New record in daily jabs good news for herd immunity, says PM

The daily Covid-19 vaccination rate which surpassed 420,000 doses yesterday is good news for Malaysia in the country’s efforts to achieve herd immunity before the end of the year, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said today.“This is good news because it (the daily vaccination rate) is among the highest in the world and if we follow the vaccination phases, I think we can achieve the number of people that need to be vaccinated before the end of this year, and the process seems to be running smoothly,” he told reporters after visiting Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR) in Klang.Muhyiddin said he had also ordered Khairy Jamaluddin, the minister in charge of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, to purchase any available vaccines.“Although we have purchased a lot (of vaccine), the delivery was delayed. So if there are available supplies, or if Pharmaniaga, for example, can supply us with two or three million doses more, we will buy it.“This is the commitment of the Perikatan Nasional government,” he said.Yesterday, the country’s daily vaccination rate hit a record high of 421,479 doses comprising 264,034 first doses and 157,445 second doses.For the management of Covid-19 in the Klang Valley, Muhyiddin said an additional allocation of RM100 million had been set aside for outsourcing activities, and another RM20 million for mental health management.He said an additional allocation of RM5 million to increase hospital areas in Selangor and a Covid-19 allowance of RM1,000 a month for each staff at ICUs had also been made.Muhyiddin added that the government had agreed to the setting up of a child nursery or the renting of premises for the children of frontliners with an allocation of RM1.5 million and a special quarantine centre for frontliners with an allocation of RM2 million.


Pupils allowed to attend school out of uniform, minister says again

Education Minister Radzi Jidin today reminded schools again to be flexible towards students who attend class in clothing other than their school uniforms.He said it is enough for them to attend school in neat and proper attire.He also said the matter had been brought up before, but that parents still complain about teachers who insist on students attending school in uniforms.“When schools reopened according to the phases of the National Recovery Plan in several states, among others in Klang, Selangor and Melaka, we received complaints from parents who said that certain schools had asked their children to come in school uniforms even though some of the uniforms or shoes didn’t fit anymore.“So I would like to stress again that the ministry before this has said that for now until the end of the school term this year, we will allow the children to wear attire that is appropriate. That is more important,” he told reporters after a walkabout to view the preparations being made to welcome back pupils when classes reopen at Sekolah Kebangsaan Semaseh in Panchor, Muar, todayThe minister also said that schools should be accommodating in welcoming back students, especially since parents must deal with constraints when schools reopen during the Covid-19 pandemic, especially in underprivileged families.In another development, he said all schools entering Phase 4 of the recovery plan should pay specific attention to ventilation, including in the staff room.“The ventilation system needs special attention. In the beginning, many were confused but lately, almost everyone now understands the importance of having a proper ventilation system in schools“Classrooms appear to be comfortable but not the teachers’ room. Sometimes they install air-conditioning units but I hope they take into account the ventilation aspect. Windows should be left open for the safety of the teachers,” he said.Commenting on the one-off intake of teachers to overcome the problem of the shortage of teachers, Radzi said the Education Services Commission had already completed the selection of teachers for Phase One.Radzi said the initial selection criteria were for candidates who will teach important subjects in school as well as those who have a background in education studies.“We have chosen candidates from Phase One. We did not decide how many but we were guided by the arrangement of the subjects. Which subject to go first as well as priority given to graduates.“Once this is achieved, we will look at the graduates who do not have an education background. That is why we are doing this in stages. There are phases that need only hundreds of teachers but there are phases that require thousands. Therefore we have to look at the needs of the subjects in the mentioned phase,” he said.


Tokyo MPs rave it up in nightclubs while electorate stays in, obeying emergency laws

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga apologised on Wednesday after lawmakers from his ruling coalition had fun in nightclubs despite his government’s call for people to avoid unnecessary outings, to stay home and not mingle in crowds to curb the spread of Covid-19.The news is another headache for Suga whose approval ratings have plunged due to dissatisfaction with his handling of the pandemic, which many are calling too slow and inconsistent, Reuters reports.“I’m terribly sorry that this happened when we are asking people not to eat out after 8pm and to avoid non-essential outings,” Suga told parliament. “Each lawmaker should behave and try to gain the public’s understanding.”Earlier this month, Japan declared a state of emergency until Feb 7, covering Tokyo and three nearby areas as infections continued to surge. The measure includes a request for restaurants and bars to close by mid-evening although there are currently no penalties for non-compliance.Jun Matsumoto, a senior lawmaker from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and one of the guilty revellers, told reporters, “My behaviour was careless at a time when we are asking people to be patient.”Matsumoto was speaking following a Daily Shincho report that on Monday night he had visited two nightclubs in Tokyo’s tony Ginza district after dining at an Italian restaurant.Kiyohiko Toyama, a lawmaker from the coalition’s junior partner Komeito, also apologised after tabloid Shukan Bunshun reported he had visited an upscale night club in Ginza until the early hours last Friday.Twitter users voiced their frustration, with many echoing incomprehension over the way their MPs seem to disregard how the electorate views their behaviour.“It is just a matter of time before public anger explodes. I don’t want their apologies, I want them to quit! ” tweeted one user.Another summed up how people felt by tweeting: “They are really stupid. Don’t they think about what they are doing and how the public sees them? If they don’t, they are unqualified to represent us.”


Pandemic-weary Australian nurses go on strike

Thousands of nurses walked off the job in Australia’s largest city Sydney on Tuesday, protesting against staff shortages and pandemic-related stresses and strains.Defying a strike ban, thousands decked in scrubs and surgical masks marched on the state parliament over what they say are intolerable conditions.Throngs of nurses cheered, clapped and chanted their anger at persistent shortages of hospital beds, equipment and the grinding toll of this protracted crisis.They brandished placards that read “Nurses are not coping” and “‘Thank you’ doesn’t pay the rent” – hitting out at political leaders who they accuse of ignoring their plight.For two years, Australia’s medical staff have worked under strict Covid protocols, while trying to carry out day-to-day tasks and roll out an unprecedented vaccination programme.But recent months have seen an explosion of coronavirus cases – bringing more patients and depleting the ranks as staff get sick or are forced to isolate.“The community needs to hear the truth – current staffing levels are inadequate, unsafe and putting patients at risk,” said the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives’ Association.In a statement, the New South Wales Health Department thanked nurses for working “tirelessly during the two years of the Covid-19 pandemic.”But, it added, “there are more nurses and midwives in New South Wales public hospitals than at any other time in history.”Arbitration had failed to head off the strike and the Industrial Relations Commission court had ordered that the industrial action not take place.That order was rejected, and union organisers said further strike action is being considered.Strict border closures and aggressive testing and tracing had meant Australia was Covid-free for much of the pandemic.But the arrival of Omicron has resulted in tens of thousands of cases and dozens of deaths every day.About 2.5 million cases have been recorded in the population of 25 million.


‘Anti-PN’ Tajuddin not in tripartite talks, say PAS, Bersatu leaders

Two senior leaders from PAS and Bersatu have dismissed a call by Umno’s election chief against working with Bersatu, as negotiations continue among leaders of the three Malay-based parties to find a formula for cooperation at the next polls.Awang Hashim, who is part of PAS’ Central Working Committee tasked with making important decisions on political alliances and election strategies, is unperturbed by Umno’s Tajuddin Abdul Rahman’s criticism of the Islamist party for working with Bersatu.Tajuddin, who is among the hawks in Umno who have aired reservations about supporting Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, had suggested that PAS violated the Muafakat Nasional charter by becoming a component party of Perikatan Nasional (PN).“I remind PAS leaders about the importance of fulfilling a promise. They joined PN alongside Bersatu without our agreement,” Tajuddin said in a speech at the Pasir Salak Umno division meeting yesterday.Tajuddin Abdul Rahman.Muafakat Nasional is a charter of cooperation inked by Umno and PAS in September 2019, when the two parties were in the opposition.Tajuddin, seen as a staunch ally of former president Najib Razak, had also claimed that two-thirds of Umno division leaders nationwide preferred that the party go it alone at the next polls, although he furnished no details of such a survey.He said PAS should only work with Umno and not with Bersatu, the party co-founded by Muhyiddin in 2016 after he was sacked from the government over his vocal views on the 1MDB scandal.But Awang said Tajuddin was never part of negotiations among the three parties in trying to reach an electoral understanding.“Anyone who is not involved in the negotiations can say whatever they like,” the Pendang MP, who is also the deputy human resources minister, told MalaysiaNow.Awang Hashim.He added that the leaders of the three parties are still in talks on avoiding a collision at the next general election.Echoing Awang, Kelantan Bersatu chief Kamaruddin Mohd Nor said his party and PAS have the right to decide on their allies at the 15th general election.“It is Umno’s right to work with whichever party. Similarly, PAS has the right to cooperate with anyone it is comfortable with,” Kamaruddin told MalaysiaNow.Other than Bersatu and PAS, the ruling PN also comprises GPS and several Sabah and Sarawak parties. It was formed in February last year as a platform for parties which lent their support to Muhyiddin to form the government following the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan administration.Umno, despite supporting Muhyiddin with more than 30 seats, has so far decided to stick to Barisan Nasional, where its partners MCA and MIC have two seats each.Kamaruddin Mohd Nor.Tajuddin, Najib as well as party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, are among Umno leaders who have been vocal in criticising Muhyiddin’s Bersatu, accusing it of sidelining Umno for key goverment posts.Umno, PAS and Bersatu announced a joint committee in September to discuss seat distribution, hoping to force one-on-one contests with PH.Last month, Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh, who heads PAS’ influential Ulama Council, told MalaysiaNow that talks on seat distribution between PAS, Umno and Bersatu were “80% resolved” with “small remaining problems between Umno and Bersatu”.“Between PAS and Umno, we might get a simple majority. But if PAS, Umno and Bersatu combine, we can achieve two-thirds,” Zawawi had said, adding that PAS was prepared to play “peacemaker” to bring Umno and Bersatu closer.Awang said PAS would work hard in its role as a middleman between the two Malay parties.“We are not out to aggravate the situation between Umno and Bersatu.“PAS will keep finding solutions to ensure the three of us can work together in the election.”


