Black market for fake Covid passes flourishes in France

People refusing to get Covid vaccines in France are coughing up hundreds of euros for fake health passes in an online black market that has flourished since the government required them to enter cafes, intercity trains and other public places.People have had to show proof they have either been vaccinated, tested negative for Covid or have recovered from the disease in order to enter a museum, cinema or sports venue since July.It was expanded to restaurants, bars, hospitals and trains earlier this month as President Emmanuel Macron seeks to compel people to get vaccinated.While surveys show most French support the measure, opponents have held protests for five straight weekends.And a black market for fraudulent health passes has sprung up on Snapchat – despite the risk of jail sentences.Accounts on the social networking app that rarely last for more than a few days openly advertise their counterfeit documents.Some ads say: “Your health pass by email in eight to 10 hours maximum”, “Vaccination is optional thanks to our service” or “Say no to the vaccine and get a health pass without getting vaccinated”.A 28-year-old event planner told AFP he obtained his fake health pass for €350 (US$410). The Covid-19 vaccine is free in France.He said he isn’t anti-vaccine, but that he doesn’t feel that young people should be forced to get vaccinated when he believes they aren’t particularly vulnerable.“If Covid-19 still exists when I’m 50 or 60, then yes, I’ll get vaccinated,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.He said getting regular tests to show that he isn’t infected wasn’t really an option as he risks a positive result which means he couldn’t work.“Security guards told me that even if I am the person organising the party, if I’m positive, I can’t get into my own event,” he said.He said he wasn’t worried about getting scammed as he has friends who had already bought fake health passes.‘Untraceable’All one needs to do is type in “fake health pass” to find dozens of offers on Snapchat. They can also be found on Facebook, with some apparently paying to have their offers put into user feeds.One has to provide all the basic information necessary to have a real functioning health pass, including a French health system number.“I send all the information to my doctor contact who registers it in” the French national health system database and the phone app for the health pass, said one counterfeiter.As a health worker – some complicit, others hacked – enters the information into the computer system the person is considered by authorities to have been fully vaccinated and the health pass itself is real, not fake.French health passes contain a QR code that is scanned by security guards at entrances to check against the national database, so counterfeiters prefer using doctors to fraudulently create real passes that function.One doctor in southwestern France filed a complaint after discovering that his profile in the health insurance website had been used to make 55 fake passes.Certain counterfeiters allow payment after verification the pass works in order to reassure potential clients.Others don’t need to as they have already earned reputations selling fake Covid test results.Prices range from between €140 and €350.Payment is most often made via the French mobile payments app Lydia, or by clients buying prepaid payment cards or vouchers like Paysafecard and transferring the codes to the counterfeiter, allowing them to buy goods from websites.“I use Paysafecard because unlike PayPal, it’s untraceable,” said one counterfeiter.Complaints riseThe national health system says it has received a growing number of queries from police investigating fraudsters. It said it has made 30 criminal complaints and tips to police about suspicious behaviour.The counterfeiters face prison terms of up to five years and fines of up to €150,000. Those who use fake health passes could spend three years behind bars.Several people have been charged so far for health pass fraud.Scams selling completely fake QR codes also abound, but the authorities are focusing on those creating false vaccination records in the health system.One woman has received a one-year prison term – which was converted to home detention due to Covid – for creating some 200 QR codes for sale.She worked at a vaccine centre.


Anwar fails to strike out suit on royal pardon

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim today failed in his bid to strike out an originating summons filed by lawyer Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz over the pardon granted to him for his conviction and imprisonment for sodomising an aide.High Court judge Akhtar Tahir also dismissed a similar application by the Pardons Board.He ruled that the plaintiff, Khairul, had the locus standi to initiate the suit as he was a member of the public and a lawyer.He also said there were triable issues that needed to be heard in full.He said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had exercised his executive power in granting Anwar the pardon.“If he exercised executive power, how can it (the matter) not be justiciable? It’s not a royal pardon. It’s an executive pardon because he is taking the role of the executive. So, if he is exercising executive power, then there are procedures and laws when you can question the executive power,” he said.Akhtar also said this was not a clear-cut case which could be summarily dismissed.He said any reasons for a pardon should be stated, as those convicted of similar charges would feel they had been subjected to injustice or unfairness.“This is a civil matter that must be proven on the balance of probabilities,” he added.He made no order as to costs, and fixed the trial to run from March 24 to 26 next year. Case management will take place on Feb 18.Lawyers Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla and M Reza Hassan represented Khairul while Anwar was represented by J Leela. Senior federal counsel Natra Idris appeared for the Pardons Board.Anwar, who is Port Dickson MP, filed the application on May 13. He said, among others, that Khairul had no locus standi to file the originating summons, and that it was frivolous, an embarrassment and abuse of the court process.Khairul, through legal firm Raja Riza & Associates, had named the Pardons Board and Anwar as the first and second defendants in his summons filed on Feb 26 this year.He claimed the pardon granted to Anwar by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong qas in contravention of Articles 42 (4) and (5) of the Federal Constitution.He said pardons granted by the Agong should be based on evidence from the Pardons Board, which he argued had yet to be formally established following the 14th general election on May 9, 2018 and the formation of the new government.He also claimed that after the election, several unconstitutional acts had been undertaken to ensure that Anwar received the pardon which released him from prison.Anwar was sentenced to five years in jail for sodomising his aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.The conviction and sentence were affirmed by the Federal Court on Feb 10, 2015.


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Did Zahid mislead Agong that Umno ministers would quit by Aug 1?

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi misled the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in claiming during an audience at Istana Negara last month that ministers and deputy ministers had pledged to quit the government by Aug 1, MalaysiaNow can reveal.It is also learnt that the Umno president is now actively trying to get ministers from his party to resign from their posts at an earlier date.“He is targeting July 7 as the new deadline for them to resign, but he is in for a disappointment,” said a source familiar with discussions among senior Umno MPs.In a statement today, Putrajaya said a Cabinet meeting on July 7 would fix a date for a special sitting to decide on the reopening of Parliament.Ministers deny Zahid’s claimMalaysiaNow has meanwhile learnt that Zahid, in a briefing to the Umno leadership after the audience at Istana Negara on June 11, had read from a prepared text of what he told Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.Among others, Zahid informed the Agong that the Umno Supreme Council had decided to quit the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government by Aug 1, irrespective of whether the state of emergency would be extended.“According to Zahid, he told the Agong that all ministers and deputy ministers, as well as MPs and GLC bosses, had also pledged to resign by that time,” said a source who was privy to what transpired at the meeting.But conversations with several Umno Cabinet members revealed that there was no such pledge “whether written or verbal” from them.“Zahid clearly spoke untruth to the Agong,” one minister told MalaysiaNow on condition of strict anonymity.Even Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, the Umno Supreme Council member who is also the energy and natural resources minister, was cryptic when responding to news of Umno’s decision to exit the government by Aug 1.“At the moment I remain focused on carrying out responsibilities. And my principles are the same. I will abide by the party’s decision as long as it does not veer from Umno’s ideology and principles,” Shamsul said in remarks posted on Facebook today.A former aide to an Umno leader said Shamsul’s message was an indirect hint to Zahid that he would not support the party president.“What he is saying is that Zahid had acted against the party’s principles of not working with DAP or Anwar Ibrahim,” he added, referring to Zahid’s now-famous endorsement of the PKR leader’s bid to become prime minister.In his Facebook post, Shamsul further said: “In fact, I’m not worried about losing my position. What I am worried about is Umno losing support.”Shamsul was the only minister from Umno who had stated his readiness to quit his Cabinet post, after Zahid openly called for Umno to revoke its support for the PN government during the party’s general assembly in March.Zahid’s royal audience last month was one in a series of meetings called by the Agong with political party leaders.It was followed by statements by the Agong and Malay rulers pressing for Parliament to reconvene as soon as possible, a call which triggered a debate on the powers of the Agong under the constitution.


