The Ultimate Guide To A Monthly Budget And How To Stick To It (Point #3 Is The Hardest)

IMHO, budgeting is the core of personal finance.
Done right, it’s the most powerful system I know for bringing people to financial security.

Imagine this: just following a simple set of rules every month. 10 years later, you check your finances and realise you’re already 50% on your way to financial freedom. Boom!Yet, many people have trouble creating budgets and sticking to them.I’m here to help. About four years ago, I wrote my first budgeting article. Since then, it’s unexpectedly become one of my most popular articles ever.So here's an updated version for 2018 and beyond. It’s not that my principles of budgeting have changed. But I’ve learned a lot more about money and life over the past few years. I also wanted to cover more into the psychology behind budgeting: why is it so powerful, and how to make it work?Here's my ultimate guide to monthly budgeting.

What is a monthly budget?

A monthly budget is a plan of how to spend your monthly salary. And it could look something like this:1. Net Salary (after EPF/SOCSO/EIS/tax): RM4,8002. Home Loan: RM2,2003. Car Loan: RM1,0004. Giving to Parents: RM5005. Insurance: RM3006. Transport: RM3007. Food: RM1,0008. Balance: -RM500Okay, the above is obviously a bad example, but it illustrates an important point: if you don't plan your finances well — it’s very easy to end up broke at the end of every month.Ever felt that way? Yeah, I hate feeling pokai too. Allowed to continue for a long time, it’s highly likely that you spend most of your life working — but have no money for retirement at all.Thankfully, this is where budgets can save us: A budget helps you plan your spending — so you have enough money for your needs, savings for your future, and a little cash to have fun!“Sounds great. But if it were so easy, then everybody would be financially secure right? How come it doesn’t work for most people then?”Glad you asked. So before we go into the details of creating a budget, let’s first talk about why budgets fail.

Why budgets fail

Most people don’t even have a budget. And even for those who do, I hear that most can’t make them work.It would be easy to blame people for not having enough discipline, but that’s oversimplifying things. When a lot of people fail at something, we need to look deeper into human behaviour.With that, I will leave my hypothesis here that people are generally:. Lazy. Look for quick rewards (instant gratification). Have limited willpowerWhich is totally at odds with how budgeting works. To make a budget work, instead, you’ve gotta work hard, be able to delay gratification and have discipline.That’s why most people fail at budgeting — it’s really quite the opposite of human nature.And if we’re designing a practical system — whether it’s a diet plan, fitness plan, or budget — we have to take into account all these human factors. We have to design for people, otherwise, it’ll never work.But before that, I feel I need to share something…

Why Mr-Stingy doesn't fail at budgets

Sticking to budgets feels natural to me.Okay, this might sound like I’m bragging, but I had to write this section so you know where I’m coming from.You know how different people have different talents and superpowers? Like maybe you’re a really good people person — you can quickly make people feel comfortable around you, and charm them with your stories.Well, apparently, mine happens to be personal finance. Now you might ask why, but I honestly have no idea. Maybe it’s a cultural thing (insert racist joke about Chinese here).To me, optimising money feels like a really fun game. I could spend days building personal finance spreadsheets alone. But I understand that other people may find it boring, intimidating, or even downright scary. Maybe you’re allergic to Microsoft Excel.(This is similar to why some people can stay slim, but some struggle with weight. It’s not so much that fit people are mentally stronger, it’s more than fit people find exercising fun.)So it’s okay if you find personal finance difficult. If it doesn’t come naturally, you might need to put in more willpower and effort. You might need to find creative ways to make it more fun.But I’ve never come across anyone who regretted trying to be better with money. It’s something that will absolutely improve your life.With that, let’s look at how to create a budget.

Said no one ever: “How come I’ve got so much money this month?”
Image via mr-stingy

The numbers behind a monthly budget

I believe in percentage budgets. That is — you decide how much to spend on things in your life based on a percentage of your take-home salary.For example, how do you know if paying RM 1,000 per month for a new car is “too much”? How do you know if splashing RM 450 per month on Starbucks is a good idea? Well, convert those into a percentage of your monthly salary, then compare it to a benchmark to see.Here are a two popular “benchmarks” you can easily find on the Internet:Elizabeth Warren's 50-30-20 Rule