Selangor settlers up in arms over land ownership

Settlers in Tanjung Pasir, Selangor, are seeking to meet with Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari to resolve land issues which have been ongoing for more than 40 years.V Jayakumar, who represented the settlers, said they had been working on oil palm plantations since 1967 but had yet to receive ownership grants.“All of sudden, we hear that two private companies were granted a lease of 21 years for around 200 acres of land.“The companies will also be collecting rent from settlers in a nearby area, Perangsang, now that they have the lease,” he said during a protest by the settlers at Tanjung Jaya, Bestari Jaya, today.Jayakumar said the settlers had been asking for grants since 2004, to no avail.“We sent letters to the menteri besar’s office last year but the office replied with nothing concrete in their response. We didn’t even understand what the office was trying to say,” he said, adding that they had sent another letter in April.There are currently 400 settlers in Tanjung Pasir.They say that a road was built by one of the companies seven months ago without them being informed.Tanjung Karang MP Noh Omar who was also present today urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the companies, saying a report had already been lodged in 2019.“Both of the companies had the same address and were only founded in July 2018.“The companies were awarded the lease two months after their establishment for agricultural purposes, but we are worried that they actually want to mine sand,” he said.Noh added that the state government should engage with the settlers before taking any action that affect their livelihoods.


Ukraine's Zelensky warns Europeans to brace for bleak winter

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has told Europeans to expect a difficult winter as the Russian assault on his country leads to cuts in oil and gas exports by Moscow.
Zelensky was speaking on Saturday night after Moscow shut down a main pipeline that supplies Russian gas to the continent.
"Russia is preparing a decisive energy blow on all Europeans for this winter," he said in his daily video address.
Moscow has cited Western sanctions imposed over its invasion of Ukraine and technical issues for the energy disruptions. European countries who have backed the Kyiv government with diplomatic and military support have accused Russia of weaponising energy supplies.
Some analysts say the shortages and a surge in living costs as winter approaches risk sapping Western support for Kyiv as governments try to deal with disgruntled populations.
Last week Moscow said it would keep the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, its main gas channel to Germany, closed and G7 countries announced a planned price cap on Russian oil exports.
The Kremlin said it would stop selling oil to any countries that implemented the cap.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Sunday his government had been planning for a total halt in gas deliveries in December but he promised that his country would make it through the winter.
"Russia is no longer a reliable energy partner," Scholz told a news conference in Berlin.
Power line down at Zaporizhzhia
The Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southern Ukraine again lost external power, UN inspectors said on Saturday.
The last remaining main external power line was cut off although a reserve line continued supplying electricity to the grid, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a statement.
Only one of its six reactors remained in operation, it said.
The plant was seized by Russian troops shortly after President Vladimir Putin sent his army over the border on Feb 24 and has become a focal point of the conflict.
Each side has blamed the other for shelling in the vicinity that has raised fears that a nuclear disaster could be triggered.
An official from the Russian-installed administration in Zaporizhzhia said the situation around the plant had been calm so far on Sunday.
Speaking to Komsomolskaya Pravda radio, the official, Igor Rogov, said there had been no shelling or incursions. Russia has twice accused Ukraine of trying to capture the plant in the past two days. Ukraine said Russia had attacked the area itself.
IAEA experts are expected to continue working at the plant until at least Monday, Rogov was quoted as saying.
An IAEA mission toured the plant, which is still operated by Ukrainian staff, last week and some experts have remained there pending the release of an IAEA report.
The plant said in a statement on Saturday the fifth reactor was switched off "as a result of constant shelling by Russian occupation forces" and that there was "insufficient capacity from the last reserve line to operate two reactors".
Zelensky has blamed Russian shelling for an Aug 25 cutoff, the first Zaporizhzhia was severed from the national grid, which narrowly avoided a radiation leak. That shutdown prompted power cuts across Ukraine.
Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of storing heavy weapons at the site to discourage Ukraine from firing on it. Russia, which denies having any such weapons there, has resisted international calls to relocate troops and demilitarise the area.
On other battlefronts, Ukrainian Telegram channels reported explosions at the Antonivsky bridge near the southern city of Kherson, which is occupied by Russian forces.
The bridge has been severely damaged by Ukrainian missiles over the past weeks, but Russian troops were trying to repair it or to set up a pontoon crossing or barges to maintain supplies to Russian units on the right bank of the Dnipro river.
Ukraine began a counter-offensive last week targeting the south, particularly the Kherson region, which was seized by the Russians early in the conflict.


'Lots of customers': the banks of choice for scammers

Malaysians were recently shaken by the story of a doctor who lost thousands of ringgit from her bank account, a tale which sparked renewed concern over the security of online banking in the country.
Dr Rafidah Abdullah said in a social media post that she had lost RM13,000 from her CIMB account.
However, according to her, she had never clicked on any links that could have jeopardised the safety of her account.
Her story was soon joined by those of others who shared how they, too, had lost money from their bank accounts in acts attributed to scammers.
Amirudin Abdul Wahab, chief executive of national cyber security specialist centre CyberSecurity Malaysia, however said that financial institutions such as banks employ the latest security systems.
"Banks have systems that monitor the latest trends in cyber security threats and attacks," he said.
"They also need to comply with strict cyber security standards based on the regulations set out by Bank Negara Malaysia, to protect the system and prevent the unauthorised access of user data."
Amirudin also said that threats to banking operations vary according to country, with criminals preferring to target banks with a high percentage of customers.
In Malaysia, he said, the cyber threat is SMSSpy.
"For example, in other countries, cyber criminals use the smishing tactic where data phishing attempts are carried out via SMS," he said.
"Cyber criminals deceive their victims by sending out SMSes, purportedly from the bank, claiming that they have a problem with their bank account or credit card.
"The SMS contains a link to a fake website masquerading as a legitimate bank site that requests their banking information and password."
And as the world becomes more digitalised, cyber attacks of this nature are only expected to continue.
Ahmed Razman Abdul Latiff, an economist from the Putra Business School, said scammers in Malaysia were becoming more advanced in terms of technique and the technology that they use.
This, he said, put banks and their customers at a high risk of being swindled.
"Previously, scammers might have asked customers for their OTP number, but now, this can be obtained through special applications or because the customer clicks on a particular link," he said.
"The banks for their part are not as quick in updating their banking security system."
On the customer side, Razman said, some were too easily convinced by third-party callers, or influenced by supposed promotions, to the point that they were willing to download applications or click links, the validity of which could not be ascertained.
He said phishing, or the provision of fake links, was an easy and well-known way for scammers to trick their victims into providing personal information including account numbers and passwords.
And these days, more and more transactions are being conducted online.
According to a report by the Department of Statistics, e-commerce revenue jumped to RM801.2 billion in the first nine months of last year alone.
Mohamad Yusof Darus from Universiti Teknologi Mara's faculty of computer science and mathematics, said such developments indirectly attract cyber criminals to target internet users through banking, payment systems and even online shopping platforms.
"Social engineering attacks like vishing, meanwhile, target victims through telephone calls," he said.
"For example, they tell the person on the other end of the line that their bank account has been jeopardised.
"If, through vishing, the scammers can obtain information about their victims' bank accounts or credit cards, they have automatic access to their bank accounts," he said.
But even as such cases continue, he said, public awareness about cyber security remains low.
He said users should always be aware of the operating system and software they download so that their devices do not become infected with malware.
Razman suggested that the government introduce a new law to freeze the accounts of those who are suspected to be scammers when customers report suspicious transactions.
Cybersecurity Malaysia meanwhile advised the public to avoid using WiFi networks that are not trusted for banking activities or making online purchases.
Other preventive measures include using strong passwords and installing anti-virus software, and opting for the "two-step" verification or authentication process.


Colombia landslide kills 34

Heavy rains in northwest Colombia sent a wall of earth crashing onto a winding road, swallowing up a bus and other vehicles and killing 34 people, emergency services said Monday.
The landslide Sunday evening prompted a large rescue effort, with dozens of people in hard hats using backhoes and excavators to dig through the earth looking for victims.
The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management said the fatalities included eight minors and that nine other people were injured in the disaster in the remote town of Pueblo Rico.
The bus had set out from the city of Cali with 25 passengers, and traveled 270km before being hit by the landslide as it passed through the Andes mountain region, civil defense officials said.
Colombian media reported that a child had survived and was pulled from the arms of its mother, who did not make it.
One survivor said the bus driver had at first managed to dodge the worst of the landslide.
"Part of it was coming down and the bus was a little bit back from that. The bus driver was backing up when it all came crashing down," Andres Ibarguen told radio station Lloro Stereo.
The rainy season that began in August is Colombia's worst in 40 years, according to the government, causing accidents that have left more than 270 people dead.
The country has declared a national disaster over the rains linked to the exceptionally long La Nina weather phenomenon, which cools surface temperatures and is currently causing drought and flooding around the globe.
Today, the landslide "puts this town in mourning, tomorrow it could be in another area, because we really have many unstable areas in the country, and the rainy season has not ended," said Javier Pava of the UNGRD.
The UN's World Meteorological Organization said last week the La Nina conditions could last until February or March 2023.
In Colombia, the phenomenon has also caused crop damage, compromising food supplies and leading to soaring prices.
In July, three children were killed in northwestern Colombia when a landslide buried a rural school. In February, 14 people died in a mudslide triggered by heavy rains in central-western Risaralda province.