UN General Assembly demands Russia withdraw from Ukraine

The UN General Assembly on Wednesday overwhelmingly adopted a resolution that “demands” Russia “immediately” withdraw from Ukraine, in a powerful rebuke of Moscow’s invasion by a vast majority of the world’s nations.After more than two days of extraordinary debate, which saw the Ukrainian ambassador accuse Russia of genocide, 141 out of 193 United Nations member states voted for the non-binding resolution.China was among the 35 countries which abstained, while just five – Eritrea, North Korea, Syria, Belarus and of course Russia – voted against it.The resolution “deplores” the invasion of Ukraine “in the strongest terms” and condemns President Vladimir Putin’s decision to put his nuclear forces on alert.The vote had been touted by diplomats as a bellwether of democracy in a world where autocracy is on the rise, and came as Putin’s forces bear down on Kyiv while terrified Ukrainians flee.“They have come to deprive Ukraine of the very right to exist,” Ukraine’s ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya told the Assembly ahead of the vote.“It’s already clear that the goal of Russia is not an occupation only. It is genocide.”Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb 24. Moscow has pleaded “self-defence” under Article 51 of the UN Charter.But that has been roundly rejected by Western countries who accuse Moscow of violating Article 2 of the Charter, requiring UN members to refrain from the threat or use of force to resolve a crisis.The European Union’s ambassador to the UN Olof Skoog said the vote was “not just about Ukraine.”“It is about defending an international order based on rules we all have signed up to,” he said in a statement.UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the General Assembly’s message was “loud and clear.”“End hostilities in Ukraine – now. Silence the guns – now,” he said in a statement.“As bad as the situation is for the people in Ukraine right now, it threatens to get much, much worse. The ticking clock is a time bomb.”Some delegations chose to place stuffed animals on their tables during the session – a stark visual reminder of the conflict’s devastating impact on children.‘Who will be next?’The text of the resolution – led by European countries in coordination with Ukraine – has undergone numerous changes in recent days.It no longer “condemns” the invasion as initially expected, but instead “deplores in the strongest terms the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine.”Nearly every General Assembly speaker unreservedly condemned the war.“If the United Nations has any purpose, it is to prevent war,” the US ambassador, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said during her speech on Wednesday.She accused Russia of “preparing to increase the brutality of its campaign.”“We’ve seen videos of Russian forces moving exceptionally lethal weaponry into Ukraine, which has no place on the battlefield. That includes cluster munitions and vacuum bombs, which are banned under the Geneva Convention,” Thomas-Greenfield said.Russia’s ally Belarus offered a staunch defence of the invasion, however.Ambassador Valentin Rybakov blasted sanctions imposed by the West on Russia as “the worst example of economic and financial terrorism.”And he followed other Russian allies such as Syria in condemning the “double standards” of Western nations who have invaded countries including Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan in recent decades.Other speakers cited fears of a domino effect should Ukraine fall to Russia. Colombia railed against any return to “empire,” while Albania wondered: “Who will be next?”From the Arab world it was Kuwait, itself the victim of an invasion by Iraq in 1990, whose denunciation of Moscow was the most explicit.China, India abstainJapan and New Zealand led condemnation from Asia, but the continent’s giants – China, India and Pakistan – all abstained. During the debate Beijing had stressed the world had “nothing to gain” from a new Cold War.On the meeting’s sidelines, Washington has taken aim at Russians working at the United Nations, leveling accusations of espionage and demanding expulsions.US President Joe Biden asserted Tuesday in his State of the Union address that Putin had underestimated the response to the invasion.“He rejected efforts at diplomacy… And, he thought he could divide us here at home,” Biden said.“Putin was wrong. We were ready.”


Dr Mahathir transferred to normal ward

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is showing further improvement in health and was transferred from the coronary care unit at the National Heart Institute (IJN) to a normal ward room today, his family says.His eldest child Marina Mahathir also said that he was cheerful and eager to make a full recovery.Mahathir was readmitted to IJN early last week after undergoing an elective procedure on Jan 7.He was previously admitted to IJN in December, when doctors said they were conducting a series of tests on the 96-year-old veteran leader.In a statement today, Marina said the team of specialists treating her father had said that he was on the mend.But in order to prevent any infection, she said, neither Mahathir nor his wife Dr Siti Hasmah Ali were allowed to receive visitors at IJN.


Hadi says PAS still opposed to early GE

PAS today reiterated its stand against an early dissolution of Parliament, a day after Umno said it had given the Islamist party three conditions to be met for any return to the negotiation table ahead of the general election.
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said dissolving Parliament now would be inappropriate, and that there was no rush given the economic situation and the floods expected during the year-end monsoon season.
"PAS will continue its talks and negotiations with all quarters – political parties, NGOs, academics, and community leaders – towards the success of the ummah unity agenda, in order to reach common ground and avoid clashes with each other, thereby defeating Pakatan Harapan.
"PAS is of the position that, in any situation, the interests of the country and the people should come first, in addition to the economic recovery measures that should be continuously supported, especially through the 2023 Budget to be presented," he said in a statement.
PAS has repeatedly stated its opposition to an early election, in contrast to certain segments of Umno which have been pressuring Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to dissolve Parliament ahead of the expiry of its term next year.
Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said yesterday that his party would only continue negotiations with PAS for cooperation at the 15th general election if it met three conditions recently conveyed to Hadi.
"They (PAS) are aware of the conditions, and only when they fulfil those terms, can negotiations proceed," he said.
"As long as PAS does not make an official decision, we will not be able to resolve the issues and differences between the two parties."


Taps still dry in Klang Valley

The Sungai Selangor Phase 1, 2, 3 and Rantau Panjang water treatment plants which were forced to stop operations yesterday due to pollution at the raw water source were still not operational as of 6.30am today.Air Selangor corporate communication chief Elina Baseri said pollution was still detected at the plants’ intakes, adding that it was now at level 1 of the threshold odour number (TON).“The water treatment plants can only operate when the pollution level reaches zero TON level,” she said in a statement.A total of 1,292 areas in seven regions in the Klang Valley experienced an unscheduled water supply disruption beginning 10am yesterday.The affected areas are in Kuala Lumpur, Petaling, Klang/Shah Alam, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Selangor, Gombak and Kuala Langat.Air Selangor will provide updates on the disruption from time to time through all mediums, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and its website at www.airselangor.com.


Malaysians happily cough up for ‘exotic’ foreign zoo animals but ignore ‘humdrum’ local ones

Recent analysis of donations made to Zoo Negara via e-commerce platforms show that Malaysians are much more inclined to support imported animals over native species.Malaysians give more money for “exotic” imported animals like cheetahs and pandas than local ones like orangutans and sun bears.“It seems like the exotic animals people see in movies and National Geographic documentaries are better received by Malaysians,” Andrew Sebastian, a well-regarded naturalist, and president and founder of Ecotourism and Conservation Society Malaysia, told MalaysiaNow.As an example, he cited Liang Liang and Xing Xing, two giant pandas imported from China at a cost of RM25 million. The pair were all the rage when they arrived back in 2014, attracting huge, curious crowds every day.Pandas and other imported animals being given so much care and support in Malaysia is nothing new.“It looks like it’s sexier for kids as well as grown-ups to be connected to the pandas, the lions, more than our own local species because awareness is pretty low in terms of our appreciation for local wildlife,” Sebastian said.Coming from different climates and often with unique dietary needs, imported animals are welcomed into the country’s zoos despite being difficult to look after.“The public buys into the romantic notion that exotic foreign animals are more worthy, which in turn leads to increased support for all imported animals.”Shariffa is no fan of zoos. She maintains the business of caging animals and training them to do tricks to entertain humans should end for good, and she hopes Malaysia will be among the first to implement this.“Instead of zoos, the public should be able to visit animals in their own natural habitat,” she said. “Wild animal rehabilitation centres too can be open for the public to visit and see the importance of giving wildlife their natural habitat and freedom.”She said it is imperative for the government and Zoo Negara to acknowledge and highlight that local wildlife is threatened. Then they can start educating the public on the importance of caring for endangered native animals.“Zoo Negara fund-raising campaigns must treat all animals equally and should not give options for donors to target only a preferred species,” she added.Sebastian meanwhile said Zoo Negara has a big role to play in educating Malaysians about all animals, both foreign and native.He maintained that zoos should give special attention to local species, especially where there is a higher chance of people seeing them in their native habitat.He believes that there is still a lot of work to do educating Malaysians about their very own unique, endangered wildlife and this is a job for everybody, not just zoos.Tourism Malaysia launched its Cuti-Cuti Malaysia “Santai di Zoo” campaign this week, aimed at attracting people to visit local zoos.While there with the kids, relaxing and gawping at all the expensive exotic animals on display, perhaps a few of them will chip in a little to save some of their very own often ignored, endangered local wildlife.


All inbound travellers, including from China, to be screened for fever

The health ministry today said it will screen all inbound travellers for fever and test wastewater from aircraft arriving from China for Covid-19 as part of fresh measures to prevent an outbreak following Beijing's decision to lift strict zero-Covid policies.
The ministry is taking preventative measures as the country faces a risk of an influx of Covid-19 cases from abroad, Health Minister Zaliha Mustafa said in a statement.
It was not immediately clear when the new measures would take effect.
Malaysia joins countries like US, India, Italy and Japan in taking new measures as a wave of infections erupted across China after Beijing's abrupt decision to dismantle Covid restrictions.
Zaliha said Malaysia will screen the body temperatures of all inbound travellers, including those from China, and those detected with fever or other symptoms will be tested for Covid-19.
The ministry will also sample wastewater from aircraft arriving from China for Covid-19 and will conduct tests to detect the entry of any new variants, she added.


Iran unveils its first hypersonic ballistic missile, reports say

Iran presented what officials described as its first domestically-made hypersonic ballistic missile on Tuesday, the official IRNA news agency reported, an announcement likely to heighten Western concerns about Tehran's missile capabilities.
Iranian state media published pictures of the missile named Fattah at a ceremony attended by President Ebrahim Rahisi and commanders of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards.
Hypersonic missiles can fly at least five times faster than the speed of sound and on a complex trajectory, which makes them difficult to intercept. Last year, the Islamic Republic said it had built a hypersonic ballistic missile which can manoeuvre in and out of the atmosphere.
State TV said Iran's Fattah missile can target "the enemy's advanced anti-missile systems and is a big generational leap in the field of missiles".
"It can bypass the most advanced anti-ballistic missile systems of the US and the Zionist regime, including Israel's Iron Dome," Iran's state TV said.
Fattah's top speed reached mach 14 levels (15,000km/h), it added.
Despite US and European opposition, the Islamic Republic has said it will further develop its defensive missile programme. However, Western military analysts say Iran sometimes exaggerates its missile capabilities.
Concerns about Iran's ballistic missiles contributed to then-US president Donald Trump's decision in 2018 to ditch Tehran's 2015 nuclear pact with six major powers.
Indirect talks between Tehran and US President Joe Biden's administration to salvage the nuclear deal have stalled since last September.