Image via JASON BELL/GLAMOUR

(All percentages are "after-tax." If you’re Malaysian and wanna make it easy — just take your net salary: the one after your EPF/SOCSO/EIS/tax.)50%: Needs: Home Loan (or Rent), Car Loan, Insurance, Transport and Food.30%: Wants: Mobile Plan, Phone, Internet, Coffee, Entertainment and Gym.20% Savings/Debt: Emergency Savings, Investments and Credit Card Debt (I strongly believe you should never have credit card debt, but this is in case you already do).The 50-30-20 rule is probably the most popular guide on the Internet right now and has a nice ring to it. I like to use it as a general guideline.It was popularised by Elizabeth Warren, who was a Harvard professor and is now a famous American politician.Dave Ramsey's Rules

Image via Policy Genius

Dave Ramsey is one of the English-speaking world’s most famous writers about money. His budgeting rules are a lot more detailed than the 50-30-20. For comparison’s sake, I’ve listed them down below:Housing: 25 – 35%Insurance: 10 – 25%Food: 10 – 15%Transportation: 10 – 15%Personal: 10 – 15%Giving: 10 – 15%Saving: 10 – 15%Utilities: 5 – 10%Health: 5 – 10%Recreation: 5 – 10%Do all these categories and numbers make your head spin? It’s okay, let’s do this slowly. Now that we’ve looked at some popular benchmarks on the Internet, let’s now look at mr-stingy’s recommended budget.

The Stingy budget

Here’s what I recommend for a middle-income person/family in Malaysia today (percentages based on take-home salary):. Home Loan / Rent: 30%. Food & Living Expenses: 20%. Transport: 15%. Investment & Savings: 15%. Personal / Fun: 10%. Giving: 10%And here’s some further explanation of each category:Home Loan/Rent: 30%The “30% for housing” rule isn’t mine. It’s actually a common financial guideline used by finance professionals. The reason behind it is you don’t want too much of your salary to be stuck in loans.Imagine having 60% of your salary disappear every month just to pay the banks. Terrible right? Especially in uncertain economic times — what happens if you touch wood lose your job?And yes, I know in Asia we seem to be crazy about owning houses at young ages. Nothing wrong with that. But there’s also nothing wrong with renting until you can properly afford a home too.(P.S. Over long periods of time, property prices don’t appreciate as much as you probably think. It’s only 4-5% annual growth over the past 35 years.)Food & Living Expenses: 20%This portion is for things you can’t live without — like groceries, soap, and your monthly Internet.Transport: 15%Now we get to the controversial part. How much should you spend on your vehicle? Well, I say try to keep transport costs below 15% of your take-home salary: including car loan, petrol, tolls and parking.Does that mean you should only drive a Perodua? Maybe. You could drive a BMW too — but you’d need to be earning a lot. Because cars are really expensive in this part of the world.BTW — if you spend less than 15% on transport — that frees up money for other things. For example, here’s a fun thought experiment: maybe drive a basic car, but have a lot more money for family holidays?The opposite of this is also true: maintain an expensive car — and you’ll have a lot less money for everything else.Investment & Savings: 15%This is the part that gets you to financial independence. 15% is a nice base target to aim for, but of course — the more you save and invest — the faster you reach your financial goals. Wanna retire in 10 years? Save 70% instead.Also, remember that these budget percentages are based on your take-home salary. Meaning for a salaried person, he/she already has another 23% (of gross salary) saved in the EPF retirement fund. That’s 11% of your own contribution and 12% from your employer.If you think about it — that’s actually a lot. 23% (of gross) plus 15% (of take-home). Give it 30 years to grow and you’re looking at a nice amount for retirement.P.S. if you work for yourself, because you don’t have EPF — you might wanna save more than 15%.Personal & Fun: 10%All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Don’t forget to allocate some money for you to enjoy the simple pleasures of life too. Take your partner out for a nice dinner. Book a massage. Plan a holiday.If you’re new to budgets, you might be tempted to cut this portion out. You might think that budgets need to be communist-strict, and all money should be only for “useful things.” Don’t do that!Making your budget overly strict — with nothing to keep it fun and enjoyable — will demotivate you. Instead, make sure you spend this “fun money” to reward yourself.It’s important to be responsible with your money. But don’t forget to live a little.Giving: 10%I left this portion for last, but I recommend you pay this first.No matter your financial situation in life, there will always be people who are less fortunate than you. Please allocate some money to help them out too.Money may make the world go round. But kindness and mercy are what makes us human.