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Not wrong to investigate judges, but don’t publicise probe, says PM

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob yesterday said there was nothing wrong with judges being investigated over allegations of misconduct or wrongdoing, but that the matter should not be publicised.Ismail said no one was above the law and that enforcement agencies like the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the police were free to investigate if they suspected that a criminal offence had been committed.However, to preserve respect for the judicial institution, investigations against judges should not be publicised, he said.“There is no need for them (enforcement agencies) to announce who is involved… telling the media about the investigation.“I do not see anything wrong with investigating judges implicated in criminal wrongdoings. We are not saying a crime has been committed, as it is only at the investigation stage.“But there is no need to publicise it and reveal to the media the names of those under probe. Maybe that is what is being questioned,” he said, without naming the individuals or agencies involved.He said this when asked about the Malaysian Bar’s “Walk for Judicial Independence” assembly at Padang Merbok in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.Ismail said the Malaysian Bar might have been responding to the way the agency concerned was conducting its investigation.Ismail, the Bera MP, was speaking at a media conference at Kompleks Rakan Muda Bera in Bera.He reiterated that the government subscribes to the principle of the separation of powers, with the judiciary given the freedom to conduct trials and make rulings without interference from any parties.


Pandemic could rage for 7 years if worldwide jab rates don’t speed up, research shows

It’ll be a wearying seven years before the pandemic is over worldwide, if vaccine distribution and inoculation continues at current rates, calculations from Bloomberg show.The media outlet, which said it built the biggest database of “Covid-19 inoculations given across the globe”, crunched the numbers and found it could take most of a decade to reach herd immunity if distribution doesn’t accelerate for two-dose vaccines.Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has said 70-85% of populations will need the vaccine in order to achieve herd immunity and while the US is on track to reach that goal by New Year 2022, it could take countries like Canada 10 years at their current sluggish pace.More than 119 million doses have been distributed worldwide but Bloomberg’s tracker shows some countries, mostly rich and Western, are reaching 75% coverage much faster than others.For example, Israel is on track to see 75% coverage by spring but it could take Portugal four years, China seven years and Latvia almost nine years to reach herd immunity if vaccine distribution numbers don’t pick up speed.The calculations are, of course, “volatile,” Bloomberg explained, especially with rollouts just a few months old and still marred with supply disruptions.Canada’s vaccination rate was cut in half recently after the country faced delays in shipments but as long as their contracts to buy more doses per person than any other country moves forward, they shouldn’t be stuck in the pandemic wilderness for a decade.Bloomberg noted the pace is expected to accelerate worldwide as more and more jabs become available, and more countries bring their home-grown shots to the fray.They pointed to major vaccine-manufacturing hubs in India and Mexico and said production is just getting started.Bloomberg notes that only a third of countries have so far kicked off their own vaccine campaigns and worldwide herd immunity can only be achieved if all governments get cracking.


‘Datuk’ charged with laundering over RM8 million

A man with a “Datuk” title was charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today with 16 counts of money laundering involving more than RM8 million in proceeds from unlawful activities.Ahmad Azwan Aboo Mansoor, 51, pleaded not guilty to the charges before judge Hasbullah Adam.On the first to the seventh count, he was alleged to have disposed of RM815,863.06 in ill-gotten gains from his savings account at the Taman Melawati branch of Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd between April 2016 and April 2018.He also faces five charges of transferring RM3,020,299.98, allegedly proceeds from unlawful activities, from his bank account to another belonging to him as well as two others, one belonging to a man and the other to a company, at the same place between June 11, 2016 and Dec 20, 2017.On the four other charges, Azwan was charged with receiving RM4,180,396.59 in ill-gotten gains which were deposited into his savings accounts at the Taman Melawati branch of Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd and Taman Setiawangsa branch of Malayan Banking Bhd between Dec 10, 2016 and March 9, 2018.The charges were framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act, which provides for imprisonment of up to 15 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the ill-gotten gains, or RM5 million, whichever is higher, upon conviction.Azwan was allowed bail of RM50,000 with one surety. The court set April 22 for mention.The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Rohaiza Zainal, while lawyer Harjinder Singh represented Azwan.


Over 30,000 notices issued for smoking offences in first half of 2022

A total of 30,311 notices for offences related to smoking in public places were issued from January to June this year, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin says.
"Congratulations to the KKMPutrajaya Inspectorate and Legal Unit enforcement personnel. InshaAllah, enforcement will be ramped up from July-December! #GEG #NoSmoking," he said in a Twitter post today.
The notices were issued under Section 32B of the Control of Tobacco Products Regulations (PPKHT) 2004.
In the same post, Khairy also shared PPKHT Enforcement data from 2018 to last year, which saw a total of 57,268 notices for smoking in public places issued in 2018, 50,946 in 2019, 34,338 in 2020 and 15,163 in 2021.
Meanwhile, Rakan Strategik Gegar Wanita, in a statement today, voiced hope that all MPs, especially female elected representatives, would support the Tobacco and Smoking Control Bill which is expected to be tabled at this Parliament session. Malaysian Women for Tobacco Control and Health Association (MyWatch) president Roslizawati Md Ali, representing Rakan Strategik Gegar Wanita, also urged other enforcement agencies to assist the health ministry in its efforts to curb the trade of illicit cigarettes.
Rakan Strategik Gegar Wanita is a coalition comprising MyWatch, the National Cancer Society Malaysia, the National Drug Prevention Association, the Malaysian Council For Child Welfare, the Malaysian Association of Adolescent Health and Ikram Health Malaysia.


Sheriff refuses to enforce new Los Angeles indoor mask mandate

The Los Angeles county sheriff’s office will not enforce a new mandatory indoor mask mandate set to go into effect at midnight, it said in a statement released Saturday, as Covid infections and hospitalisations continued to rise.“Forcing the vaccinated and those who already contracted Covid-19 to wear masks indoors is not backed by science and contradicts the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines,” Sheriff Alex Villanueva said in a statement.“The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) has authority to enforce the order, but the underfunded/defunded Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will not expend our limited resources and instead ask for voluntary compliance,” it said.Health authorities said Thursday that wearing a face mask in indoor public establishments will again be mandatory in Los Angeles starting this weekend due to a steady increase in Covid-19 infections and hospitalisations.Los Angeles is the first large US metropolis to reimpose the use of face masks – regardless of vaccination status – in shops, grocery stores, restaurants and workplaces to help contain the pandemic.Los Angeles is “not where we need to be” in terms of numbers of vaccinated people, said county health officer Muntu Davis.On Friday the county reported 1,902 new cases of infection – the highest number since early March and the eighth straight day of new cases topping 1,000.US health officials announced in mid-May that fully vaccinated Americans could – with some exceptions – say goodbye to their masks both outdoors and indoors.That guidance, the CDC made clear, did not overrule state and local laws or regulations.However, after peaking in April, the US immunisation campaign has slowed significantly, even though plenty of vaccines are available.The increase in Covid-19 cases, mainly due to the spread of the Delta variant, has some officials worried.The vast majority of people testing positive for Covid-19, some of whom must be hospitalised, have not been vaccinated.


Thousands flee as floods worsen

Thousands more people have fled swamped homes as heavy rains exacerbated flooding in seven states, officials said today, with over 125,000 people evacuated in total since mid-December.The National Disaster Management Agency said the weeks-long bout of bad weather was expected to carry on until Tuesday.Dangerous water levels were detected in rivers in at least five states, a government monitoring website showed Sunday, with rising levels recorded in many other areas.Some 50 people have been killed so far, a police Facebook post on Saturday said, with two still missing.Malaysia often faces stormy weather around the year’s end, with seasonal flooding regularly causing mass evacuations.But authorities have been taken by surprise by the days of constant rain that began on Dec 17, causing rivers to overflow and inundating cities.The richest state of Selangor – the country’s commercial hub – has been among the worst-hit.Around 117,700 of those evacuated since mid-December have returned to their homes, though nearly 10,000 people in five states in the peninsula and in Sabah have sought refuge in relief centres, official data showed.


Southwest monsoon to begin this weekend

The southwest monsoon is expected to begin this Saturday and continue until mid-September.Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) director-general Muhammad Helmi Abdullah said during this period, the winds would blow consistently from the southwest with lower air humidity and stable atmospheric conditions.“This will result in a lack of rain cloud formation and cause most places across the country to experience more days without rain than other seasons, as well as produce low rainfall distribution,” he said in a statement today.He said heavy rain with strong winds and lightning due to the squall line phenomenon could still occur on the west coast of the peninsula and west Sabah in the early morning and could last up to several hours.During this period, the haze phenomenon can also occur if open burning is not controlled, especially from August to October.Helmi advised the public to use water prudently during this period.Information on the latest weather conditions can be accessed through the MetMalaysia website, myCuaca mobile application and social media. For further inquiries, the public can also call the Malaysian Meteorological Department hotline at 1-300-22-1638.


British airport disruption ominous for global travel recovery

Cancelled flights, long queues and staff shortages have disrupted the travel plans of British holidaymakers during the half-term break, a grim sign of possible summer strife for a global sector battling to rebound from a two-year Covid slump.The next few months will be the first time since 2019 that the aviation sector will be able to enjoy a peak summer season free of substantial coronavirus restrictions, but staff shortages at airlines and airports may hinder that outlook.Scenes of chaos have been seen at some European airports over the last week as people have started to venture abroad, sparked by a shortage of bag handlers, security and airline staff that led to huge queues, missed flights and furious customers.In Britain, airlines such as TUI and easyJet have cancelled dozens of flights a week to improve customer service and reliability on remaining routes. EasyJet has even removed some aircraft seats to cut crew sizes.“We believe this is necessary to provide stability and a better customer service at Manchester Airport,” TUI said after cancelling flights at the northern English airport.Airlines have argued that following two years of turmoil, when travel was routinely banned, it would take time to recruit workers in tight labour markets, after many people deserted the industry for more reliable jobs during the pandemic.Some airlines have tempered once-optimistic summer growth forecasts, and noted it is taking longer than normal for staff to get security clearance.Exceptionally busyThe British government said an “exceptionally high number of people” would be travelling this week during the half-term holiday, which includes a long public holiday weekend for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee on Thursday and Friday.It said the aviation industry needed to have enough staff to meet demand. Consumer rights’ groups have said airlines should not sell tickets for routes when they do not have enough staff to operate them.A spokesperson for London’s Heathrow airport – Britain’s busiest – said there were queues but that the airport was “flowing”, while at Gatwick airport a spokesperson said “the airport is operating normally today but will be busy”.But the problems are not limited to Britain, with Germany having seen strike action disrupt services in March, and with other countries now facing issues.Dutch airline KLM was last week largely suspended ticket sales for flights leaving from Amsterdam Schiphol airport – Europe’s third-busiest – after queues stretched into the streets.In Ireland, Dublin airport descended into chaos on Sunday when more than a thousand passengers missed flights as staff shortages forced travellers to queue for hours to pass through security.In Sweden, the CEO of airport operator Swedavia has been summoned to parliament to answer questions about long queues at Stockholm’s Arlanda airport.A top airline industry official on Tuesday played down the prospect of the disruptions spreading.“There are issues in some airports, it’s not across the world,” said Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).