PAS signs Mahathir's 'Malay Proclamation' as political temperature rises

Top PAS leaders today embraced Dr Mahathir Mohamad's "Malay Proclamation", adding fuel to speculation of a coming together of disparate Malay political groups in what could be the strongest challenge to Anwar Ibrahim's government since last year's general election.
The news was conveyed by Mahathir's aide Abu Bakar Yahya, who posted on Facebook a picture of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang signing the document today.
The move came amid talk of trouble in Anwar's six-month-old government, formed on the back of support from Gabungan Parti Sarawak and his arch-enemy Umno following the inconclusive results of the November polls which led to a hung parliament.
Anwar has dispelled speculation of a plot to topple his government and expressed confidence, citing strong support from the various coalitions.
A source in PAS told MalaysiaNow that Hadi's signature on the document was important as "he currently represents the biggest Malay Muslim political force".
"While Mahathir and Hadi have never seen eye to eye on theological and religious topics, the PAS leader's willingness to support the proclamation takes away decades of animosity between them," said the source, who is close to the top brass of the Islamist party.
At the last election, PAS, which joined forces with Bersatu in the Perikatan Nasional coalition, took 49 federal seats, the most won by any single political party.


Awareness slowly rising about period poverty

Awareness is slowly but surely growing about period poverty, a problem affecting many among the urban poor in which women are unable to afford sanitary napkins or pads for their monthly menstruation.Following a MalaysiaNow report on the issue in January, the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) began an initiative for the donation of sanitary kits in the Kampung Melayu Pekan area in Rawang.Muhammad Najmi Samsudin, a member of the Zone 15 residents’ committee, has contributed 120 such kits comprising sanitary pads, lotion, wet wipes, soap and hand sanitiser.“I was initially shocked to learn about period poverty. Because of that, the council began taking steps to help women who cannot afford these items,” he told MalaysiaNow.“No doubt it looks easy but the reality is that there are many who cannot afford them.”He said priority is given to those in the low-income bracket as women in this group often put their families’ needs above their own.The issue of sanitary pads is a sensitive topic, he added, but the response from the local community has been encouraging.“No doubt it looks easy but the reality is that there are many who cannot afford them.”These kits are handed out at the Kampung Melayu Pekan Rawang village community hall and distributed door-to-door throughout the area.“At first, I was afraid they would not want to come to the hall as this is a sensitive issue for women,” Najmi said.“I was glad when they did, although some of the kits still need to be given out to individual homes.”MalaysiaNow had reported that many from among the urban poor lack even the basic necessities for personal hygiene, a situation that could turn worse as the Covid-19 pandemic takes its toll on their already meagre finances.Unable to afford pads, some women rely on rags or old towels when their periods arrive each month.Najmi said MPS aims to make the distribution of sanitary kits an annual affair as part of its social responsibility to raise awareness about personal hygiene among women.He added that awareness about the issue should be raised among men, too, as it involves their wives and children.“Sometimes those living in flats are less affordable than those in rural areas as there is no maintenance, especially in terms of garbage and dengue problems,” he said.


Palestine, Indonesia and the 'human rights' dilemma

When I excitedly shared the news on social media that Indonesia had refused to host the Israeli team as part of the Under-20 World Cup, scheduled from May 20 to June 11 in Indonesian cities, some readers were unimpressed.  Though any news related to Palestine and Israel often generates two sharply different kinds of responses, the latest act of Indonesian solidarity with the Palestinian people failed to impress even some pro-Palestine activists in the West. Their rationale had nothing to do with Palestine or Israel, but the Indonesian government’s own human rights record.  This supposed dichotomy is as omnipresent as it is problematic. Some of the most genuine acts of solidarity with the Palestinians – or other oppressed nations in the Global South – tend to take place in other Southern nations and governments. But since the latter are frequently accused of poor human rights records by Western governments and west-based rights groups, these gestures of solidarity are often questioned as lacking substance.    Aside from the weaponisation of human rights – and democracy – by Western governments, some of the concerns about human rights violations are worth a pause: can those who do not respect the rights of their own people be trusted to champion the rights of others?  Though intellectually intriguing, the argument, and the question, lack self-awareness, reek of entitlement, and reflect a poor understanding of history.  First, the lack of self-awareness. In the West, advocacy for Palestinian rights is predicated on reaching out, educating and lobbying some of the world’s most destructive colonial and neocolonial powers. This advocacy includes civil engagement with countries that have, for example, invaded Iraq and Afghanistan, tormented Africa and continue to subjugate many nations in the Global South.  These Western governments were also the ones who either handed the deed of Palestine – Britain – to the Zionist movement or sustained Israel militarily, financially and politically for generations – the US and others. Even though little tangible progress has been recorded as far as substantive political shifts away from Israel, we continue to engage with these governments with the hope that a change will come.  Rarely do Western activists make arguments similar to the ones made against Indonesia – or other Asian, African, Arab or Muslim countries. Personally, never once have I been reminded of the moral conflict of pursuing solidarity from Western governments that have long invested in the oppression of the Palestinian people.  Second, the entitlement. For many years and, particularly since the end of World War II, Western governments endeavored to serve the roles of judge, jury and executioner. They drafted international law, yet selectively implemented it. They passed the Human Rights Declaration, yet selfishly determined who is deserving of this humanity. They launched wars in the name of defending others, yet left in their wake more death and mayhem than existed prior to these "humanitarian interventions".  Some human rights activists in the West rarely appreciate that their influence is largely derived from their very geographic position and, more importantly, citizenship. This is why Hannah Arendt rightly argued that individuals can only enjoy human rights once they obtain the right to be citizens of a nation-state. "Human rights lose all their significance as soon as an individual loses her political context," she wrote in her seminal book, "The Right to Have Rights". Though some activists have paid a heavy price for their genuine solidarity with the Palestinian people, others understand solidarity in purely conceptual terms, without considering the numerous political obstacles and, sometimes, compromises an occupied nation faces. The fact that Palestinian civil societies have launched the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement in 2005, in that particular order, reflects the awareness among Palestinians that it will take more than individual acts of solidarity to end the Israeli occupation and to dismantle Israeli apartheid. Divestment means that companies that benefit from the Israeli occupation must sever their ties with Israel – even if some of these companies may have questionable practices.  The same logic applies to sanctions, which require a strong political will by governments to ostracise Tel Aviv until it ends its occupation, respects international law and treats Palestinians as equal citizens.  If having a perfect human rights record is a prerequisite for government support, not many countries, if any, will qualify. Oppressed people simply cannot be so entitled, as they do not have the privilege or the leverage to shape a perfectly harmonious global solidarity.  Finally, the need for a better understanding of history. Prior to the signing of the Oslo Accords between the Palestinian leadership and Israel in 1993, the term "human rights" factored as an important component in the Palestinian struggle. But it was neither the only nor the main driving force behind the Palestinian quest for freedom. For Palestinians, all aspects of Palestinian resistance, including the quest for human rights, were parts of a larger strategy of liberation.  Oslo changed all of that. It shunned such terms as resistance and redefined the Palestinian struggle, from that of liberation to human rights. The Palestinian Authority respected its assigned task, and many Palestinians played along, simply because they felt they had no other alternative.  Yet, by elevating the human rights discourse, Palestinians were entrapped in entirely western priorities. Their language which, in the past, was consistent with revolutionary discourses of anti-colonial movements in the Middle East, Africa and the rest of the Global South, was rejigged to appeal to western expectations.  This should not suggest that anti-colonial movements did not champion human rights discourses. In fact, such discourses were at the core of the valiant struggles and sacrifices of millions of people across the world. But for them, human rights was not an isolated moral position, nor a political stance to be used or manipulated to highlight the moral superiority of the west over the rest or to sanction poor countries, often for the sake of exacting political or economic concessions.  Palestinians care deeply about the human rights of other nations. They ought to, because they have experienced, firsthand, what it means to be stripped of their rights and humanity. But, also, they are in no position, nor should seek one that would allow them to condition solidarity from others on the west’s politicised human rights agendas.
Ramzy Baroud is a journalist and editor of The Palestine Chronicle.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


Japan govt eases Covid guidelines on face masks

The smiles and screams at Tokyo Disneyland may be more obvious on Monday as the amusement park and much of Japan relaxes face mask norms that have defined the three-year Covid-19 pandemic.
Disney park operator Oriental Land Co, East Japan Railway Co and cinema operator Toho Co are among the major companies allowing patrons to go maskless starting Monday, based on revised government guidance announced last month.
But a rapid behavioural change is unlikely, given a long history of mask usage in Japan and a pollen onslaught that has given hay fever sufferers one of the worst spring seasons in years.
"Mask-wearing was part of our culture even before Covid-19," said Hitoshi Oshitani, a Tohoku University professor who was an architect of Japan's Covid response. "I think many people will be wearing masks even after the rules are relaxed."
Japan is one of the last major economies to relax official guidance on the coverings, whose usage has been nearly universal throughout the country even without firm regulations or penalties governing their use.
South Korea dialed back most requirements on indoor masking in January, while Singapore allowed bare faces on public transport last month. The US and England halted most mask mandates early last year.
Japan has already eased norms on masks, allowing maskless speeches in parliament and permitting schools to decide whether to require them at commencement ceremonies this month.
Chief government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno said last week that masks would no longer be required at Cabinet meetings starting Monday and that decisions on the coverings would be left up to individual workspaces. Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike urged residents to carry masks with them when they go out and to remain flexible even as the guidelines ease.
Japan's Covid vaccination rate stands at more than 80% and cases have ebbed after an eighth wave of infections that peaked in early January.
Health experts in Japan have pointed to widespread mask use along with an embrace of hygiene and social distancing for the country's relatively lower death toll from Covod.
Kyoto University professor Hiroshi Nishiura, one of the more conservative voices among Japan's pandemic response experts, said that voluntary masking on public transport and in other spaces could have a continuing benefit in protecting against infection.
"That could have been incorporated as part of our daily habit," he said. "The governmental decision in this time spoiled that intent."