A well-balanced budget doesn’t restrict you — it frees you.
Image via mr-stingy

How to stick to a budget

But the numbers only tell one part of the story. Remember at the beginning how I said that most people fail to stick to budgets?I’d be doing a disservice if I just left the numbers above, but didn’t share some thoughts on making budgets work.And I don’t want you to fail, so here are my best tips:

1. Automate the most important things

This goes back to human behaviour. We’re lazy, look for quick rewards, and have limited willpower remember?Personal example: When I first started working many years ago, I could never save any money. Why? Because I planned to save at the end of every month. My theory was: “I’ll save what’s left over.” Of course, by the time I got to the end — there was nothing left. I would spend everything (and more).I only changed my financial destiny by forcing myself to save/invest immediately when my salary arrived.So take your willpower out of the question. For things like investments, savings and loan repayments — I recommend you have these automatically deducted from your salary — as soon as you get it.How? Set up a standing instruction with your bank. Tell the bank to automatically do this every month on the day after you receive your salary.Take the money away from your only-human self and put it somewhere good — before you do something silly with it.

2. Monitor all your spending (for a while)

If you’re not already tracking your monthly spending, I recommend you start immediately. It’s one of those “Aha! Moment” things. Before you do it, you won’t realize what you’re missing out on.And once you do it, you’ll probably end up frightened by how you’re spending your money. I say this not to scare you — but it’s a good kind of fear. The type that makes you reevaluate priorities: “Do I really wanna be spending 10% of my salary on coffee?”Tracking your spending might sound like a huge burden, but today — we have an app for everything remember?Think about it. Our predecessors who wanted to be good with money had to write down their daily spending in Buku Tiga Lima 555, then tally up everything by hand at the end of the month — and they still did it. I’m sure each of us can tap our phones <30 times extra every day without dying.It’s really easy. Every time you spend money, just key in the amount, and put it in a budget category (e.g. Food or Transport). Takes 10 seconds. Just try it out for a few months — you’ll be amazed at what you find out.Personally I use Monefy app, but I’ve been hearing a lot of good things about Money Lover as well.

3. Reduce Temptation

Most of us actually wanna be good with money. Most of us want comfortable lives with luxuries. But not many of us have enough willpower to withstand temptation.I’m not judging. One of my hobbies from long ago was hanging out in shopping malls. So I’m at fault too. When you keep looking at advertisements and promotions — you end up feeling like there’s something missing in your life. Like you need to buy something.That’s the power of companies and advertisers today: they’re damn good at convincing you to spend money.So take a good, honest look at yourself. Check your money app to see where you’re spending most of your money — your “weakness.” If you’re spending too much drinking at Zouk, the solution is not to try ordering cheaper bottles. Because some pretty lady in a tight dress is still gonna convince you to give up your credit card for her “Limited Edition 2 Bottles for RM 1K” deal.Instead, the solution is to replace (some?) Zouk sessions with Saturday Night Football at your neighbourhood Mamak. Where the biggest temptation is an RM7 Maggi Goreng and RM 3 Milo Ais from a very-unfriendly Anne.But your weakness could be anything else. Maybe it’s the bedding section at Ikea. Maybe it’s AirAsia’s Flash Sales. Or maybe it’s Lazada. Whatever it is, if it’s f*cking up your budget — stay far away from it.Remember, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Online shopping + credit cards = …?
Image via mr-stingy

4. Re-balance your budget periodically

Your budget isn’t a fixed set of laws. Remember to review how you’ve been doing from time to time, then tweak it to make it work for you.For example, if you’ve budgeted 10% to spend on transport but find yourself only using 5% every month (lucky you), you could then shift more money towards “Fun.” Or maybe you want to increase your Savings to 25% for your future marriage and child’s education.On the other hand, maybe you’ve decided to limit 5% of your salary for drinks with friends. But you find that you’re really sad because you don’t see them much anymore. Nothing wrong with reducing some other spending, and allocating more here — so you can be happier.It’s up to you, but a budget is a live thing. The key is to make it work for you, while still being responsible.