Pakistan overturns blasphemy convictions of Christian couple after 7 years on death row

A Pakistani court has overturned a death sentence handed down to a Christian couple for blasphemy, citing a lack of evidence.Shagufta Kausar, a caretaker in a Christian school, and her partially paralysed husband Shafqat Emmanuel were convicted in 2014 of insulting the Prophet Muhammad.But on Thursday, the couple’s lawyer Saiful Malook said the Lahore High Court had acquitted them, commenting: “I am very happy that we were able to get the release of this couple who are some of the most helpless people in our society.” He said he expected the pair to be freed next week after the court orders are published.A prosecution lawyer told the Reuters news agency that the latest ruling would be challenged.Blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan, and though no-one has ever been officially executed for it, dozens have been killed by mobs after being accused.Human rights groups have welcomed the ruling.Amnesty International South Asia said in a statement, “Today’s decision puts an end to the seven-year long ordeal of a couple who should not have been convicted nor faced a death sentence in the first place.”The married couple were convicted in 2014 of sending text messages insulting the Prophet Muhammad to a local imam. But her brother told the BBC last year that he doubted they were literate enough even to have written the abusive messages.Human rights groups say blasphemy allegations are frequently used to settle personal scores or target religious minoritiesThe couple’s lawyer told the BBC last year that in their trial they suggested a Christian neighbour they had argued with might have purchased a SIM card in Shagufta Kausar’s name and sent the messages in order to frame them for blasphemy.In April, the European Parliament passed a motion condemning Pakistan for failing to protect religious minorities, focusing on the case of the couple.Blasphemy convictions are often eventually overturned on appeal in Pakistan. Last year, Christian Asia Bibi left the country after more than a decade in prison, having been acquitted by the Supreme Court. The verdict led to violent protests by hardline religious groups.Christians make up under 2% of Pakistan’s population. Most are descendants of those who converted from Hinduism to escape their low-caste status and many are among the poorest in Pakistan.


Malaysia to ink deal with US on supply chain improvements

The US and Malaysia plan to sign a cooperation agreement by early next year towards improving transparency, resilience and security in the semiconductor and manufacturing sector supply chains, the two countries said today.It comes as Malaysia seeks to tackle a shortage in semiconductor chips after supplies were disrupted due to curbs imposed to stem a surge in Covid-19 cases this year.Malaysia’s chip assembly industry, accounting for more than a tenth of a global trade worth over $20 billion, has warned that shortages will last at least two years, even as some easing was expected towards the end of this year.“Given Malaysia’s critical role in global supply chains for semiconductors, electronics, health products, and other key goods, this announcement is an important first step in collaborating on current and long-term supply chain challenges for both our nations and the global economy,” said a joint statement.The announcement was made during a visit to Malaysia by US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, who together with International Trade and Industry Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali met with semiconductor industry representatives today.


Is this political revenge, Muhyiddin asks on lack of budget aid for Felda settlers

Muhyiddin Yassin today urged the government not to marginalise the Felda settlers due to their apparent support for Perikatan Nasional (PN) at the recent general election.
The PN chairman said the Felda settlers had received no attention in the new budget for 2023 tabled by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim last month.
"Doesn't the Madani government see the Felda settlers as an important community in need of assistance?
"Or is this a form of political revenge by Pakatan Harapan (PH) against the Felda settlers who were known to have rejected it at the 15th general election?"
Muhyiddin was referring to the decision to discontinue the debt settlement initiative of RM8 billion due to problems with Felda's cash flow.
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat, he said the initiative announced under the PN administration had had a significant impact on Felda's cash flow as the settlers' debts were bad debts.
He said Felda had also been issued RM9.9 billion worth of sukuk guaranteed by the government.
He also criticised the budget itself, claiming that it showed no clear direction in efforts to rejuvenate the economy.
He likewise questioned the absence of the manifesto promises made by PH and Barisan Nasional (BN) in the budget, presented on Feb 24, including the pledge to channel equal allocations for all parliamentary constituencies, eliminate the cartels in the food sector, and write off the debts of the poor as well as scholarships for the B40 group.
"Is Tambun bold enough to admit that PH's manifesto vows were mere political rhetoric?" he said, referring to Anwar, the Tambun MP.
"What about the manifesto promises of the other parties in the coalition government?"
Muhyiddin went on to criticise the budget proposal to credit RM500 to the accounts of Employee Provident Fund (EPF) members aged 40 to 54 with savings of less than RM10,000, saying this would only benefit a handful of contributors.
"Nearly 53% of active members will not benefit from this allocation," he said.
"And those below the age of 40 will be denied their right to receive the same aid.
"Meanwhile the calls to allow contributors to withdraw from their EPF savings have been ignored. It is clear that the present government is not interested in the troubles of the people who are suffering due to the high cost of living."


Former national footballer Shebby Singh dies

Former national football player Serbegeth Singh, popularly known as Shebby Singh, died while out cycling in Sunway at Iskandar Puteri yesterday. He was 61.Iskandar Puteri district police chief ACP Dzulkhairi Mukhtar, when contacted by Bernama, confirmed the incident.“I have yet to get the full report. The incident occurred at about 7.30pm. He was believed to have fallen while cycling at the location,” he said.Shebby, who represented Malaysia from 1982-1991, also turned out Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang before hanging up his boots in 1996.Born on Aug 20, 1960, Shebby, who hailed from Kluang, Johor, was spotted by the late Abdul Shatar Khan who had a reputation for being a youth coach.The late S Subramaniam convinced Shebby to migrate to Kuala Lumpur in 1983, a move that sparked controversy and which led to Shebby being suspended for a year by Johor for allegedly moving without permission.He first donned national colours in the President’s Cup in South Korea in 1982. He went on to collect 61 caps, with his final outing as a Malaysian player coming against England at the Merdeka Stadium in 1991.Throughout his time with the Harimau Malaya from 1982-1991, Shebby also appeared in three Asian Games – 1982 (Delhi), 1986 (Seoul) and 1990 (Beijing) – besides winning the SEA Games gold medal in the 1989 edition and bronze in the 1985 edition.In domestic football, Shebby was known as a solid defender throughout his time with Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Pahang and Negeri Sembilan before going on on to carve a name for himself as a television personality, becoming a football pundit, including on Astro SuperSport, FoxSports and ESPN Asia.As a centreback with Kuala Lumpur, he won the league title in 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989; the Malaysia Cup in 1987, 1988 and 1989; and the FA Cup in 1993 and 1994.Apart from being the global adviser of English Premier League side Blackburn Rovers in 2012-2013, Shebby was also the adviser for reality TV football team MyTeam and Melaka Telekom FC, besides being the technical adviser for Johor Darul Ta’zim.


Cops hunt ‘vaccine’ fraudster who injected elderly woman in her London home

A fraudster claiming to work for the National Health Service (NHS) injected a 92-year-old woman with a fake Covid-19 vaccine, according to the City of London Police.Detectives are hunting the man who talked his way into the woman’s home in south London.Detective Inspector Kevin Ives described it as a “disgusting and totally unacceptable assault”. He appealed for information to help identify the suspect.It comes after the NHS warned people, following a spate of fake text messages, that no official healthcare personnel would ever turn up at doorsteps offering a vaccine for payment.Under the current coronavirus vaccine rollout plans, people will be invited to receive the vaccine by their GP or healthcare provider.Police said the victim allowed the man into her home on the afternoon of December 30 after he said he was from the NHS and was there to administer the Covid-19 vaccine.She said the man stuck a “dart-like implement” in her arm. He then charged her £160 (RM800), which he said would be refunded by the NHS.The police said it was not known what substance, if any, he injected into the woman but she was thoroughly examined at her local hospital and showed no ill effects.The man made a second visit to the woman’s home on Jan 4, when he asked for another £100 (RM550), Ives said.The police issued a statement saying, “It is crucial we catch this man as soon as possible as not only is he defrauding vulnerable people of money, he may endanger people’s lives.”A spokesman for the Department of Health said: “NHS England will never ask for bank details, pins or passwords, when contacting you about a vaccination.“Any communication which claims to be from the NHS but asks for payment, or bank details, is fraudulent.“No-one in Britain will ever be charged for a vaccination.”