Putrajaya set to announce plan for private hospitals to join Covid battle

Private hospital representatives will be discussing with health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah tomorrow a plan on getting them to take in Covid-19 patients, MalaysiaNow has learnt.It is also understood that private hospitals could be allocating 10% of their facilities to treat Covid-19 patients, following a surge of the virus which has pushed government hospitals beyond their operatng capacity.When contacted, the Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia (APHM), which represents more than 100 hospitals nationwide, did not confirm this, but said they were preparing for the plan despite limitations in treating Covid-19 cases.“The level of care and treatment depends on the size of hospitals, manpower and facilities,” said APHM president Dr Kuljit Singh.It is learnt that under a new arrangement, private hospitals will treat Covid-19 patients up to the ICU level, and government hospitals will no longer accept referrals for patients.On the other hand, public hospitals could also transfer cases to private hospitals, a source said.Kuljit said details on the private healthcare’s involvement are still being ironed out, and will be announced by Noor Hisham.“Right now we are making arrangements and getting ready to accept Covid-19 patients,” he told MalaysiaNow.He also praised the efforts of the public hospitals so far in treating tens of thousands of Covid-19 patients.More than 147,000 people in Malaysia have tested positive for the virus since the pandemic was detected in the country early last year.As of yesterday, government facilities set aside for Covid-19 treatment nationwide were still caring for more than 33,000 patients.But a surge in September forced the government’s senior medical officials to warn of a shortage of beds and medical equipment, as well as manpower due to hundreds of frontliners themselves being infected with the deadly virus.Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, announcing details of an emergency proclamation this week, had said that the authorities could enact ordinances to allow the takeover of private assets to help in the battle against Covid-19.So far, private hospitals have said they are prepared to assist in the battle despite shortcomings compared to the better facilities at government hospitals.Sivanesan Selan contributed to this report.


Two dead, 51 missing after Genting landslide

Two people are dead and more than 50 are missing after a landslide struck a campsite in Genting Highlands early today, officials said, as search and rescue personnel scoured the site for survivors.
The landslide occurred at about 3am on the side of a road near a farmhouse that provides camping facilities, the state fire and rescue department said in a statement.
A total of 79 people were caught in the landslide and 23 had been found safe, the department said. In addition to the two dead, three were injured and 51 were still missing.
The landslide fell from an estimated height of 30m (100 ft) above the campsite, and covered an area of about one acre (0.4 hectare), the department's director, Norazam Khamis, said.
The disaster struck just outside Genting Highlands, a scenic hill country area in Batang Kali district, north of the capital that is popular for its resorts and natural beauty.
Selangor is the country's most affluent state and has suffered landslides before, often attributed to forest and land clearance.
The region is in its rainy season but no heavy rain or earthquakes were recorded overnight.
A year ago, about 21,000 people were displaced by flooding from torrential rain in seven states across the country.


Undi 18, automatic voter registration to be implemented by Dec 31, says law minister

Undi 18, the lowering of the voting age from 21 to 18, and automatic voter registration will be implemented before Dec 31, while legislation to prevent party hopping and to limit the prime minister’s tenure has been proposed, to be brought to Parliament before July 2022.Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said this in clarifying the latest status of the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Transformation and Political Stability between the government and Pakatan Harapan (PH) signed on Sept 13.He said the implementation of Undi 18 and automatic voter registration is based on a Cabinet decision and that of the Kuching High Court on Sept 3.“For Undi 18, we have no choice, the bill must be tabled before the end of this Parliament sitting, because the judge has ruled that if we do not implement it, it means that the prime minister and the Malaysian government will be in contempt of court,” he said in reply to a question from Anwar Ibrahim (PH-Port Dickson) on the MoU in the Dewan Rakyat today.He added that the anti-party hopping legislation and limiting the prime minister’s tenure would require a detailed study and engagement sessions which could not be done in haste.Wan Junaidi said a meeting would be held with PH leaders next month to get their views on the proposed anti-hopping law as well as to state the government’s stand on it.On parliamentary reforms, he said the Parliamentary Services Bill 2022 and the Parliament (Privileges and Powers) (Amendment) Bill 2022 are expected to be tabled during Parliament’s first meeting in 2022 in March.Regarding amendments to the Standing Orders of the Dewan Rakyat to enable select committees and special select committees to hold open and hybrid meetings, Wan Junaidi said a Cabinet memorandum has been prepared with feedback en route from the relevant parties.These include the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the finance ministry, the Cabinet Division on the Constitution and Government Relations and the Office of the Chief Government Security Officer.On amendments to the constitution related to matters under the 1963 Malaysia Agreement (MA63), Wan Junaidi said the Constitutional Amendment Bill on this was tabled for first reading in the Dewan Rakyat on Nov 3 with the second reading scheduled for next month.He said the government is also committed to ensuring the independence of the judiciary as well as the transformation of institutions and good governance.


Daily caseload tops 4,600 as 11 more deaths logged

Another 4,684 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 4,705,824.
There were 4,275 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,622,900.
There are now 46,904 active cases, of which 45,264 or 96.5% are undergoing home quarantine.
Meanwhile, 28 (0.1%) are at quarantine centres while 1,556 (3.3%) have been hospitalised.
A total of 56 are in ICU with 35 in need of respiratory assistance. ICU utilisation throughout the country stands at 65.4%, with Covid ICU utilisation at 14.9%.
Another 11 deaths were reported, including one who was brought in dead. Total deaths now stand at 36,020.


Myanmar junta demands international doctors stop caring for sick in south

Thousands of HIV and tuberculosis patients in southern Myanmar are facing serious health risks, the global aid group Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières or MSF) has warned after the country’s military junta told it to “suspend all activities” in the region.MSF said on Wednesday that it had received a letter from military officials asking the group to stop its work in the southeastern area of Dawei, where it has provided healthcare to the poor for more than two decades, the BBC is reporting.In response, the group released a statement warning that “suspending MSF’s activities could be life-threatening for many of our patients at a time when public services remain severely disrupted”.MSF said it had reached out to regional officials in an attempt to “understand” the reasoning for their decision, which, if followed, would prevent the group from treating more than 2,000 people in the area who are living with HIV.Almost all public medical facilities across Myanmar have been closed in the wake of the Feb 1 coup, after doctors and other health officials took part in the ongoing civil strike opposing the military takeover.Dawei is the hometown of the Myanmar military’s leader, Min Aung Hlaing. The area has seen protests almost every day since democratically elected civilian leaders were detained and security forces sought to gain control.The order for MSF to suspend its work comes despite a meeting between the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Peter Maurer, and Hlaing on June 3.Maurer had requested that security officials give broader access for humanitarian aid in the worst-affected parts of the country.Since the coup, more than 800 people have died in clashes between the Myanmar military and pro-democracy protesters, with many more detained for their role in the demonstrations that have brought chaos throughout the country.MSF is best known for its projects in conflict zones and in countries affected by endemic diseases. In 2019, the group was active in 70 countries with over 35,000 personnel mostly local doctors, nurses and other medical professionals, logistical experts, water and sanitation engineers and administrators.Private donors provide about 90% of the organisation’s funding, while corporate donations provide the rest, giving MSF an annual budget of approximately US$1.63 billion.


Lawyer says anti-hopping law crucial before next GE

A lawyer has called for an anti-hopping act to ensure that the victors of the next general election can focus on governing without the fear of MPs switching loyalties, amid persistent threats by Umno to leave the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.Haniff Khatri Abdulla said such a law is also critical to restoring the public’s trust in the country’s parliamentary democracy, which he said is at its lowest.He said if the current political situation continues, voters would not bother to cast their ballots at the 15th general election, said to be in the works.“Say if we vote for someone and then he jumps ship the next day. How would the people be encouraged to participate in the election?” Haniff told MalaysiaNow.“How would they have confidence that the government they chose would remain?”“So what’s the offer to the people at the next polls?”Calls for an anti-hopping law, which would see a fresh by-election called if an MP switches his party membership, have dogged Malaysian parliamentary democracy for decades.But in a landmark case in 1992, involving two Kelantan elected representatives from the now-abolished Semangat 46 who joined Umno, it was ruled that the duo had the constitutional right to remain as assemblymen despite switching parties.As such, the then-Supreme Court nullified a state enactment on preventing party hopping, invoking the constitution’s Article 10 on freedom of association.Since then, party hopping has occurred on both sides of the divide, with the Perak episode in 2009 and the collapse of the PH government last year showing the impact on the country’s administration when elected representatives switch sides.At the moment, though, any move to enact an anti-hopping law appears unlikely.Haniff said it would need amendments to the Constitution, which can only be passed with two-thirds support in the Dewan Rakyat – an unlikely scenario given the current political composition.The amendments include adding switching parties as among reasons that would disqualify an MP or senator, as listed in Article 48.“In practice, can it be done?” he asked.He said there is one way such a law could still be enacted in time before the next general election.It would, however, require the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to declare an emergency, where he could appoint an advisory council to propose amendments to the constitution for an anti-hopping law.“So when Parliament convenes during an emergency, which MP would dare to oppose such a law?” he asked.“This is the most practical way of enacting an anti-hopping law before the polls, and that is why a political emergency is crucial,” he added.


