also not yet clear how long any immunity would last.Fauci, told CNN that when it is his turn to get vaccinated, he doesn’t plan on abandoning all protective measures. ″I could feel more relaxed, but I think abandoning them completely would not be a good idea.“We are not going to turn the pandemic off, going from where we are now to completely normal. It’s going to be a gradual accrual of more normality as the weeks and the months go by, until well into 2021.”


MACC nabs tour agency boss in umrah quota syndicate probe

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC) has arrested the managing director of a tour agency for suspected involvement with a syndicate manipulating the quota of umrah flight tickets.
According to an MACC source, the man, 35, was arrested at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya at around 3.30pm yesterday when he came to give his statement.
The man is suspected of bribing two individuals, who were arrested by the MACC on Feb 9, in return for helping his tour agents secure umrah flight tickets.
A mobile phone, RM160,000 in cash and several laptops were also seized during the arrest.
The source said that several accounts, including investment accounts under the names of the man’s wife, ex-wife and children, were in the process of being frozen, adding that investigations were focused on whether other officers of the company, which is the sole agent for a foreign airline, were involved in similar criminal activities.
Preliminary investigations revealed no wrongdoing by the company but the source did not discount the possibility that other individuals would be called up to aid in the investigation.
MACC special operations division senior director Tan Kang Sai confirmed the arrest, saying the managing director had been remanded for four days until Wednesday.
The case is being investigated under Section 16(a) of the MACC Act 2009.


Police to investigate Hadi over remarks on corruption and non-Muslims

The police have opened an investigation paper against PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang over his remarks that non-Muslims and non-Bumiputeras are believed to form the majority involved with corruption in the country.
Police spokesman A Skandaguru said Hadi would soon be summoned to Bukit Aman and investigated under Section 505 (C) of the Penal Code for issuing statements likely to incite the community, and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act for the improper use of network facilities or network services.
"The investigation against Hadi is being carried out by the Classified Crime Investigation Unit of the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department. So far, a total of 28 police reports have been made over the remarks," he said in a statement yesterday.
He also advised the public not to speculate or to make statements that could interfere with police investigations.
"The police also call on the public to be more careful about issues that touch on religious and racial sensitivities that could threaten social harmony.
"Strict action will be taken against any party that affects public order and national security," he said.


Indian doctors protest against popular guru’s ‘yoga-beats-Covid’ remarks

Doctors fighting a ferocious second wave of the coronavirus across India are furious over “insulting and insensitive” remarks made by popular yoga guru and successful businessman, Ram Kisan Yadav, aka Baba Ramdev, last week.“More people died of allopathic treatment than those who died of oxygen shortage or because of Covid-19,” the 55-year-old saffron-robed guru told his legions of followers, triggering a huge backlash by India’s modern medicine professionals.Thousands of doctors across India on Tuesday put on black armbands and called for the arrest of the hugely popular guru who has claimed yoga can prevent Covid-19 and that modern medicine has killed thousands of coronavirus patients.The guru, creator of a successful traditional medicine empire, said last month the pandemic showed modern pharmaceuticals to be “stupid and failed science” and claimed hundreds of thousands have died because they took allopathic, science-based, medicines.The doctors’ association at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), one of Delhi’s biggest government hospitals, called Ramdev’s comments “disgraceful”.Many doctors also changed their social media profile pictures to black squares to show their condemnation, Al Jazeera reported.Dr Mehak Bhushan of the Federation of Resident Doctors Association told Al Jazeera, “In a country like India where people tend to follow spiritual and yoga gurus too blindly, when people like that spread mistrust and misinformation, it becomes very difficult for us science-based doctors to wipe that misinformation out.”Ramdev, a keen supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, retracted some of his negative comments following an appeal by India’s Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.The guru maintained he had merely been reading out other people’s WhatsApp messages on the subject.He then caused a further outcry by saying that he did not need a coronavirus vaccine because he was protected by yoga and traditional medicine, or Ayurveda.Ramdev’s company Patanjali Ayurved is a multinational consumer packaged goods company based in Haridwar. It sells everything from toothpaste to jeans at its many outlets. It has its own TV channel and is worth hundreds of millions of dollars, ranking 13th in India’s most trusted brands in 2020.Ramdev has claimed his company has cures for cancer, homosexuality and AIDS, and earlier this year, it launched a herbal remedy called Coronil that Ramdev claimed would cure coronavirus and was approved by the World Health Organization.Doctors say Ramdev is taking advantage of the pandemic to persuade his millions of followers to buy his unapproved products.One follower, Anil Sabharwal, who sells his products, told Al Jazeera, “I don’t sell Patanjali products just for business. This is a matter of faith. Guru Ramdev shows us the way.”Dr Jaswant of the Resident Doctors Association at AIIMS told Al Jazeera, “Ramdev loves controversy. He is trying to make use of this attention to further his business propaganda.”In May, as people across India were desperately scrambling to find life-saving oxygen cylinders, a video was released of Ramdev mocking them.“God has given us free oxygen, why don’t we breathe that? How can there be a shortage when God has filled the atmosphere with oxygen?” Ramdev said in the video. “Fools are looking for oxygen cylinders. Just breathe the free oxygen. Why are you complaining about shortage of oxygen and beds and crematoriums?”Many people in India have a deep trust in gurus and alternative medicine. But doctors say Ramdev’s claims cannot be substantiated, and he must be held to account for his statements, especially during a pandemic when many thousands are dying, desperate for accurate information and life-saving healthcare.