Ukraine, Russia locked in brutal battle in Bakhmut, casualties mount

Ukraine faced relentless Russian attacks on Bakhmut in its eastern Donetsk region, with both sides reporting mounting enemy casualties as they battled across a small river that bisects the ruined town that now marks the front line.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said late on Sunday his forces had killed more than 1,100 Russian soldiers in the past few days as they battled for control of Bakhmut.
"In less than a week, starting from the 6th March, we managed to kill more than 1,100 enemy soldiers in the Bakhmut sector alone, Russia's irreversible loss, right there, near Bakhmut," Zelensky said in his nightly video address.
Russian forces also sustained 1,500 "sanitary losses", soldiers wounded badly enough to keep them out of action, Zelensky said.
Russia's defence ministry said earlier in the day that its forces had killed more than 220 Ukrainian service members over the past 24 hours in the Donetsk direction.
Reuters could not independently verify battlefield reports and neither side gave details of their own casualties.
Ukraine forces control west of the nearly deserted mining town of Bakhmut, while Russia's Wagner mercenary group controls most of the eastern part, with the Bakhmutka River that flows through the town marking the front line, British intelligence said.
Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said the situation in Bakhmut was "tough, very tough".
"The closer we are to the centre of the city, the harder the fighting... The Ukrainians throw in endless reserves. But we are advancing and we will be advancing," Prigozhin said in an audio statement released by his press service.
He also said members of the Russian army helped his troops with ammunition.
"Yesterday, we got 15 truckloads, today we got 12. And I think we will continue to receive them," he said, adding there was no conflict between his fighters and Russian troops.
Prigozhin had previously complained that Russia's top brass was deliberately starving his men of ammunition, an allegation the defence ministry rejected.
Prigozhin said Wagner "will begin to reboot" and start hiring once Bakhmut is captured. His army has already opened recruitment centres across 42 cities to replenish its ranks.
Waiting for tanks
While Bakhmut's strategic value is debatable, Russia sees capturing it as a step towards a major aim of the war - now in its second year - of seizing all of Ukraine's Donbas industrial region. Donetsk and Luhansk regions make up the Donbas.
Ukraine has decided to stay and fight on in Bakhmut, after initial signs it was planning to withdraw, to grind down Russia's best units ahead of a spring counter-offensive.
Analysts expect a Ukrainian counter-offensive to begin in earnest over April-May when the weather improves and more military aid arrives, including heavy Leopard and Challenger tanks.
Western tanks will significantly change war tactics, Leonid Khoda, a seasoned Ukrainian tank brigade commander who received the Hero of Ukraine award less than a month after Russia's full scale invasion, told Reuters.
"Everyone is waiting, 1st Tank Brigade is waiting too. Not long ago we sent personnel to learn to operate (Leopard) 2A6," said Khoda, who commands the 1st Siversk Tank Brigade which is fighting in the south of Donetsk.
Elsewhere, Russian shelling killed three civilians who were on their way to buy groceries in the southern city of Kherson on Saturday, Zelensky said, denouncing what he called "brutal terrorist attacks" by pro-Moscow units.
Russia has denied targeting civilians.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba urged Germany in an interview published on Sunday to speed up supplies of ammunition and to start training Ukrainian pilots on Western fighter jets.
Kuleba made clear he did not expect Western allies to give Ukraine the fighter jets it has been asking for any time soon, but said pilots should be ready for when the decision was taken.
Separately, a senior EU official has said the European Union could soon top up the fund used for purchasing weapons for Ukraine by US$3.7 billion (about RM16.6 billion).


Jan 12 case management for prosecution's appeal in death of Cradle Fund boss

The Court of Appeal has fixed Jan 12 for further case management of the prosecution's appeal against the acquittal of Samirah Muzaffar and two teenagers of murdering Cradle Fund CEO Nazrin Hassan.
When contacted, one of their lawyers, Rahmat Mohamed Hazlan, said the hearing of the appeal had yet to be fixed as the records of appeal were not yet ready.
The appeal came up for case management before Court of Appeal deputy registrar Mohd Khairi Haron today.
On June 21, the Shah Alam High Court acquitted and discharged Samirah, 47, who is Nazrin's widow, and the two teenagers, aged 19 and 16, after finding that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against them.
Samirah and the two teenagers, as well as an Indonesian woman, Eka Wahyu Lestari, who is still at large, were charged with murdering Nazrin, 45, at his house in Mutiara Damansara between 11.30pm on June 13, 2018, and 4am the following day.
On June 23, the Attorney-General's Chambers filed a notice of appeal against the High Court's decision acquitting Samirah and the teenagers of the murder charge.
On June 30, Samirah and the teenagers filed an appeal to challenge certain findings of facts by the High Court, including the finding that the fire which broke out in Nazrin's room was "done deliberately".
The High Court judge, in his oral judgment, said the court accepted the testimonies of Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department director Edwin Galan Teruki and investigating officer Halim Zulkefeli, who concluded that the fire was deliberately lit.


Over 7.5 million vaccine jabs given

A total of 7,593,179 doses of vaccine had been administered under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme as of yesterday, says Health Minister Dr Adham Baba.Of these, 5,463,128 were first-dose recipients and 2,130,051 had received both shots.“Yesterday alone, 197,274 doses of Covid-19 vaccine were administered,” he said in a Twitter post today.The five states with the most fully vaccinated people are Selangor (275,098), Sarawak (240,232), Johor (224,441), Perak (195,469) and Sabah (180,825).


Hishammuddin appointed BN treasurer

Hishammuddin Hussein has replaced Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor as Barisan Nasional (BN) treasurer, the coalition’s chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced today.In a statement, Zahid said the decision for “a small reshuffle” was made after discussion with the leaders of BN component parties, to further strengthen the coalition’s organisational structure.Congratulating Hishammuddin on his new position, he said Tengku Adnan would continue to carry out his duties as Umno treasurer.“BN thanks him for his service and contributions.”


You’re joking: Simpang Renggam voters question talk of Maszlee as Johor MB candidate

In Simpang Renggam, talk that the incumbent MP will be named as Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) candidate for menteri besar if the coalition wins the upcoming polls in Johor has been met by disbelief by voters who say that Maszlee Malik has done nothing for them since winning the federal seat in the 2018 general election.Maszlee, PKR’s candidate for the state seat of Layang-Layang, was a Cabinet member during PH’s 22-month tenure in Putrajaya.But voters in his parliamentary constituency who spoke to MalaysiaNow said he had done little aside from bringing fast food giant McDonald’s to the area.“What has he done for the past few years?” one of them who introduced himself as Firdaus said, laughing as he was told of the rumour.“McDonald’s, that’s about the extent of his contributions.”A voter named Firdaus speaks to MalaysiaNow about the upcoming election in Johor.Maszlee was education minister during the PH administration, resigning about a month before the Sheraton Move which saw the collapse of the coalition after Dr Mahathir Mohamad stepped down as prime minister.One of four candidates contesting the Layang-Layang seat, he will be up against K Alagathiran of Perikatan Nasional (PN), Abdul Mutalib Abd Rahim of Barisan Nasional (BN) and Ahmad Syafiq Othaman of Pejuang.The state seat was won by a BN candidate at the 14th general election (GE14) – Onn Hafiz Ghazi who is now contesting the seat of Machap.In October 2020, Maszlee said he was grateful to have brought McDonald’s to Simpang Renggam, and that he hoped it would bring employment opportunities for the locals.‘Lucky’But Firdaus referred to other promises Maszlee had made at GE14 which he said were not yet fulfilled.“The Simpang Renggam tol is still there,” he said, a reference to Maszlee’s pledge to abolish toll collections in the area should PH succeed in taking Putrajaya.Maszlee had even told voters to hold him to his word if he did not make good on his promise.He came under heavy fire on social media after his appointment as education minister, with internet users saying the promise had been a lie and accusing him of failing to keep his word.Three of his Facebook posts on the abolishment of the toll were later believed to have been taken down.A volunteer gives the thumbs up sign from a van decorated with stickers of Maszlee Malik, PKR’s candidate for the Layang-Layang state constituency, ahead of the Johor election. Photo: FacebookIn October 2020, MalaysiaNow revealed that Maszlee was the only former Bersatu MP to have signed a statutory declaration in support of PKR chief Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister.He joined PKR some three months before the Johor polls were announced.Firdaus said Maszlee had been lucky at GE14 as the wave against BN had been strong enough to see even Johor falling to PH.“Compare what he did with what Abah has done in Johor,” he said, referring to former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin.Muhyiddin, who leads the PN coalition, hails from Johor and was menteri besar there from 1986 to 1995.Maszlee had been active in the field of education and academics and once lectured at the International Islamic University Malaysia.He joined Bersatu which was then a PH component a month before GE14. He was nominated as PH’s candidate for Simpang Renggam where he defeated the incumbent from BN, Liang Teck Meng.Firdaus (right) chats with his friend Alif as they wait for customers at their fruit stalls in Simpang Renggam town.One of Firdaus’ friends who wished to be known as Alif also expressed surprise at talk that Maszlee would be named as menteri besar.Alif, who sells fruits at the side of one of the main roads in Simpang Renggam, said he was still unsure of Maszlee’s role as MP aside from the pictures uploaded on Facebook each time the politician returned to his constituency.“Whether he is here or not makes no difference,” he said. “It feels like nothing changes.”Adding that Maszlee could not compare to Muhyiddin, he said the Simpang Renggam MP did not know the people of Johor.“When politicians return to the area, we are friendly. But see what happens on polling day,” he said.At an eatery some 50m from Alif’s stall, the owner, Reza, said he was happy with the friendliness Maszlee showed as a people’s representative.He added that Maszlee’s presence at shops and housing areas was praiseworthy.Nevertheless, he said this was not enough for him to be nominated as menteri besar of Johor.“He is a good lecturer but he cannot challenge Abah,” Reza said. “They need to find someone else with more experience.”