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More needed to tackle vaping culture among youth

While cigarette smoking is on a downtrend due to the success of anti-tobacco campaigns by the government and greater awareness about a healthy lifestyle, there has been an alarmingly rapid growth in the popularity of vaping.While the vaping culture has had run-ins with the government since 2014, by and large it has benefitted from a lack of regulation and an explosion in terms of market choices especially from China.A variety of vaping devices and the vape potion or juices are readily available and easily accessible to everyone in Malaysia. With just a click of a button online, anyone could get hold of this device and become hooked on this habit.Furthermore, vape potions have a variety of flavour options one can go for – from creme brulee to bubble-gum – and there is no standardised amount of how much nicotine or what other substances that could be mixed in the potion. There is no regulation, no oversight body and definitely no industry standards to guide what goes into the mix and what is the “correct” level of mix.This is not to mention that vape liquids also have high nicotine concentration levels (up to 5% or higher) which increases dependence on the substance. In short, if you are on it you will be addicted to it.There has been much evidence in the US in particular where users have had severe cases of damaged lungs due to either the low safety standards of vaping devices or dangerous vaping substances such as THC.While there may be some truth to the claim that this alternative to cigarettes is a safer option than smoking cigarettes, that is missing the point here. The bigger problem is that it lures new users who may have not smoked a cigarette before.This is particularly true for youth. Vaping is not just a trend, it is also a cheap thrill for the youth. It is far cheaper to buy vaping products than to buy cigarettes which are expensive due to the high taxes imposed by the government.Last year, Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz announced during Budget 2021 that the government would introduce a vape tax. This is a step in the right direction, but the proposed tax is too low at RM0.40/ml for vaping liquid which is less than 10 US cents.The move by the finance ministry pales in comparison with developed countries like South Korea which through a combination of taxes rakes in close to US$1.50 per ml of liquid nicotine.Setting the vape liquid tax at such a low rate will make vape, which is already appealing to youths, all the more appealing.This goes against the very essence of what the government should be doing which is to guard youths from vaping and to get rid of smoking incidences overall.The government must do more when it comes to preventing youths from vaping. One clear way to do this is to make sure that the tax on the vaping liquid (especially ones with nicotine) is set higher, possibly closer to other tobacco products. The government must send a strong signal that it understands the risks of vaping and about the repercussions it will have on youths.Will the finance ministry bear responsibility for the uptick in vaping culture in Malaysia with such favourable low taxes on the addictive vaping liquid? Will the health ministry please offer some advice to the finance ministry?The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


One year on, Afghan family still divided after daughter fled, mother stayed

As thousands of Afghans crowded outside Kabul airport a year ago desperately trying to escape the Taliban, Massouda Kohistani managed to fight her way on to a foreign military flight bound for the Gulf and ended up in Spain.
Her mother and more than a dozen other family members did not make it. They were left behind on the tarmac, Kohistani recalled, so as well as dealing with the pain of separation from her family and home, the 41-year-old rights activist is coping with a crushing sense of guilt.
"I feel terrible having left behind my family, my sick mother," Kohistani, who is single, told Reuters from Salamanca, a city west of Madrid, shortly after finishing another emotionally draining video call with her family back in Kabul.
"They don't have enough money to manage expenses... earlier I managed to pay all the bills."
Although there are no accurate estimates, thousands of Afghans fled the country in the chaotic days that followed the hardline Islamist Taliban's military conquest on Aug 15, 2021.
Reuters spoke with 13 prominent Afghan activists who escaped and who are now living as refugees abroad with no clear idea of when, if ever, they will be able to go home.
The men and women are wary of returning to a country ruled by a government that has restricted basic freedoms since returning to power.
Besmullah Habib, deputy spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said the Taliban had invited all Afghans who fled to return, and that a special commission had been set up to help that happen.
Kohistani, speaking from her apartment in Spain, said she had had her refugee status confirmed, valid for five years.
Spain's interior ministry declined to comment on individual cases. According to ministry data, almost 3,000 Afghans have arrived in Spain expressing a wish to seek asylum in the last year. Nearly 2,000 have sought asylum and just over 1,500 have been granted it so far.
Any sense of relief Kohistani felt after getting away proved short-lived.
"I live alone in Spain and the panic of traumatic moments at Kabul airport haunt me every day," she said.
Foreign forces at Kabul airport let her on to a plane filled with hundreds of Afghans, but her family was not allowed, she said. Reuters could not independently verify her account.
"My exit was the turning point from a life with promise to one filled with anxiety, frustration and trauma," she said.
Rights curtailed
Scenes of panic at the airport a year ago dominated news bulletins around the world, and underlined the fear many Afghans felt as the Taliban marched into Kabul. Resistance from local forces crumbled at the time as the US military withdrew.
Scores of Afghan civilians and 13 US troops were killed by a suspected suicide bomber who mingled with crowds outside the airport in an attack claimed by Islamic State, a rival hardline Islamist group.
The Taliban, who fought a 20-year insurgency against US-led forces in which tens of thousands of civilians were killed, have severely curtailed the rights of women and girls since toppling the Western-backed government.
Some ex-officials and soldiers from the ousted administration have also accused them of carrying out vendettas against former foes.
The Taliban government, some of whose top leaders are on US wanted lists for suspected links to terrorism, has vowed to respect people's rights according to its interpretation of Islamic law, and said it would investigate alleged abuses.
In Kabul, Kohistani's sister and now wheelchair-bound mother said the Taliban continued to conduct surprise inspections of their family home to check if the daughter who fled had returned from Spain.
"It was a big shock for me to see my daughter leave suddenly," the mother told Reuters after hanging up on the same video call.
"I don't care about my life... I just wish that when I die, Massouda can come to my funeral," added the mother, who requested her name not be published for fear of reprisals.
Habib from the Interior Ministry denied accusations the Taliban had conducted searches at the home.
"The general amnesty announced by the supreme leader includes everyone," he said. "Those who claim these issues are trying to... strengthen their immigration case."
According to the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR, Afghans are living as refugees in 98 countries, making them the third largest displaced population after Syrian refugees and displaced Venezuelans.
A senior United Nations official working in Afghanistan, who requested anonymity, said an estimated two million Afghans out of a population of some 40 million people were seeking immediate refugee status overseas, and the number of applicants continued to rise.


Muhyiddin still in charge after audience with Agong

Muhyiddin Yassin today said his position as prime minister will be determined through a vote of confidence at the coming Dewan Rakyat sitting in September, a day after several Umno MPs revoked their support for the government.Muhyiddin said his proposal had been accepted by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong during a royal audience this morning.“A motion of confidence will be tabled when the Dewan Rakyat convenes in September. This way, my position as prime minister as well as that of the Perikatan Nasional government will be determined in accordance with the law and the constitution.“Alhamdulillah, His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has consented to my proposal,” he said in a special address accompanied by Cabinet members.Muhyiddin said during his audience at Istana Negara today, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah informed him that the palace had been notified that eight Umno MPs had revoked their support.Muhyiddin said he had informed the Agong that he has letters of support from MPs showing that he still commands the majority support.“As such, my resignation under Article 43(4) of the constitution does not arise.“But I am also aware that my position as prime minister is always being questioned. As such, I presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong that I will determine my legitimacy as prime minister in Parliament,” he added.Court clusterMuhyiddin also suggested that the opposition to him by some Umno MPs was due to his refusal to interfere in their ongoing corruption cases.“I am aware that they are unhappy with my firm resolve not to entertain some of their demands. This includes calls that I intervene in court affairs to acquit several individuals who are being prosecuted for criminal offences,” he said, referring to what is known as the “court cluster” among Umno MPs.Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, his predecessor Najib Razak, Baling MP Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim and Pontian MP Ahmad Maslan, who are facing multiple corruption charges, are among those who have revoked their support for Muhyiddin.Muhyiddin said the government machinery would continue to function as usual, including to carry out the massive Covid-19 vaccination programme that has so far covered more than 20 million people.“Similarly, the people will be able to receive the assistance announced by the government without any hindrance.“I call upon civil servants, especially the frontliners, to continue carrying out their duties and responsibilities without being distracted by the political turmoil that has been deliberately started by certain parties trying to exploit the situation.”Muhyiddin said he had been accused of committing “derhaka” against the king “when what I did was to protect the supremacy of the constitution and the sanctity of the constitutional monarch”.“I will not sacrifice my principles and turn my back on my oath of office to fulfil all duties with honesty, and I declare my loyalty to the king and country, as well as to preserve, protect and defend the constitution,” he said.Muhyiddin was appointed as prime minister following the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government in February last year, after a series of audiences by MPs with the Agong to determine who had the majority support to form the government.His remarks come a day after Zahid said he had statutory declarations (SDs) from enough MPs to show that Muhyiddin had lost the support of the majority.Zahid said these as well as additional SDs from other Umno MPs would be submitted to the Agong.PKR president Anwar Ibrahim had made a similar claim a day earlier, saying Muhyiddin’s government had fallen.