5. Aim for improvement, not perfection

Like anything new, when you first try to budget — you might fail, often miserably. But don’t be too hard on yourself.Maybe you’ve made some silly purchases in the past, and you’re really deep in debt. And you feel that the 15% savings target I threw out is unrealistic. “How the f*ck am I supposed to save 15% when I can’t even afford to pay all my bills?”At this point, it’s very easy to say “Screw this!” and give up. But I don’t want you to.My intention of throwing numbers out isn’t to make you feel small, or like personal finance is unrealistic. Instead, I just wanted to give a guideline to people who are starting out. It’s just a base target number. If you’re not there yet, start working towards it.Just thinking about a budget is infinitely better than not knowing what a budget is. Trying and failing your first budget is infinitely better than not having one at all. And having 1% savings is infinitely better than having 0%.The way to successful goals is by making small steps and progress. So don’t worry too much about the end goal. Just worry about improving every day.Someday you’ll get there.

A final note on income

Something that budgeting advice often fails to consider is income level. This is especially true if you read foreign-based articles from first-world countries — where their incomes are higher.Because it gets easier to budget when you earn a lot. But low-income workers will always struggle. For example, if you’re earning RM8,000 a month and finding it hard to stick to a budget, your problem is more likely motivation and discipline.But no matter how mentally strong a person is, it’s gonna be crazy difficult to stick to a monthly budget of RM1,000 and try to feed a family.Makes sense?So as much as budgeting is important, it’s only one side of the equation.Put simply, the path to financial stability consists of this: making money and keeping the money. Budgeting will help you with keeping the money. But if your income is low, you’ll also need to figure out how to make more money.Otherwise, you’ll continue to be stuck in this poverty cycle, which gets incredibly hard to get out of.

Budgets are guidelines of how to spend our hard-earned money

And while there is no one size fits all, I hope this has given you some ideas on how to create a budget (if you don’t have one yet), and how to improve sticking to it (if you already do).When it comes to accumulating wealth, good habits will serve you well for your entire life. They might seem trivial, but with the right habits in place, hopefully, you’ll wake up one day 20 years later, check your balance and realize — hey you finally did it! You’re financially free!That’s the power of budgets. The power of systems and habits.But time is of the essence. And it slips away too fast. That beautiful future may seem far away, but its road leads right back to where your feet are right now. Where you have an incredible power — the power to decide what type of future you want.And if you’ve decided you’re gonna get that better financial future, there’s no better time to start than today.

This story was taken from an article that first appeared on mr-stingy.com and is the personal opinion of the writer.
You too can submit a story as a SAYS reader by emailing us at [email protected]

Here's a list of apps to help you get your finances in order:

                5 Best Apps To Track Your Spending This Year

Let technology help you save some moolah.

Read the full story


Wanita Ini Sanggup Berhabis Duit 'Makeup' Kereta Mewah Sendiri. Kalah Orang Lelaki!

Kata orang kalau dah minat pada sesuatu tu, kita sanggup lakukan apa sekalipun. Betul?

Dan apabila bercakap pasal kereta, sudah tentu kaum lelaki lebih arif dan topik ini adalah topik kegemaran kebanyakan lelaki di luar sana. Sesetengah mereka ini juga malah sanggup berhabis duit bagi mendapatkan dan makeup kereta mereka seperti yang diimpikan.Rasanya normal lah kalau lelaki ada minat sebegitu. Tetapi bagaimana pula dengan kaum wanita. Mereka ni minat ke makeup-makeup kereta ni?

Image via giphy.com

Sebenarnya jangan terkejut sebab ada sesetengah wanita yang punya minat sama seperti lelaki. Seperti seorang wanita yang bernama Cik Puan Auni ini, dia mempunyai minat mendalam terhadap kereta sampai sanggup berhabis duit.

Image via Cik Puan Auni

Jom baca perkongsiannya mengenai hobinya itu di Facebook:Ada yang tanya kenapa laa Auni minat sangat sport car dan makeup kereta unik sangat. Ini jawapannya.Uools mesti ada hobikan? Ada yang hobi dia kumpul barang makeup, ada yang hobi melancong, ada yang hobi dia suka makan, ada yang hobi pelik jenis suka mengumpat. Tapi hobi Auni ini lain sikit.Selain makeup muka sendri, Auni suka gila makeup kereta bagi power, bagi cantik bagi unik.Antara sebab-sebab Auni suka sport car, sebab Auni suka bentuk dia. Tergoda mak. Yang paling best part bunyi ekzos. Meleleh air liur kalau dengar. Ini antara kereta-kereta yang Auni dah beli tunai dari standart.Dari rim tak ada yelek, warna pun tak menarik, semua Auni tukar buat lain. Makeup bagi cun dan unik. Bila dah tak ada benda nak dimakeup, Auni akan jual dan akan ulang benda yang sama untuk kereta lain. Ini lah hobi Auni.Auni beli kereta tunai, Auni tak suka hutang sebab ada faedah. Biar kecil ke buruk ke janji tak hutang. Kalau tak mampu atau beban Auni tak beli.Ini antara kereta-kereta yang Auni dapat kumpul, syukur sangat-sangat. Alhamdulillah. Jangan ingat lelaki saja hobi kereta, perempuan pun ada, sayalah orangnya.