WHO countries seek better guard for next pandemic

Countries meeting at the World Health Organization this week are thrashing out how to prepare for future pandemics – amid warnings that the planet is wide open to the next crisis.WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan said Wednesday that infectious diseases were being amplified by weak public health services and poorly-managed urban settings.Citing the monkeypox outbreaks in non-endemic locations, he told countries that the spread of the virus was “directly related to our inability, or unwillingness, to manage those risks earlier in their cycle of epidemic generation”.The Covid crisis laid bare major deficiencies in the global health system, and countries last year agreed numerous changes were needed to better prepare the world to face future threats.At this week’s annual World Health Assembly of 194 member states – the WHO’s decision-making body – countries want some progress on filling the gaps in alertness and readiness that helped Covid spread worldwide, killing millions and trashing economies.Ryan also warned about holes in surveillance.Covid-19 testing has dropped off dramatically in many countries in recent months, meaning the virus could be spreading and mutating under the radar.“We need data. We are becoming blind to the future of this pandemic and we are becoming blind to the emergence of others,” Ryan said.World ‘remains unprepared’WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned countries that there was no time to lose.“Building health emergency preparedness, response and resilience is an urgent priority because the pandemic has shown that the world was, and remains unprepared,” he told the assembly.Amendments are being considered to the International Health Regulations – a set of legally-binding international laws governing how countries respond to acute public health risks.And negotiations are under way towards a new “legal instrument” – possibly a treaty – aimed at streamlining the global approach to pandemic preparedness and response.A progress report on the new instrument will be submitted at the 2023 World Health Assembly, with the final outcome presented for consideration at the 2024 WHA.“A legally-binding instrument is a promise to future generations to ensure the world can respond to the next pandemic or health emergency,” Tedros said.The IHR, adopted in 2005, set out countries’ rights and obligations in handling health emergencies that could spread abroad.They also define what constitutes a so-called public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) – the highest alarm the WHO can sound.PHEIC shake flopThe Covid PHEIC declaration on Jan 30, 2020 did little to shake countries into action and it was only when Tedros called the situation a pandemic on March 11 that many countries seemed to wake up to the danger.The US, the European Union, Britain, Japan, Australia and South Korea have brought forward a draft resolution on strengthening WHO preparedness for and response to health emergencies.The US especially has insisted on the need to clarify roles and responsibilities, increase transparency and accountability, share best practices, and communicate in real-time on emerging problems.The resolution would, among other things, seek to shorten dramatically the period between the adoption and implementation of IHR amendments, in a bid to speed up change.“I am hopeful that we will reach consensus,” said Loyce Pace, assistant secretary for global affairs at the US health ministry.Countries and the WHO must do “everything that we can… to protect the global community from anything like this ever again”, she told reporters.The Covid pandemic “has been a nightmare that we’ve lived through, but if we don’t do anything about it, then what are we here for?”


'Provocation': PAS slams concert comic

PAS today hit out at a comic associating the Islamist party with the upcoming concert by popular British band Coldplay, calling it a form of provocation.
The comic, created by webcomic "Bro, don't like that la, bro", portrays a character dressed in green, PAS' signature colour, standing in line to buy a concert ticket.
After failing to get one, he becomes angry and instructs that the concert be cancelled.
The comic followed a statement by PAS central committee member Nasruddin Hassan, who had urged the government to cancel the concert, citing "hedonism" and the spread of "diviant culture".
When contacted, PAS information chief Khairil Nizam Khirudin did not comment on whether the party would cancel the concert if it had the power to do so.
"This is a provocation," he said in a brief reply to MalaysiaNow.
Coldplay is scheduled to perform in Malaysia on Nov 22, an event welcomed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Tickets for the concert have already been sold, with reports of resales by so-called scalpers for exorbitant prices.
PAS Youth chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari had opposed the concert of popular singer Billie Eilish in 2022, threatening to protest if the government did not cancel events by Western artists in the country.
In 2016, the Islamist party also objected to a concert by Selena Gomez.


PAS says committed to multiculturalism, collective decisions in any future PN govt

PAS has given its assurance that it will not make any decision without consultation with its partners in a future coalition government, despite emerging as the party with the most number of seats in the newly concluded election.
The Islamist party also pledged to respect Malaysia's multicultural and multi-religious make-up, saying the people's rights are guaranteed by the constitution.
"PAS rejects the claims by some parties that it will use its larger position in the government to implement policies against anyone, not to mention in Sarawak and Sabah whose peoples have been living harmoniously according to their respective customs and religions," said PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan.
The statement is believed to be a response to social media posts claiming Malaysia would become a theocratic state if Perikatan Nasional (PN) comes to power.
In the election on Saturday, PAS won 49 seats for PN, making it the party with the most number of seats.
This was PAS' best performance since its formation, which also saw it garnering the most popular votes ahead of Umno, PKR and DAP.
Takiyuddin said PAS had abided by all government decisions when it was part of the two federal governments led by Muhyiddin Yassin and then Ismail Sabri Yaakob in the last 31 months.
"PAS has proven this with the openness it has shown by guaranteeing the rights of people of various races and religions in Kelantan, where PAS has ruled for more than 30 years."


Australia suspends electricity market to stave off blackouts

Australia’s energy regulator seized control of the national power grid Wednesday, suspending a market-based system roiled by soaring prices and the threat of widespread blackouts.The Australian Energy Market Operator said it had “suspended the spot market” for electricity in “all regions” because it was no longer providing “secure and reliable supply”.The electricity used to power Australian homes is usually bought and sold across the populous east of the country, a system designed to lower wholesale costs and diversify supply.But the market has been thrown into turmoil by a series of supply and demand shocks, and the regulator is now stepping in to set prices and marshal distribution.Australia is one of the world’s top three producers of gas and coal, but about a quarter of the east coast’s coal-fired power stations are currently offline because of outages and maintenance.Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has also seen export demand for Australian gas spike, mopping up any potential surplus tat could ease the domestic shortfall.The supply issues have been exacerbated by a cold snap across the east coast, prompting calls from electricity providers for households to conserve energy.Much of the east coast – including the cities of Sydney and Melbourne, home to more than 10 million people in total – have been warned to expect blackouts as demand threatens to outstrip supply.The Australian Energy Market Operator had already intervened repeatedly to prevent blackouts, ordering companies to produce more and capping prices.“The best interests of consumers will always come first,” said energy minister Chris Bowen, foreshadowing the move earlier in the day.His recently elected Labor government has blamed the crisis on the previous conservative administration, which aggressively championed coal projects while largely shunning renewables.Fossil fuels provided an estimated 71% of Australia’s electricity last year, and coal alone 51%, government figures show.


New Covid-19 cases continue to drop

The number of new Covid-19 cases in Malaysia continued to show a decrease with 1,483 cases reported on Sunday compared to 1,971 on Saturday.
The same situation was also seen last week, the 36th epidemiological week (ME 36/2022) from Sept 4 to 10, with 14,072 Covid-19 infections recorded compared to 15,530 the week before.
Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the number of deaths during ME 36/2022 decreased by 27.7%, from 47 in ME 35/2022 to 34, while recoveries saw a 12.8% drop from 19,813 to 17,286.
"The daily average number of active cases for that period was 27,503, which is a decrease of 12.2% compared to the previous week," he said in a statement on Covid-19 developments today.
Meanwhile, admissions of Covid-19 patients to health facilities such as public hospitals and quarantine and treatment centres per 100,000 residents increased 3.4% for patients in Category One and Two, and dropped by 3.7% for those in Category Three and above.
ICU bed occupancy decreased by 1% while the percentage of Covid-19 patients requiring ventilators decreased 0.2% during ME 36/2022 compared to the previous week.
The number of positive cases monitored by the Covid-19 assessment centres (CACs) across the country also showed a decrease.
"The number of patient arrivals to CACs decreased by 15.8%. New cases undergoing monitoring at home dropped by 11.0% while the number of cases referred by CACs to hospitals went down by 1.9%," Noor Hisham said.


Thailand extends ban on casual tourism until at least Spring 2021

Thailand’s Minister for Sports and Tourism, Pipat Ratchakitprakan, has announced that the country’s tourism is to remain closed until at least the second quarter of next year.This effectively ends all hopes of a turnaround in the tourism industry during the European winter high season.“The country will continue opening to businessmen, technical experts, high-level workers and those in the medical field for now. Fourteen-day quarantine will continue for now with many countries still in the grip of the pandemic,” Pipat said.Currently, Thailand’s borders are open, and tourists can gain access in the country through new visas. However, most travellers are turned off by the red tape involved and the daunting requirements.The Thai Hotel Association and Thailand Travel Agents Association have been urging the Thai government to drop or shorten the mandatory quarantine for all incoming travellers and to create travel corridors with neighbours and other “low-risk” countries, including Singapore, Vietnam, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan but without luck so far.Meanwhile, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is still urging caution to prevent another Covid-19 outbreak.The Thai government appears to be bowing to survey after survey showing that a majority of Thai people around the country are in favour of keeping the borders closed for now, despite the country’s tourism and hospitality industry being shattered by the government’s policies.


Photo appears to show Dubai’s Sheikha Latifa on trip abroad

A picture purportedly showing Sheikha Latifa at Madrid’s airport emerged Monday, the latest in a series of images posted after the UN asked for proof the Emirati royal was still alive.The UN human rights office asked for evidence about Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum’s daughter in February, after the BBC aired a video shot by Latifa saying she was being held captive and feared for her life.Sheikh Mohammed is the vice-president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, of which Dubai is one of the seven emirates.His 35-year-old daughter made an unsuccessful attempt to flee the emirate in March 2018, escaping by boat with the help of friends before being hauled back. She has not been seen in public since then.AFP is unable to verify the latest photograph or when it was taken.It was published on Monday on an account belonging to a woman that British media have identified as Sioned Taylor, a former Royal Navy member. It showed the two women standing side-by-side, wearing masks, near an airport tarmac.A caption read: “Great European holiday with Latifa. We’re having fun exploring!”In the comment section, the account’s handler responds “well spotted” to an inquiry as to whether the picture was taken at Madrid’s Barajas airport.Dubai authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the photograph.Last month, the same account published two pictures purportedly showing Latifa – one in a restaurant and another in a Dubai shopping mall.According to the BBC, friends of Latifa have said they recognised the two women seen in the mall image, and that the royal is acquainted with them.A London-based group which has campaigned for her freedom said the release of the photographs was encouraging.“We say we are pleased to see Latifa seemingly having a passport, travelling and enjoying an increasing degree of freedom, these are very positive steps forward,” said David Haigh, co-founder of the Free Latifa campaign.“I can also confirm that several of the campaign team have been contacted directly by Latifa,” he added in a statement.In February, Dubai’s royal family released a statement insisting Latifa was being “cared for at home”.“Her family has confirmed that her highness is being cared for at home, supported by her family and medical professionals.“Sheikha Latifa continues to improve and we are hopeful she will return to public life at the appropriate time.”