China steps up easing, cuts lending benchmarks to revive faltering economy

China cut its benchmark lending rate and lowered the mortgage reference by a bigger margin on Monday, adding to last week's easing measures, as Beijing boosts efforts to revive an economy hobbled by a property crisis and a resurgence of Covid cases.
The People's Bank of China (PBOC) is walking a tight rope in its efforts to revive growth. Offering too much of stimulus could add to inflation pressures and risk capital flight as the Federal Reserve and other economies raise interest rates aggressively.
However, weak credit demand is forcing the PBOC's hand as it tries to keep China's economy on an even keel.
The one-year loan prime rate (LPR) was lowered by five basis points to 3.65% at the central bank's monthly fixing on Monday, while the five-year was slashed by 15 basis points to 4.30%.
The one-year LPR was last reduced in January. The five-year tenor, which was last lowered in May, influences the pricing of home mortgages.
"All told, the impression we get from all the PBOC's recent announcements is that policy is being eased but not dramatically," said Sheana Yue, China economist at Capital Economics.
"We anticipate two more 10 bps cuts to the PBOC policy rates over the remainder of this year and continue to forecast a reserve requirement ratio (RRR) cut next quarter."
The LPR cuts come after the PBOC surprised markets last week by lowering the medium term lending facility (MLF) rate and another short-term liquidity tool, as a string of recent data showed the economy was losing momentum amid slowing global growth and rising borrowing costs in many developed countries.
Shares of Chinese developers listed in Hong Kong rose 1.7%, while China-listed property stocks were relatively stable in morning deals.
But worries over widening policy divergence with other major economies dragged the Chinese yuan to near two-year lows. The onshore yuan last traded at 6.8258 per dollar.
In a Reuters poll conducted last week, 25 out of 30 respondents predicted a 10-basis-point reduction to the one-year LPR. All of those in the poll also projected a cut to the five-year tenor, including 90% of them forecasting a reduction larger than 10 bps.
Testing time
China's economy, the world's second biggest, narrowly avoided contracting in the second quarter as widespread Covid-19 lockdowns and a property crisis took a heavy toll on consumer and business confidence.
Beijing's strict "zero-Covid" strategy remains a drag on consumption, and over recent weeks cases have rebounded again. Adding to the gloom, a slowdown in global growth and persistent supply-chain snags are undermining chances of a strong revival in China.
A raft of data, released last week, showed the economy unexpectedly slowed in July and prompted some global investment banks, including Goldman Sachs and Nomura, to revise down their full-year GDP growth forecasts for China.
Goldman Sachs lowered China's 2022 full-year GDP growth forecast to 3.0% from 3.3% previously, far below Beijing's target of around 5.5%. In a tacit acknowledgement of the challenge in meeting the GDP target, the government omitted a mention of it in a recent high profile policy meeting.
The deeper cut to the mortgage reference rate underlines efforts by policymakers to stabilise the property sector after a string of defaults among developers and a slump in home sales hammered consumer demand.
Capital Economics' Yue said the weakness in loan demand is partly structural, "reflecting a loss of confidence in the housing market and the uncertainty caused by recurrent disruptions from China's zero-Covid strategy."
"These are drags that can't be easily solved by monetary policy."
Sources last week told Reuters that China will guarantee new onshore bond issues by a few select private developers to support the sector, which accounts for a quarter of the national GDP.
The LPR cut was necessary, "but the size of the reduction was not enough to stimulate financing demand," said senior China strategist at ANZ, Xing Zhaopeng, who expects the one-year LPR could be cut further.
Goldman Sachs economists also predicted more easing, but noted that policymakers were facing a testing time.
The economists said the PBOC might not be in a "rush to deliver more interest rate cuts," because of "rising food prices and potential spillover effects from developed markets' monetary policy tightening."


Army vows no compromise on bullying

The Malaysian army will not compromise on bullying activities among its soldiers, says its chief Zamrose Mohd Zain.He said a comprehensive investigation will be implemented, and stern action taken against individuals found guilty of perpetuating the act, including immediate termination from the services.“To the soldiers, let me declare here, if you are caught maltreating and bullying other personnel, if investigated and found guilty, you will be sacked immediately.“That is my stand, no need for the Military Court process; we will (straightaway) punish, the form of punishment cannot be referred to the Military Court. After that (you) will be terminated.“Try it if you are in doubt, indeed I will do it,” he told reporters after visiting the PTD (Army Chiefs) Gallery at the Army Museum in Port Dickson yesterday.He said this when asked to comment on a screenshot of a message by Twitter user @pedogpop, which went viral when the writer claimed that his younger brother, who is a soldier living in the barracks at an army camp, was hit and bullied by a group of seniors.On Dec 2, Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein was reported to have urged the individual making the claim to come forward to furnish information so that a comprehensive investigation could be conducted on the matter, with the identity of the whistleblower to be kept confidential.“On the case, I received the message stating that his younger brother was bullied, but I will only act once I get the details because he did not clarify where his brother is from, which unit, navy, army or air force, how to investigate? I understand that the case has been taken over by the defence ministry,” he said.


PH accuses AG of ‘derhaka’ again

The top leaders of Pakatan Harapan have again accused the attorney-general of committing “derhaka” (treason) against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, in the wake of a statement explaining why there is no need for a confidence motion in the prime minister at the coming Dewan Rakyat sitting.The three leaders – Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Guan Eng and Mohamad Sabu – said a confidence vote had been requested by the Agong when he confirmed Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s appointment last month, adding that such a vote had precedence in the past.“Pakatan Harapan calls for the resignation of the AG as he not only committed derhaka against His Majesty but has also betrayed the Federal Constitution and parliamentary democracy,” the trio said.Attorney-General Idrus Harun had said there was no need to legitimise the appointment of Ismail as prime minister or his government as it was established according to law.He said any requirement for further validation would undermine the authority of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in the matter.“This move would not be in line with the provisions of the Federal Constitution and would deny the authority of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as enshrined in the constitution,” he said.Ismail was appointed to the country’s top office following a rigorous process by Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah to determine which of the MPs possessed the majority support.He was sworn in with the backing of 114 out of 220 MPs.The PH leaders said Idrus’ statement went against the decree of the Agong to party leaders during the audiences at Istana Negara on Aug 17.“As contained in the palace’s media statement on Aug 18, His Majesty said that ‘the prime minister who has been appointed by the king according to Articles 40 (2)(a) and 43 (2)(a) of the Federal Constitution shall as soon as possible submit a confidence vote in the Dewan Rakyat to legitimise him as having the confidence of the majority of members in the House.“His Majesty’s statement was also emphasised by the deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and the need for a confidence vote was agreed on by all party leaders,” they said.They said such votes had been held on Jan 27, 1976, 12 days after Hussein Onn was appointed as prime minister to replace Abdul Razak, and on Nov 3, 2003, three days after Abdullah Ahmad Badawi replaced Dr Mahathir Mohamad.“Therefore, the Presidential Council considers the statement of the attorney-general on behalf of this government as rude, against the spirit of the constitution, and treason towards His Majesty.“This is also the second time the attorney-general has committed treason against the king, which is very disappointing. He is not fit to hold the office of the attorney-general,” they said.


New cases under 4,000 but 21 more deaths reported

Another 3,455 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 222,628.Selangor recorded 1,145 cases, Johor 708, Kuala Lumpur 619, Sabah 276, Sarawak 121 and Terengganu 115.Penang recorded 85 cases, Perak 84, Negeri Sembilan 79, Pahang 63, Melaka 62, Kedah 59, Kelantan 31, Putrajaya six, and Perlis and Labuan one each.Active cases stand at 47,847 with 327 in the ICU and 145 in need of respiratory assistance.Seven new clusters were detected:1. Jalan Ragum (Klang and Petaling in Selangor; 542 screened, 219 positive)2. Bukit Rahman (Kuala Selangor, Petaling and Gombak in Selangor; 2,800 screened, 48 positive)3. Parit Jamil Darat (Muar in Johor; 189 screened, 26 positive)4. Tapak Bina Jalan Cheras (Cheras in Kuala Lumpur; 823 screened, 332 positive)5. Semarak Bersia (Hulu Perak in Perak; 58 screened, 19 positive)6. Taman Muhibbah (Temerloh and Kuantan in Pahang; 47 screened, 14 positive)7. Industri Serkam (Jasin and Melaka Tengah in Melaka; 1,700 screened, 59 positive)Four others ended, leaving 404 active clusters across the country.Another 3,661 patients were discharged, bringing total recoveries to 173,990.However, 21 more deaths were reported, pushing the virus toll to 791.


PM to skip Cabinet swearing-in after close contact with Covid patient

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob will be unable to attend the swearing-in ceremony of his Cabinet this afternoon as he is self-isolating after coming into close contact with a Covid-19 patient.The Prime Minister’s Office in a statement added that Ismail would attend tomorrow’s Merdeka celebrations at Dataran Pahlawan Negara in Putrajaya in a virtual capacity.The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to take place at Istana Negara at 2.30pm before Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.A total of 31 ministers and 38 deputy ministers had been expected to take their oath of office.However, Kimanis MP Mohamad Alamin, who was named as deputy education minister in Ismail’s Cabinet line-up, said earlier today that he had tested positive for Covid-19 and would not be able to attend the ceremony.


Snooker to the fore as Malaysia bag just one gold on Day 9 of SEA Games

Snooker came to the rescue for the national contingent today when it delivered the only glitter of gold on the ninth day of the 2023 SEA Games at Phnom Penh yesterday.
The success of Thor Chuan Leong in contributing gold number 29 in the men's snooker singles event proved to be the only consolation in Malaysia's search for gold since Day Eight.
However, even the "Mighty Thor's" achievement could not improve Malaysia's position in the medal standings as they remained seventh with a haul of 29 golds, 41 silvers and 79 bronzes.
It may be difficult for the Malaysian contingent to improve their position in the medal tally as sixth-placed Singapore have already raked in a haul of 42-36-55, with just three days to go before the curtain comes down on the biennial games on Wednesday (May 17).
The national camp's hopes of meeting the 40-gold target also look to be dim after events that used to be a gold mine for Malaysia, like diving, athletics, karate and silat, have already ended. The national contingent will now focus on hockey, badminton and sepak takraw to add to their gold medal collection.
Today, the sepak takraw squad can add to the medal tally when they take on Indonesia in the men's doubles final.
At the end of Day Nine, Vietnam continue to lead the medal tally with 107 golds, 90 silvers and 94 bronzes, followed by Thailand (90-67-88) while Indonesia (67-61-80) have overtaken hosts Cambodia (65-61-103) in the third spot.
The Philippines (46-72-86) are in fifth place.