Sorry.


Iranians hit streets again as protests enter fourth month

Hundreds took to the streets Friday in Iran's restive southeast, footage shared by human rights groups showed, beginning a fourth month of protests sparked by Mahsa Amini's death.
The Islamic republic has seen waves of demonstrations since the Sept 16 death in custody of Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd who had been arrested for allegedly violating the country's strict dress code for women.
Protesters in Zahedan, the Sistan-Baluchestan provincial capital, chanted "Death to the dictator", taking aim at supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to a video shared by Oslo-based Iran Human Rights and verified by AFP.
Other images from Zahedan showed crowds of men, some raising posters with anti-regime slogans, and a group of black-clad women marching down what appeared to be a nearby street, also chanting slogans.
Sistan-Baluchestan, on Iran's southeastern border with Afghanistan and Pakistan, had been the site of often deadly violence even before nationwide protests erupted.
The province's Baluchi minority, who adhere to Sunni Islam rather than the Shiite branch predominant in Iran, have long complained of discrimination.
US-based rights group HRANA said hundreds rallied after Friday prayers in Zahedan, which has seen weekly protests since the security forces killed more than 90 people in the city on Sept 30, in what has been dubbed "Bloody Friday".
Hundreds killed
The trigger for that violence was the alleged rape in custody of a 15-year-old girl by a police commander in the province's port city of Chabahar.
But analysts say Baluchis were inspired by the protests that flared over Amini's death, which were initially driven by women's rights but have expanded to include other grievances.
Last week, a cleric was killed after being kidnapped from his mosque in Khash, a town in Sistan-Baluchestan.
Zahedan's chief prosecutor said Tuesday that the killers of cleric Abdulwahed Rigi had been arrested, and accused them of seeking to stir trouble between Sunnis and Shiites.
The largely peaceful demonstrations sparked by Amini's death have been met with a crackdown by the Iranian security forces that has killed at least 458 protesters, according to a toll issued on Dec 7 by the Norway-based IHR.
Iran's top security body, the Supreme National Security Council, said on Dec 3 that more than 200 people had been killed in the unrest, including security personnel.
The United Nations says Iran's security forces have arrested at least 14,000 people.
Iran's judiciary said it has handed down 11 death sentences in connection with the protests.
EU sanctions
Iran executed Mohsen Shekari on Dec 8 and Majidreza Rahnavard on Monday. Both were 23 years old.
Rahnavard was hanged in public rather than in prison as has been usual in the Islamic republic in recent years.
Amnesty International said on Friday that at least 26 people were at risk of execution in connection with the protests in Iran, which according to the London-based rights group is already the world's most prolific user of the death penalty after China.
The crackdown on the demonstrations has led to international condemnation, sanctions and Iran's removal Wednesday from a UN women's rights body.
Solidarity protests have also erupted worldwide, and a group of Iranians in Germany on Friday reached the final day of a hunger strike while camped outside their country's consulate in the city of Frankfurt.
Ultraconservative cleric Ahmad Khatami meanwhile lashed out at the European Union after the bloc slapped him with sanctions over what it called "repression against protesters".
Khatami was sanctioned for allegedly inciting violence against protesters, including demanding the death penalty.
During a Friday sermon in Tehran, the cleric said the EU had a "black" human rights record, state news agency Irna reported.
The EU "is on the top of the list of human rights violators", Khatami charged.
Iran's foreign ministry on Thursday condemned the EU measures, branding them "unacceptable and groundless".