Image via Cik Puan Auni

1. Honda Civic FD 2.0 kereta pertama setelah tiga bulan buat bisness beli tunai. Kereta ni asal standart hitam rim tak ada. Ini Auni pasang bodykit Mugen RR, buat cat Firered luar dalam, tukar rim 18. Syok tak kira masa, dah tak ada menda nak makeup Auni jual la, beli kereta baru.

Image via Cik Puan Auni

2. BMW 350i kereta kedua, selepas jual Honda FD ini, sama juga Auni buat cat warna Grey Metal, tukar Full Bodykit M3, rim sama 18. Pakai tak lama, ada orang nak beli jual la, beli kereta nombor 3 pulak.

Image via Cik Puan Auni

3. Kereta Chevrolet Cruze 1.8, kereta ni asal standart, warna hitam. Auni beli bodykit, beli rim 18 juga. Cat tukar warna kuning sebab minat Transfomer, cantik tak? Kereta ni sedap bawak, syok naik.

Image via Cik Puan Auni

Pakai enam bulan, boring la tukar warna biru sebab suka pulak warna macam Subaru Empreza. Kereta ni tak jual lagi. Hmm rasa nak jual juga sebab dah beli kereta yang bawah ni.

Image via Cik Puan Auni

4. Ni kereta terkini Auni, Nissan 3.5 Nismo Fairlady Z, sebab apa minat kereta ni? Sebab nama dia sesuai dengan perempuan. Macam Auni, hehehe Fairlady. Kereta ni beli standart juga. Jadi Auni ubah macam dalam gambar. Kereta ni paling banyak habis duit makeup. dari tayar sampai ke cat sampai ke rim sampai ke ezxos sampai keluar lebih 15k untuk makeup sahaja. Tak jual lagi sebab sayang sangat-sangat tapi kalau nak jual nak upgrade ke GTR. Doa-doa kan la kot merasa join Group GTR.

Image via Cik Puan Auni

5. Kereta nombor lima, Honda City 1.5 Full Spec, kereta ni beli dan hadiahkan untuk abah tersayang. Tak lupa jasa Ibu dan bah tercinta. Tips murah rezeki jangan kedekut dengan ibu bapa. Doa dan restu mereka sangat penting. Ni lah kereta-kereta Auni dan ni lah hobi Auni.

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Siapa Yang Layak Bekerja Di Agensi Pengiklanan? - Saksikan Drama Baru Budak Intern Di TV9

Follow kami di Telegram, jadi antara yang terawal untuk dapatkan berita dan artikel-artikel menarik di SAYS Seismik.

TV9 membawakan sebuah drama komedi tempatan terbaru yang bertajuk Budak Intern

Drama tersebut ditayangkan di saluran TV9 dan Viu Malaysia bermula 22 September 2021, jam 9.30 malam. Drama 16 episod ini mengisahkan kehidupan ‘budak intern' yang ingin merebut jawatan dalam agensi pengiklanan bersama rakan-rakannya.

Image via @budak_intern (Instagram)

Dilakonkan oleh pelakon-pelakon hebat tanah air

Budak Intern merupakan drama bersiri tempatan yang membariskan pelakon-pelakon hebat tanah air seperti Malek Mccrone, Intan Najuwa, Bella Dowanna, Syafi Tee, Acong Sweetchild dan ramai lagi.Empat sekawan ini akan melalui proses pembelajaran dan suka duka sepanjang tempoh internship mereka. Tidak dinafikan, drama ini pastinya sangat dekat dengan masyarakat selain menunjukkan kehidupan sebenar terutamanya buat para pelajar yang pernah menjalani latihan industri. Malah, sepanjang tempoh internship, Izzy, Bainun, Ryan dan Karl perlu berusaha dan menonjolkan diri mereka demi memperoleh penilaian yang baik dari penyelia masing-masing.Tanpa mereka sedar sebenarnya latihan industri ini bukan sekadar penilaian lulus atau gagal semata-mata, tetapi persahabatan mereka turut diuji. Lebih ‘menghangatkan’ suasana apabila empat sekawan ini perlu bersaing bagi merebut satu jawatan tetap selepas selesai tempoh latihan industri tersebut. Adakah salah seorang daripada mereka akan berjaya? Sama-sama kita saksikan!