MACC chief concerned over bribery, abuse of power among Penang civil servants

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Azam Baki expressed concern today about civil servants in Penang accepting bribes and making false claims, in addition to reports of abuse of power.
He said based on its statistics, MACC had received a total of 919 complaints on these offences from 2019 until now.
"Many offences were committed but the crime of corruption is the favourite, which normally involves accepting bribes and abuse of power.
"We received 312 reports on accepting bribes and 147 on the abuse of power in Penang," he said on a corruption awareness programme with Penang RTM’s Mutiara FM radio.
"This trend is worrying as it involves the abuse of power such as using their (civil servants) positions to award job contracts to family members or individuals who have blood relations," he added.
He said making false claims for work done was also common in the state.  "For example, an individual who has supposedly done a job makes a false claim for it as if he was the one who did the work. This happens a lot and it's very damaging.
"These cases are increasing by the day, so I urge all the department heads to monitor their officers who are given the authority to make decisions," he said.
Azam also said that civil servants were MACC's first target group for monitoring and investigation, as they are the administrative pulse of a state or country.
"Therefore, I have instructed my officers to look into the corruption issue among civil servants in Penang and other states," he added.


Grab buys over Jaya Grocer supermarkets

Ride-hailing giant Grab is acquiring supermarket chain Jaya Grocer, Bloomberg reports citing a filing with the US Securities & Exchange Commission today.The report said Grab had signed an agreement with Jaya Grocer’s shareholders to buy all of the retail chain’s ordinary shares and 75% preference shares for an undisclosed amount.Another report by business daily The Edge said up to RM1.8 billion could change hands in the deal.Jaya Grocer is founded and managed by members of the Teng family, who also founded the landmark TMC supermarket in Bangsar and the Giant hypermarket, both of which are no longer under them.Jaya Grocer operates some 40 outlets nationwide, catering to the premium retail market.Private equity fund Asean Industrial Growth Fund had bought 45% stake in Jaya Grocer, but last month the Teng family announced that they had returned as the full owners of the company.


MP’s northern dialect causes confusion over Najib

After several media outlets misquoted him due to confusion over his northern dialect, Barisan Nasional MP Shahidan Kassim today clarified that he had not been targeting former prime minister Najib Razak when he urged MPs to support the 2021 budget.Shahidan, who is Perikatan Nasional’s backbenchers chief, was addressing the Dewan Rakyat when he was interrupted by former health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad who wanted to respond to allegations that he had not done enough to contain the spread of Covid-19 when Pakatan Harapan was in power.Shahidan went on to say that MPs who don’t support the budget should not be present during voting on Nov 26, adding that they would be betraying the people.“Let me tell you, anyone who rejects this budget, including my friend the former health minister, has betrayed the people,” he said.Shahidan however pronounced “bekas”, the Malay word for “former”, as “bekaih”, leading some to mistake it for “Pekan”.“I did not say that. Maybe it was misunderstood as I used the northern dialect. But I never said ‘Pekan’,” Shahidan, the MP for Arau in Perlis, later told MalaysiaNow.Najib, who is the Pekan MP, had several times stated his objection to the budget unless several amendments are made.


Dewan Rakyat session cancelled due to Parliament dissolution

The Dewan Rakyat sitting for the Third Meeting of the Fifth Term of the 14th Parliament, scheduled to run for 32 days, has been cancelled due to the dissolution of Parliament by the prime minister, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Harun said yesterday.
All related activities, sessions and meetings earlier scheduled will also be cancelled.
"I have today received the proclamation of the dissolution of Parliament signed by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah in accordance with Article 55 (4) of the Federal Constitution," he said in a statement.
"The process of holding the 15th general election will now come under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission (EC)."
The dates for nomination, early voting, and polling, as well as other matters related to GE15 will be decided by the EC. Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob had announced the dissolution of Parliament in a special announcement at Perdana Putra, putting an end to rumours and speculation that had only grown since the end of September.
Ismail said he had obtained the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to dissolve Parliament during an audience at Istana Negara on Sunday.
He said with the dissolution of Parliament, the mandate to elect a stable, strong and respectable government would be handed back to the people.
The third meeting of the 14th Parliament which started on Oct 3 had been in session for five days, including the tabling of the Budget 2023 by Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz on Oct 7.


India’s Covid-19 cases pass 10 million

India surged past 10 million coronavirus cases on Saturday, official data showed, the second highest in the world although new infection rates appear to have fallen sharply in recent weeks.The number of cases increased by just over 25,000 in 24 hours, according to the health ministry, while the total number of deaths from the virus in India now stands at 145,136.In September, the vast nation of 1.3 billion people had been recording daily new cases of almost 100,000 and looked on track to surpass the US as the worst-hit country.But the outbreak has accelerated in the US and appears to have lost momentum in India, despite the country being home to some of the most crowded cities on the planet.The US, with a population a quarter the size of India’s, has been reporting upwards of 200,000 new cases daily in recent weeks, 10 times as many as India.India’s fatality rate is also considerably lower – less than half that of the US.Residents in the capital New Delhi told AFP they were still worried but were more comfortable than before about leaving their homes.“Obviously the fear levels have come down over time. Initially, it was more scary,” said housewife Huma Zaidi, 46.“But we are still taking precautions like wearing masks when going out and avoiding social gatherings.”India has lifted restrictions on most activities to boost the struggling economy, although some states and territories have reimposed curbs.“I plucked up my courage and went out for lunch for the first time in six or eight months,” said Simpy Dhar, 44, a language instructor.“However, my fear is not eliminated completely. I know coronavirus is still out there.”Vaccine challengeThe 10-million mark came as the world’s second-most populous nation gears up for the colossal and challenging task of starting to vaccinate the population next year.The government aims to inoculate 300 million people initially, with health workers and other frontline staff expected first in line.India has yet to approve any vaccines but several drugmakers have applied for authorisation, including AstraZeneca, which has partnered with India’s Serum Institute, the world’s largest vaccine maker.Health ministry officials were expected to meet the Election Commission – which carries out vast state and national polls – as they map out how to distribute the shots, the Press Trust of India reported Thursday.Experts have cautioned that the country could struggle because of its weak cold-chain infrastructure – needed for keeping vaccines refrigerated – particularly in poor and densely populated urban areas and remote rural regions.“All the experience that India has in vaccinating is on the much smaller game of annual vaccinations of children,” Satyajit Rath, an immunologist at the National Institute of Immunology, told AFP.“I’m not sure that India’s public healthcare systems are sufficiently developed… Even mildly below-freezing requirements (for vaccine transportation and storage) are likely to prove extremely challenging in the rural hinterland’s healthcare system services.”ScepticismLike elsewhere, Indian authorities also have to convince some Indians sceptical about the safety of the shots.A recent survey of 18,000 people across India found that 69% said they were in no rush to get vaccinated.LocalCirles, which conducted the poll, cited “limited information about side-effects, efficacy levels and a growing belief in parts of the population that Covid-19 cannot infect them because of their high immunity levels”.“The companies seem to be in a rush; they may have cut corners. I will not be first in line. I’d rather wait and watch,” said housewife Zaidi.Rohit Bhalla, a schoolteacher, added that while he was looking forward to being vaccinated, the government needed to launch education campaigns.“There is lot of fear about vaccines. The government must start awareness drives to dispel these fears,” the 38-year-old told AFP.


Daily cases plunge to 5,400

Another 5,434 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 2,396,121.Another 8,435 patients recovered, bringing total recoveries to 2,278,955.Meanwhile 682 are in the ICU, including 622 confirmed Covid-19 patients.A total of 357 are in need of respiratory assistance including 286 confirmed Covid-19 cases.Of the 5,434 cases reported today, 151 (2.8%) are in Category Three and above. The remaining 5,283 (97.2%) are in Category One and Two.


Indonesia court to rule on ballot system months from 2024 election

Indonesia's Constitutional Court will on Thursday rule on a possible change to the country's electoral system, a decision that has fuelled concerns about political interference in the upcoming February 2024 general and presidential polls.
The case, brought by several politicians including from the ruling Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), seeks a return to the "closed" ballot system. Critics say the change would take the world's third-largest democracy back to the era of authoritarian rule, when only heads of political parties were empowered to appoint lawmakers.
The current "open" ballot system allows citizens to vote directly for individual lawmakers.
The timing of the case, just eight months out from next year's simultaneous presidential and legislative elections, has raised eyebrows in Southeast Asia's biggest country, with many speculating that attempts are underway to engineer an election delay through unorthodox legal means.
Eight out of nine parties represented in Parliament, including those allied with the ruling PDI-P, have denounced the case.
President Joko Widodo, or Jokowi, has denied that he is seeking to extend his time in office beyond the two-term limit and recently stated that he would not do anything that would "tarnish democracy".
The Constitutional Court had in 2008 scrapped the closed ballot mechanism, used during the decades-long rule of former strongman Suharto. It reasoned at the time that an open list provided voters more information about the individuals they were electing.
Judges are expected to issue their ruling on Thursday after a judicial review of the system was filed last November, a court official said.
The independence of the Constitutional Court has also been questioned after the reappointment of the president's brother-in-law as court's chief justice this March.