John Lennon’s killer again denied parole

John Lennon’s murderer has again been denied parole. He admitted that his 1980 shooting of the ex-Beatle meant he deserved to spend his whole life behind bars.A Press Association freedom of information request reveals that a transcript of the parole hearing shows officials denied his release because “it would be incompatible with the welfare of society”.The self-described “assassin”, now 65, approached the world’s most famous rock star outside his New York City home, asked him for his autograph and then shot and killed him in front of his wife, Yoko Ono.Mark David Chapman, who describes himself as a “devoted Christian”, has said that he only killed Lennon because he wanted to be famous. In an effort to deny him that pleasure many Beatles fans still refuse to mention his name.He is housed separately from other prison inmates for his own safety.He apologised to Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono, who, at 87 suffers from an unnamed illness and needs constant care.Chapman has said he believes he should have been given the death penalty.He is next eligible for parole in two years.


Daily caseload falls to 480 as another 4 deaths logged

Another 480 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 5,023,999.
There were 655 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,973,346.
There are now 13,818 active cases, of which 12,888 or 93.3% are undergoing home quarantine.
Meanwhile, 0 (0%) are at quarantine centres while 885 (6.4%) have been hospitalised.
A total of 45 are in ICU with 20 in need of respiratory assistance.
Four more deaths were reported, taking total deaths to 36,835.


Thailand favours vaccine passports to rejuvenate tourism in third quarter

Thai authorities are preparing a plan to ease restrictions for travellers vaccinated against the coronavirus, senior officials said on Wednesday, as the country looks to revive a tourism industry badly battered by travel curbs.International vaccination passport apps, including one being planned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), are likely to be accepted.Measures for vaccinated visitors would include shortening the mandatory quarantine for all arrivals from two weeks to three days for those vaccinated, or waiving it entirely, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Yuthasak Supasorn told Reuters, saying, “We have to be fast because we want to start welcoming tourists in the third quarter.”TAT has also requested 100,000 Covid-19 vaccine doses for tourism workers in Chon Buri, Krabi, Phang Nga, Chiang Mai and Phuket.The five provinces will from next month host “hotel area quarantine” programmes offering 5,000 to 6,000 rooms, where visitors can move around within hotel grounds instead of being confined to their rooms, according to the tourism ministry.The global vaccine rollout has given hope to the pandemic-hit industry, which makes up about 11% of Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy.In 2019, Thailand received about 40 million foreign tourists, who spent 1.91 trillion baht (US$63.60 billion).That compares to just 6.7 million visitors last year, due largely to Thailand’s tight limits on international commercial flights and visitors.Since October it has allowed a limited number of tourists to return on long visas, but the uptake has not matched official expectations.Thailand on Wednesday received its first 200,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine.