Agreements not required for emergency procurement of ventilators, says health ministry

The health ministry today said it did not need to prepare agreement documents for emergency procurement of ventilators during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni said this could be why suppliers took advantage by supplying ventilators that did not comply with the specifications requested by the ministry.
There was a desperate need for the ministry to obtain medical equipment during the emergency, he said during the Auditor-General's Report 2021 debate in the Dewan Rakyat today.
However, due to travel restrictions to supplier countries, the procurement of ventilators was done on cash-and-carry basis.
He said that for emergency procurements, the ministry would provide the required specifications to the suppliers.
The suppliers would then present proposals for ventilators through catalogues or brochures for ministry officials' consideration.
"The delivery was done in phases and took a long time due to high demands and competitions in European countries.
"And the prices increased up to four times.
"In emergency situations, it wasn't feasible to physically inspect the ventilators," he said.
However, he said that the ministry had still managed to obtain the required number of ventilators to meet the high demand in the public health sector at that time.
Lukanisman's response came after several Pakatan Harapan MPs said the opposition bloc's reluctance to debate the national audit report was a cover-up attempt to avoid exposing misconducts on the part of the health ministry under the previous administration.
Yesterday, Jelutong MP RSN Rayer claimed there were irregularities in the health ministry's procurement of vaccines and ventilators.
Lukanisman said the according to the emergency spending guidelines, there was no need to prepare agreements for emergency procurements.
He also said that approximately 104 ventilator units deemed unsuitable and unsafe would be replaced with new ones from supplier companies.


Impossible for Anwar to form a Malay-Muslim government, say analysts

Analysts have questioned Anwar Ibrahim’s chances of following through with his plan for a Malay-Muslim government, saying the PKR president would first have to unite the country’s Malay political parties – a difficult hurdle given the complexities involved in getting them to work together.“The problem for Anwar is if he forms the government and PAS is part of it – PAS will surely object to the presence of Amanah,” James Chin from the University of Tasmania told MalaysiaNow.“This is the challenge that Anwar will have to face to improve the relationship between Amanah and PAS which, of course, has nothing to do with DAP,” he added.Amanah, the PAS splinter party led by Mohamad Sabu, was formed by a group of leaders who lost in the 2015 party elections.Anwar declared at a press conference three weeks ago that he possessed “formidable and convincing” majority support from MPs to form a new government.“The numbers don’t add up.”In a later meeting with PKR assemblymen, he also said his administration would be a Malay-Muslim one.But Azmi Hassan from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said it would be impossible for Anwar to form a Malay-Muslim government based on actual figures in the Dewan Rakyat.He told MalaysiaNow that in order to obtain the support of Malay-Muslim MPs, Anwar would need to win the support of parties such as Umno, Bersatu, PAS and Amanah.“The numbers don’t add up,” he added. “Bersatu would have to give its support, and Umno too, along with some from PRS and GPS.“Even then, it would not be enough for a formidable majority.”He said it would be difficult for Anwar to get enough support for a new government in the first place as DAP, the biggest party in the Pakatan Harapan coalition, would have problems working with MPs from Umno, especially those who have been charged with corruption.“Minus off PAS, because they have openly said that they will not support Anwar.”He added that the past few days had seen many MPs denying their support for the PKR leader.“So in this case, Anwar’s definition of ‘formidable’ can be questioned.”At least 10 MPs have denied suggestions that they would back Anwar for the prime minister’s position, including Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, Ahmad Maslan, Bung Moktar Radin, Mahdzir Khalid, Idris Jusoh, Tajuddin Abdul Rahman and Shahidan Kassim.A few of them have also lodged police reports.Chin said even the Chinese voters do not believe that Anwar possesses the majority needed to form a new government.“I think most Chinese in Malaysia do not believe Anwar’s claim of having majority support. They are adopting a wait-and-see approach,” he told MalaysiaNow.“I think everyone doubts that he has the numbers, and even if he does, I do not think that they are stable.”


‘Please sir, I’ve got Covid’: Schoolkids use orange juice to get fake positive test results

Students in Britain are using orange juice to get fake positive Covid-19 test results to get excused from school, The Guardian reported on Saturday.The trick, which requires using a Covid lateral flow test, “is not a result of the juice containing the virus. Rather it appears to be linked to its acidity, which essentially breaks the test”, said an expert.A rapid flow test is usually self-administered and shows results after 30 minutes. A sample is taken inside the mouth and nose using a swab which is then soaked in a liquid and squeezed onto a test strip.The same positive results have reportedly been seen by using other liquids including ketchup and Coca-Cola, according to the report.One UK science teacher told the Guardian that students “say it’s a great way to get two weeks off school”.The Guardian also reported that the hack had gone viral on the video sharing app TikTok where pupils were testing out different liquids.“There have been more than 6.5 million views of videos uploaded to the social media platform under the search term #fakecovidtest,” The Guardian reported.However, upon checking, Al Arabiya English discovered that TikTok has since removed all videos under the hashtag.“This phrase may be associated with behaviour or content that violates our guidelines,” the TikTok search results page showed.A professor of biostatistics at the University of Birmingham criticised the practice, according to The Guardian.“False positives affect not just that child but their family and their bubble at school, so it is a pretty selfish thing to do. There are less harmful ways to fake a day off school,” Jon Deeks was quoted as saying.Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, urged parents to ensure tests are being used properly, adding, the best place for students who are interested in learning more about chemical reactions is in schools.


Global plastic use and waste on track to triple by 2060

A world severely blighted by plastic pollution is on track to see the use of plastics nearly triple in less than four decades, according to findings released Friday.Annual production of fossil-fuel-based plastics are set to top 1.2 billion tonnes by 2060 and waste to exceed one billion tonnes, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).Even with aggressive action to cut demand and improve efficiencies, plastic production would almost double in less than 40 years, the 38-nation body projects in a report.Such globally coordinated policies, however, could hugely boost the share of future plastic waste that is recycled, from 12 to 40%.There is increasing international alarm over volume and omnipresence of plastics pollution, and its impact.Infiltrating the most remote and otherwise pristine regions of the planet, microplastics have been discovered inside fish in the deepest recesses of the ocean and locked inside Arctic ice.The debris is estimated to cause the deaths of more than a million seabirds and over 100,000 marine mammals each year.“Plastic pollution is one of the great environmental challenges of the 21st century, causing wide-ranging damage to ecosystems and human health,” OECD chief Mathias Cormann said.Since the 1950s, roughly 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic have been produced with more than 60% of that tossed into landfills, burned or dumped directly into rivers and oceans.Some 460 million tonnes of plastics were used in 2019, twice as much as 20 years earlier.The amount of plastic waste has also nearly doubled, exceeding 350 million tonnes, with less than 10% of it recycled.Plastics and CO2On current trends, the use of plastics is projected to roughly double in North America, Europe, and East Asia. In other emerging and developing countries, it is expected to grow three- to five-fold, and more than six-fold in sub-Saharan Africa.The new report contrasts a business-as-usual trajectory with the benefits of more ambitious global policies of reduced plastic use and pollution.Driven by economic growth and an expanding population, plastics production is set to increase under either scenario, the OECD warns.Where policies can make a huge difference is in the handling of waste.Currently, nearly 100 million tonnes of plastic waste is either mismanaged or allowed to leak into the environment, a figure set to double by 2060.“Coordinated and ambitious global efforts can almost eliminate plastic pollution by 2060,” the report concludes.It could also curtail the amount of planet-warming greenhouse gases projected to seep into the atmosphere.Currently, the full life-cycle of primary plastics – from production to disintegration – contributes about two billion tonnes of CO2 or its equivalent in other gases, roughly 3% of human-caused carbon pollution.Without targeted policy action, that figure will likely double by 2060, the OECD warns.Earlier this year, the United Nations set in motion a process to develop an internationally binding treaty to limit plastic pollution.


Europe's city schools, hospitals at risk from extreme heat, EU agency says

Nearly half of schools and hospitals in European cities are located in urban "heat islands", exposing vulnerable populations to health-threatening temperatures as climate change impacts worsen, the European Union's environment agency has said.
Around 46% of hospitals and 43% of schools are in areas at least 2 degrees Celsius warmer than the regional average - fuelling fiercer heatwave impacts than in rural areas, the European Environment Agency (EEA) said on Wednesday, in an analysis of how Europe can adapt to climate change.
The reason is the urban heat island effect, where dense clusters of buildings and infrastructure like roads absorb and retain more heat than green areas.
"This is something which will have severe consequences for human health," said Blaz Kurnik, head of the EEA's climate adaptation department.
Climate change, caused by industry continuing to burn fossil fuels, is making heatwaves hotter and more frequent - a trend that, when combined with urban heat islands, poses risks including increased deaths from heat stress to vulnerable populations like the elderly.
"Vulnerability in Europe is also increasing due to the aging population, due to the more condensed cities. This is something that, with the combination of the heat waves, will become quite a risk for society in the future," Kurnik said.
The phenomenon has already been observed during temperature extremes. During an August 2003 heatwave, heat-related mortality in cities in the West Midlands area of Britain was twice as high as in local rural areas.
The EEA urged governments to introduce measures to lessen the heat island effect in cities, such as introducing more cooling green spaces and water. Some already are - such as the City of Paris's programme to transform 10 pilot schools' grounds into cooler, greener spaces, with fountains and drought-resistant plants.
Kurnik said other measures could include bringing forward the start of school holidays to avoid teaching in intense heat - but that in general, while all EU countries now have some form of climate adaptation strategy, most have yet to turn them into concrete actions.