‘BursaBets’ causes rise in Top Glove stocks as GameStop fiasco reaches Malaysia

Investors in Malaysia inspired by the recent GameStop mayhem have come together to push up local stocks with their own version of the WallStreetBets Reddit thread, called BursaBets.Earlier in January, amateur US investors on Reddit found out hedge funds were short-selling stocks. Widely considered as stock manipulation, millions of investors then moved to “punish” these hedge funds by buying up as much of those stocks as they could.This in turn sent stocks like GameStop from US$20 to US$469 in weeks and caused large hedge fund managers to lose billions of dollars to an army of Reddit folks.Robinhood, the trade app most of these investors were using, decided to comply with regulations and suspend trading shares of GameStop when numbers were soaring.Co-founder Vladimir Tenev explained this to CNBC as needing to “comply with regulatory net capital requirements and deposit demands from clearing-houses, the institutions that match and settle share transactions”.Robinhood has since limited trading on GameStop and other stocks that are heavily shorted.The Economist, on the other hand, described this as a possible threat to Robinhood, which could be losing most of its users and attracting the attention of lawmakers who will reportedly be holding hearings soon about the decision to halt trading.Closer to home, a Malaysian discussion group for Bursa, named BursaBets, took the story of WallStreetBets as inspiration. Its 11,000 members, who were in discussions on the hows and whens, decided to buy glove stocks and to hold their shares or, in other words, to “hold the line”.Major glove producers in Malaysia saw their shares rise last year due to the strong demand during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, news of vaccine successes caused these shares to drop later on. The recent lift of the short-selling ban by the government has made these stocks a target for short sellers.Top Glove stock soared almost 300% last year but later fell about 40%. A day after BursaBets was set up, the charts showed an 8% increase. Similar companies such as Hartalega and Supermax also saw gains of 5% and 3.6% respectively.“I believe the current price of gloves is very undervalued, and my personal stance is that I want to hold on to it until it gets to its fair value,” _Revenant_, the founder of BursaBets posted on Reddit.“I just want the market to realise that the valuations are too low and that our glove companies deserve better.”


Taliban impose 'harsh' limits on Afghans' religious freedom, US panel says

Conditions for religious freedom in Afghanistan have "drastically deteriorated" since the Taliban seized power last year as the last US-led foreign troops pulled out after 20 years of war, a bipartisan US commission said on Tuesday.
The Sunni Muslim extremists' "harsh enforcement" of their hardline version of Islam "violates the freedom of religion or belief" of a wide range of Afghans, said the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.
The congressionally created panel issued its report nine days after the Taliban marked a year since they overran Kabul, returning to power almost two decades after their ouster by the 2001 US-led invasion.
The report noted that the Taliban pledged to protect all ethnic and religious groups.
Yet, it said, "Religious freedom conditions in Afghanistan have drastically deteriorated," with the militants reintroducing "harsh restrictions on all Afghans" based on their hardline interpretation of Islam.
Those negatively affected include religious minorities, Afghans "with differing interpretations of Islam," women, the LGBTQ community and those who follow no faith, the report said.
The Taliban, the report said, are responsible for the deaths of dozens of Hazaras, an ethnic minority that follows Shiite Islam, and failed to protect them from attacks by the regional branch of Islamic State, a Taliban rival.
They re-established a ministry that includes morality police who have targeted women by enforcing a strict code of dress and behaviour, including covering their faces, and limited their movement, education, participation in sports and right to work, it said.
The Taliban and Islamic State have both targeted sufis, practitioners of mystical Islam, it said.
"The Taliban's seizure of Afghanistan has led to a rapid decline and near extinction of the already small Afghan Hindu and Sikh communities" and the militants deny "the existence of a Christian community," which must worship in hiding, the report added.


Israel resumes indoor mask requirement amid virus spike

The Israeli health ministry reimposed a requirement Friday for masks to be worn in enclosed public places following a surge in Covid cases since it was dropped 10 days ago.The spike in new infections is a blow for a country which has prided itself on one of the world’s most successful vaccine rollouts.The head of Israel’s pandemic response task force, Nachman Ash, told public radio the requirement came after four days of more than 100 new cases a day, with 227 cases confirmed Thursday.“We are seeing a doubling every few days,” Ash said. “Another thing that’s worrying is that the infections are spreading. If we had two cities where most of the infections were, we have more cities where the numbers are rising and communities where the cases are going up.”Ash said the rise in cases was likely due to the highly contagious Delta variant first seen in India.Reimposing the mask requirement is a setback for Israel, coming so soon after it was lifted on June 15 on the back of a successful vaccination campaign.Some 5.2 million people have received both doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, after Israel obtained millions of doses.Ash said despite the increased number of positive cases, he did not yet see a parallel rise in hospitalisations or deaths.“It’s clear it’s a factor of time, that not enough time has passed,” Ash said. “But we hope the vaccines will protect us from a rise in hospitalisation and difficult cases.”The health ministry urged Israelis to wear masks in crowded outdoor spaces too, including at pride events scheduled for this weekend.A pride march scheduled for Friday afternoon in Tel Aviv is expected to draw tens of thousands of people. The event is resuming after it was suspended last year due to the virus.On Wednesday, Israel already delayed plans to allow the renewed entry of individual tourists and said it could take other steps to counter the spread of the Delta variant.Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warned Tuesday of a “new outbreak” of coronavirus in Israel after a rise in infections he said was likely due to returning travellers carrying the variant.


Stop food wastage during Ramadan

The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) urges the people not to waste food because much food goes into landfills. Studies have shown that food waste increase between 15 and 20% during Ramadan as compared with an average month.It was reported that in 2018, as much as 20,088 tonnes of food went into the garbage bin nationwide daily during Ramadan. With that quantity wasted daily during the entire month of Ramadan there is enough to feed one and a half times the Malaysian population. This year, the estimated food and plastic materials discarded daily during the holy month is 10,000 tonnes.In such a holy month, Muslims should remember that fasting is an act of worship, a way to become more compassionate to those in need, and a chance to get closer to God. Al-Isra-27, Surah The Journey by Night Verse-27 says, “Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful.”Food wastage can lead to an increase in food prices as it increases demand in relation to supply. Moreover, we are highly dependent on food imports which are usually transacted in US dollars. With our current exchange rate, we have to pay more for the same quantity. For Malaysia, it is an outflow of our currency.The government should form a task force to understand the underlying problems contributing to high food wastage. Is the high food wastage due to consumers buying more food than they can eat during the breaking of fast or is it because of over-estimating the quantity of food to be prepared by the food hawkers?Consumers may not be able to waste that astronomical amount of food because that would incur expenses. It is likely that home-based food hawkers prepare too much food in anticipation of good business when Muslims purchase their food in preparation for the breaking of fast. If this is true, then we have to consider several other facts:The food is prepared in ordinary homes where refrigerator capacity, cooking stoves and storage space is limited, thus increasing the likelihood of bacterial contamination.Most of the dishes have either meat and/or coconut milk that can easily go bad and it is not practical to bring stoves to heat up the dishes at stalls. Temperatures of at least 74 degrees Celsius are required to kill the bacteria in food but the highest temperature during the day in Malaysia is around 33 degrees Celsius.The dishes have to be prepared early and stored in containers for hours between the time of preparation and the time they are displayed at the stall. During this time, at normal temperatures, bacteria will multiply at a prodigious rate.Unsold food is not likely to be taken back as some of the food would have already gone bad. It has to be discarded. Others experience food storage problems as many of these food hawkers are home-based, thus lacking commercial refrigerators and freezers. The food that remains at the end of the day has to be binned, too. Moreover, they desperately need all available containers for the food prepared the next day.Food hawkers have to depend on the patronage of their customers and the quantity they buy. For customers, even if they overestimate the quantity that their family members are going to consume, they will be held back by how much they are going to spend on the berbuka puasa (breaking of fast). However, the food hawker will have no option but to hope for good business despite stiff competition from neighbouring food stalls.On this premise, we urge the relevant authorities to consider:Requiring applicants to state the food that they intend to sell at a particular Ramadan bazaar. The authorities will then limit the number of stalls selling the same type of food. Business competition is good but if it is over-saturated, it becomes untenable for some. This can be translated into food wastage as customers are spoilt for choice.The size of a Ramadan bazaar has to be determined according to the size of the community. We have to know that there is always a limit to the number and quantity of food a person wants to buy and this will then be related to the size of the nearby community. Consequently, businesses will be negatively impacted if there are too many stalls.Plan Ramadan bazaars early so that the authorities can plan the location of the stalls so that stalls selling the same type of food are spread out.Encourage people to bring their own food containers and ask the food hawkers not to supply drinking straws for drinks or plastic forks and spoons. The reason is that these people are not expected to eat immediately but will take the food home for berbuka puasa and thus do not need eating utensils.Food that is still in good condition can be donated to food banks or soup kitchens for the poor and homeless.The selling of food at Ramadan bazaars should not be a free-for-all because if it is oversized, it is not going to benefit the hawkers and traders. On the contrary it is going to result in food wastage that remained unresolved for decades.Mohideen Abdul Kader is president of the Consumers Association of Penang.The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


‘It was my private beach’: Nazri’s wife denies breaking quarantine after hubby tests positive

The wife of Padang Rengas MP Nazri Aziz who recently tested positive for Covid-19 today denied breaking home quarantine rules after a video went viral of her at the beach, wearing a pink wristband.Haflin Saiful told MalaysiaNow that the video was taken within her home compound.“It was my private beach, my territory in my compound,” she said.The 20-second video uploaded on Instagram had shown Haflin running towards the ocean accompanied by her children and maid.Nazri, the former tourism minister, is currently warded at Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab in Kota Bharu.He tested positive for the virus a week after he held a press conference at the Umno headquarters to declare that he no longer supported Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.He told MalaysiaNow he believed he contracted the virus from Umno blogger Zaharin Mohd Yasin, who had attended the same press conference.Other prominent politicians who have contracted Covid-19 of late include Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Home Minister Hamzah Zainuddin, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mustapa Mohamad, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rina Harun, National Unity Minister Halimah Sadique, and Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Zahidi Zainul Abidin.