Lockdown extended 2 weeks to June 28

Senior Minister for Security Ismail Sabri Yaakob today announced that the total lockdown which began on June 1 will continue until June 28.In a statement, he said the health ministry had debated the matter and suggested the extension at a meeting of the National Security Council chaired by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today.He said the decision was made taking into account the continuing trend of over 5,000 new infections reported daily.“SOPs for factory, business and industrial activities remain unchanged,” he added.The lockdown, the first of three phases, was initially scheduled to run from June 1 to 14.Putrajaya had said that Phase Two would be implemented if the first phase succeeds in reducing the number of daily Covid-19 cases.The second phase, to run for four weeks, would see the reopening of several economic sectors that do not involve large gatherings, while the third phase would be the movement control order as was practised before the total lockdown was enforced.


Covid deaths among unvaccinated seniors higher than for other age groups, says DG Hisham

The Covid-19 fatality rate among the elderly, especially those who have yet to complete their vaccination or receive a booster shot, is much higher than that of other age groups, health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said today.Based on the data for epidemiology week (ME) 1/2022 to ME 10/2022, the fatality rate of those aged 80 and above stood at 2,000 cases per 100,000 people, compared to 300 to 600 cases among individuals aged 60 to 79.“This is due to a weakened immune system, chronic diseases as well as a slower and complicated recovery process,” he said in a statement.Noor Hisham also said that unvaccinated seniors have the highest risk of infection which could result in death, while those who have received a booster jab are the most protected.He said a total of 86,804 Covid-19 cases involving senior citizens were reported from ME 1/2022 to ME 10/2022 with 83,709 cases or 96.44% in Category One and Two, and 3,095 cases or 3.56% in Category Three to Five.“This shows that the relatively high percentage of vaccination coverage among the elderly has helped reduce cases of serious Covid-19 infections for this group.“However, booster shot coverage for the elderly should be further increased from 74.2% to better protect the group against the effects of severe infection,” he said.Meanwhile, Noor Hisham said there had been an increase in hospital admissions among the elderly, from one case per 100,000 people to nine cases from ME 3/2022 to ME 10/2022,Most of the cases were in Category Three to Five, he added.As of March 16, he said a total of 3,356,253 or 92% of senior citizens had completed their primary Covid-19 vaccination while 2,489,718 or 74.2% had received a booster dose.He urged unvaccinated senior citizens and those who have yet to receive a booster shot to immediately walk in at the nearest vaccination centre as the country will enter the transition to endemic phase next month.


Beijing vaccinates thousands in Covid-19 jab drive

Thousands of people lined up in Beijing Monday to receive a Covid-19 vaccine as China races to inoculate millions before the Chinese New Year mass travel season in February.More than 73,000 people in the Chinese capital have received the first dose of the vaccine over the last couple of days, state media reported Sunday, including community workers and bus drivers.Health authorities on New Year’s Eve granted “conditional” approval to a vaccine candidate made by Chinese pharma giant Sinopharm, which the company said had a 79% efficacy rate.An AFP journalist saw people being bussed into a temporary vaccine centre at a central park, after being instructed to fill in electronic forms about their health status and any allergies at an outside gate.Some were wearing two layers of surgical face masks.One man surnamed Gu, a catering worker in his 30s, told AFP his employer had booked him a vaccine appointment at the centre, and that he wanted the jab “for peace of mind”.“I believe any adverse effects will be controllable,” he said.Footage from state broadcaster CCTV showed queues outside local hospitals and community health centres as people waited to read consent forms and have their temperatures taken before getting the jab.Health officials said gyms and empty factories were among centres being used for the vaccination programme.China plans to vaccinate millions this winter in the run-up to Lunar New Year in mid-February.Beijing has already administered around 4.5 million doses of largely unproven emergency vaccines this year – mostly to health workers and other state employees destined for overseas jobs, according to authorities.But China now plans a gradual rollout for the vaccine starting with key groups considered to have a high risk of exposure to the virus, including port and food logistic workers and people planning to return to studies abroad.China – where the coronavirus first emerged late in 2019 – has broadly stamped out the virus inside its borders, introducing swift local lockdowns and mass testing when cases emerge.But the country has stepped up testing and movement controls after a recent spate of small local outbreaks, including a handful of cases in Beijing.