Demands of contract medical workers to be brought to Cabinet, says health minister

Health Minister Dr Adham Baba says the issue of contract medical officers who have not been absorbed into permanent posts will be raised at a Cabinet meeting.As of May 31, he said, there were 35,216 contract appointments for the three main schemes, namely 23,077 UD41 medical officers, 5,000 UG41 dental officers, and 7,139 UF41 pharmacists.“I urge doctors in the existing contract scheme to be patient and calm.“The working paper has been completed and we will see the decision of the Cabinet later,” he said when asked by reporters about the matter at a press conference on the development of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme today.Earlier, Adham said the health ministry had implemented salary adjustments to the contract medical officer scheme, from UD41 to UD43, which was almost equal to the salary of a permanent medical officer.The media reported that about 23,000 contract doctors would go on a nationwide strike on July 26, after their efforts for permanent absorption into the service failed to yield any results.Meanwhile, Adham said a total of 200 psychology officers had been appointed since the end of 2020, adding that they would continue to deliver mental health services for frontliners and the community into 2022.He said since the implementation of the movement control order (MCO), the mental health scenario in the country had shown an increasing impact of mental health problems.“As many as 91.2% of the helpline calls we receive require emotional support and counselling.“Among the reasons are immense stress, depression, loss of hope to continue living, loss of a source of income, disputes with spouses and family and stigma against infection,” he said.He said the health ministry and various other ministries and departments were always working in an integrated manner to implement initiatives in various aspects to address mental health problems.He said these include enhancing basic psychology assistance training for frontliners and members of other agencies, and implementing the concept of “task shifting” which is community empowerment by providing training and skills to individuals outside the ministry, to deliver advocacy and support as well as psychosocial intervention for the community.


New cases continue to hover at 21,000

Another 21,315 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 3,061,550.Another 8,517 patients recovered, bringing total recoveries to 2,860,954.Meanwhile 199 are in the ICU, including 94 confirmed Covid-19 patients.A total of 115 are in need of respiratory assistance including 47 confirmed Covid-19 cases.Of the 21,315 cases reported today, 87 (0.41%) are in Category Three and above. The remaining 21,228 (99.59%) are in Category One and Two.A total of 6,200 cases (29.09%) are in Category One, 15,028 (70.50%) in Category Two, 48 (0.23%) in Category Three, 23 (0.11%) in Category Four, and 16 (0.07%) in Category Five.


Putrajaya stays mum on number of additional haj spots

Putrajaya has decided not to disclose the number of additional pilgrims allowed to perform the haj in the holiest city of Islam following a second appeal for a further quota of 10,000, the results of which should have been made known in May.
Malaysia was allowed a quota of 31,600 pilgrims for the current haj season, returning the country to its original allocation with a first addition of 350 pilgrims.
Speaking to MalaysiaNow, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Mohd Na'im Mokhtar said Putrajaya had already received Saudi Arabia's decision on its appeal.
"The additional quota was allowed, but no notification was made out of respect for the wishes of the Saudi Arabian government," he added.
The quota of pilgrims for each country is calculated at a rate of 0.1% of its total population.
Malaysia applied for the additional quota following an increase in population to 31.95 million.
The issue of haj quota has been a long-standing topic often raised in meetings between the leaders of Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim came under fire in March after reports that his three-day official visit to the kingdom ended without a meeting with Saudi King Salman Abdul Aziz or Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
A Bernama report said the meeting could not take place because the crown prince had a change of plans ahead of the Ramadan month.
Anwar himself expressed regret that he had been unable to meet Mohammed, but was said to have turned down a request by Saudi officials to extend his stay so that a meeting with the crown prince could take place.
Wisma Putra later said that it had received diplomatic notes confirming Anwar's visit as well as a meeting with the two leaders.
Saudi Arabia gave Malaysia an additional 10,000 slots after the Covid-19 pandemic following a meeting between then prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Mohammed, who is also the kingdom's prime minister.


Sabah mulls cutting quarantine period for travellers from abroad

The Sabah government will consider reducing the compulsory quarantine period for individuals from abroad entering through international checkpoints in the state.Sabah Local Government and Housing Minister Masidi Manjun, who is also state Covid-19 spokesman, said the move would be applicable to citizens and non-citizens who arrive in Sabah from abroad.He said consideration could be given for fully vaccinated individuals from abroad to undergo seven days of compulsory quarantine while those who are not vaccinated or have incomplete vaccination must undergo 10 days of quarantine.“In addition, consideration can be given for fully vaccinated trabellers to undergo quarantine at home if it is deemed suitable,” he said in a statement.On the development of Covid-19 in Sabah, Masidi said 393 new cases were recorded yesterday bringing the cumulative number to 218,342 cases, with seven more deaths reported.Masidi said 602 Covid-19 patients are reported to have recovered and have been discharged from hospitals and low-risk quarantine and treatment centres.This brings the cumulative number of recovery cases to 207,601 while 1,867 patients are still receiving treatment, he added.


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Down but not out for wheelchair-bound engineer

It was a normal day on the job for engineer Sasitharan Chandran until he suffered a fall which left him with severe mobility issues.That was seven years ago. Today, speaking from the wheelchair which has become his primary mode of movement, he recalls the hardships he went through and the losses he experienced, as well as his determination to pursue his ambitions despite his disability.Sasitharan, 53, met with the accident while working in Indonesia.“I lost all sensation in my legs,” he told MalaysiaNow. “Over time, the numbness became worse and walking became difficult.”Sasitharan visited many local specialist hospitals but none of the doctors could tell him why he was unable to walk.He then spent thousands of ringgit seeking traditional treatment in Kerala, India.“They told me it was nothing serious and that I would be able to walk as usual,” he added. “But I had to pay RM13,000 in advance for a week’s treatment.”He said they told him to continue this treatment for three months.“But nothing changed, and I saw no positive signs.”Sasitharan Chandran works hard at his physiotherapy sessions to keep healthy despite his disability.His feeling of having been cheated turned into depression and he began lashing out at those around him. Eventually, his marriage failed and he was left alone.He then underwent psychiatric treatment for six months before returning to his home town in Sungai Petani, Kedah.There, his family advised him to seek spiritual treatment at a temple. He agreed, and was told that his physical condition was triggered by mystic powers.“They said it was a curse,” he added. “But I chose to look at it from a positive perspective because everything happens for a reason.”Sasitharan Chandran speaks about his desire to help others even as he continues working to improve himself.But despite his optimism, his condition continue to deteriorate until five years later, in 2019, he found himself wheelchair-bound.His life took a turn for the better after he joined a programme by the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit or Mitra.He underwent training at the Independent Living & Training Centre (ILTC) which facilitates the acquisition of new skills and aims to boost self-motivation among members.Now a member himself, he is also a motivational speaker at the Penang-based organisation.He is also pursuing a master’s degree at Open University, and intends to further his studies to the PhD level.“After undergoing training at ILTC, I saw that there are people with more severe disabilities than I have,” he said. “This inspired me to improve myself.”His ambition now is to become a lecturer.“Otherwise, I will continue with ILTC to help disabled people learn new skills.”


Govt considering metered parking system in Brickfields

The federal territories ministry is looking at introducing a metered parking system in Brickfields to address parking problems and traffic congestion.Deputy minister Santhara Kumar said it also planned to limit parking to one or two hours to make it easier for people to visit the area.“We find that many people take the opportunity to park their cars for free here, and then take the LRT to go to work or other places until late hours, leaving those who come to purchase goods facing some difficulty in finding vacant parking bays,” he said.Speaking to reporters after visiting the area, Santhara said the Kuala Lumpur City Hall would also issue more compounds and tow cars to reduce traffic congestion in Brickfields.


Monthly payouts proposal to ensure enough income post-retirement, says EPF

The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) says it has been working towards establishing a more pension-like approach to provide its members with a more stable income in their post-retirement years.
The EPF said this could be seen from its current encouragement to members to voluntarily shift to regular monthly payouts rather than lump-sum withdrawals.
"In 2022, more than 7,000 members voluntarily adopted the monthly payout option. The process of formalising the proposed monthly withdrawal mechanism is still being studied and will take into account the ability and readiness of members to make such a transition.
"The proposed changes will most likely require a generational change and the conversion will take time," it said in a statement.
The EPF nevertheless added that such a transition was necessary given that Malaysia’s average life expectancy had increased from 54 years in 1957 to 75 years today, and was projected to further increase in the future, translating into longer years spent in retirement.
"The EPF will continue to encourage its members to voluntarily convert to the monthly drawdown option," it said.
It added that the monthly drawdown, where a portion of the member’s savings, up to a certain limit, will be converted into a monthly income and the remaining portion can be withdrawn in lump sum, was needed to prevent old-age poverty and for consumption smoothing during retirement.
"The EPF is taking a pragmatic and practical approach to the proposed policy enhancement, balancing the needs of current members against the desirability of sustaining members’ savings after retirement.
"The EPF will communicate any relevant changes to its policy to affected members well in advance of the changes taking effect," it said.


FBI says hackers got no data after compromising email server

The FBI said Sunday that hackers did not access any data or personal information on its network, a day after they compromised an agency server to send out thousands of fake emails.The agency said it has fixed the software vulnerability that allowed the attack.The fake emails originated from an FBI-operated server, which was dedicated to pushing notifications to the Law Enforcement Enterprise Portal, which the FBI uses to communicate with state and local agencies. The compromised server was not part of the FBI’s corporate email service, the FBI added.The fake emails warned of a cyberattack and appeared to come from a legitimate FBI email address ending in @ic.fbi.gov, the FBI said.