        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by TV9 Malaysia (@tv9malaysia)

Drama Budak Intern bersiaran pada setiap Rabu dan Khamis, jam 9.30 malam di TV9.
Bukan itu sahaja, turut disiarkan secara online di laman penstriman Viu Malaysia selepas habis tayangan di TV9!

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Malaysian Businesses Are Helping Small Homegrown Vendors To Adapt & Grow Despite COVID-19

From sundry shops and small vendors, to big F&B outlets and fashion brands, almost every business has been affected by COVID-19

Image via Malaysia News - World Times News

In the last few months, Malaysian owners have had to think of new ways to keep their business going. While many shops and restaurants have started to reopen following the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), most people are still learning to cope with the new normal.

Nevertheless, Malaysians have shown that we're all in this together, with many local brands stepping up to help each other adapt and grow during these tough times

If there's one beautiful thing that has come out of this global pandemic, it's seeing Malaysians come together and assist each other through "Shared Prosperity." In fact, many smaller businesses and individual vendors have been able to thrive thanks to the support and initiatives of local brands.

Here are some ways businesses have supported one another:

1. Popular shopping platforms and sites helped small local vendors sell their goods online

Image via MyFishman

When MCO first began, news of Cameron Highlands farmers unable to distribute their vegetables, fruits, and flowers made headlines across the country. Stepping up for the cause, brands like Lazada, E-Petani Malaysia, and Maybank provided their platforms to connect farmers with buyers online.FashionValet also launched FVBazaar that allowed small vendors to list their Raya cookies, homemade dishes, and other food items on the fashion site.

MyFishman, a fresh seafood subscription and delivery service, has been steadily supplying households in Malaysia with seafood, providing a lifeline for local fishermen who've had trouble selling their catch, especially early during the MCO.

2. Tech companies extended their help to the public by making technology more accessible

Image via Store Hub

Within 48 hours of the MCO, technology platform Storehub launched Beep Delivery, an online ordering platform that makes it easy for restaurants to take orders, accept payments, and find drivers. With a low 2% charge per transaction, this helped many F&B outlets to start doing food delivery during the MCO.Online consultation platform DoctorOnCall set up a COVID-19 portal with the latest information, as well as a dedicated virtual consultation channel for concerned individuals to speak to medical specialists.Thanks to these companies and their "Shared Prosperity," more Malaysians have been able to continue making a living and enjoy peace of mind.

3. Besides that, local brands have been innovating and coming up with new ideas to meet the needs of customers

Image via Orange Esports Cafe

Since people weren't allowed to visit their premises at the start of the MCO, Orange Esports Cafe launched an initiative to rent and deliver their high performance gaming rigs.

Image via 2cents

F&B outlets like myBurgerLab, Tealive, and La Juceria rolled out their own DIY food kits that allowed customers to prepare their favourite dishes and drinks at home.

4. Social enterprises have also amped up efforts to help the underprivileged and those affected by the pandemic

Image via Gerry Fox | The World Bank

PichaEats has a team of 12 refugee chefs who cook for business events and parties, but with such functions cancelled, they've changed from catering to delivering food to private homes. Through their annual fundraiser campaign, PichaEats has also delivered more than 20,000 meals to frontliners and those affected by COVID-19.Biji-Biji Initiative is also one of many organisations that have equipped frontliners with PPE scrub sets. Through The Social Textiles movement, Biji-Biji Initiative worked together with other social enterprises like Tanoti and tailors around Malaysia to make scrubs and coordinate orders from hospitals.

All in all, businesses around Malaysia have gone the extra mile to help each other out, displaying the true spirit of "Shared Prosperity"

"Shared Prosperity" is a value championed by Malaysia as the host of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2020. The goal is to make Malaysia a nation that achieves sustainable growth along with fair and equitable distribution across income groups, ethnicities, regions, and supply chains.Ultimately, we're all in this together. That's why it's so important for local businesses to be continue looking out for each other, because we can only prosper when those around us are doing well.

In an effort to mitigate the economic impacts of COVID-19, Malaysia has been spearheading discussions with other APEC countries

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a regional economic forum involving 21 economies, with the goal of creating greater prosperity for the region. This year, as the host economy, Malaysia has been advocating for "Shared Prosperity" among all participating economies, and is set to host 120 meetings involving 16,000 delegates around the world.Recently, Malaysia just hosted the first ever APEC Virtual Extraordinary Senior Officials’ Meeting (VESOM) on COVID-19, bringing together representatives from eight different time zones into one virtual platform.One of the key matters discussed was how "Shared Prosperity" can help ensure that economies vulnerable to the impact of COVID-19 can be protected through collaborative economic means.

Want to find out more about APEC 2020 and initiatives proposed by Malaysia? Head over to their website today!


China Dakwa 'Swab Test' Di Dubur Lebih Tepat Untuk Kesan Virus Covid-19

China mula melaksana saringan Covid-19 menerusi kaedah calitan atau swab test di dubur, ke atas individu berisiko tinggi dijangkiti wabak itu

Menurut laporan, pihak berkuasa menggunakan kaedah itu ke atas penduduk kawasan yang disahkan terdapat kes positif virus terbabit di zon merah, selain melaksanakan proses sama ke atas individu yang ditempatkan di pusat kuarantin.Doktor kanan dari Hospital You'an, Li Tongzeng berkata pengesanan virus menggunakan kaedah itu terbukti lebih berkesan, berbanding swab test tekak dan hidung.Katanya, kadar pengesanan lebih tinggi kerana virus itu berada lebih lama di bahagian dubur, berbanding di saluran pernafasan.

You thought nasal swabs were bad. China begins using anal swabs for COVID testing because they supposedly give a more accurate result. pic.twitter.com/zUSMF7Fu7H— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) January 27, 2021

Begitupun, swab test di hidung dan tekak akan tetap menjadi kaedah paling popular kerana ia mudah serta pantas dilakukan

“Sudah tentu, calitan dubur  tidak semudah swab test tekak maka ia hanya digunakan terhadap individu di kawasan kuarantin utama.“Kaedah ini juga membantu mengurangkan hasil ujian positif palsu,” kata pegawai tempatan, Li Tongzeng.Ujian  tersebut melibatkan  pelapik dimasukkan sedalam 3 hingga 5 sentimeter ke  dalam rektum untuk mendapatkan sampel.“Kami mendapati bahawa koronavirus berkumpul lebih banyak dan bertahan lama di saluran pencernaan berbanding saluran pernafasan pesakit,” ujarnya.

Gambar sekadar hiasan.
Image via New Straits Times

Sementara itu, penggunaan kaedah terbabit mendapat reaksi berbeza dalam kalangan pengguna media sosial di China

"Saya amat beruntung dapat pulang awal ke China. Risiko rendah tetapi amat memalukan (jika dicalit di dubur)," menurut seorang pengguna media sosial.Seorang lagi pengguna media sosial turut menjadikan penggunaan kaedah itu sebagai bahan jenaka."Saya menjalani dua calitan. Setiap satu calitan dubur, jururawat akan melakukan calitan di tekak. Saya risau jika jururawat terlupa menukar kapas pencalit baru," katanya.


[NEW UPDATE] Last Batch of PMR Students Mark First Day of Exams

[PHOTOS] The Final Batch Of PMR Students Receive Their Results Today!

There are more top scorers in the 2013 Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) compared to last year.

        thestar.com.my

There is a 0.41 per cent increase or 30,988 students scoring straight As in this year's Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) results.

        nst.com.my

Kedah recorded an overall improvement in the 2013 PMR result, with 2,264 of 38,005 candidates in Kedah scored straight As, an increase of 181 candidates compared to 2,082 last year.

        nst.com.my

Education director-general Datuk Dr Khair Mohamad Yusof said the National Average Grade (GPN) improved from 2.71 to 2.67 this year (a lower GPN indicates better results).

        thestar.com.my

PMR candidates from SMKA Al-Irshad congratulating each other.
Image via nst.com.my

Federal Territories Education Department director announcing the PMR results.
Image via imgur.com

An Orang Asli student from SMK Syeikh Abdul Ghani celebrating with his parents.
Image via nst.com.my

Mukhriz Mahathir posing with PMR students who just got their results.
Image via nst.com.my

15 students from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Star, Kedah, show their result slips. All 15 scored 9As in the PMR examination.
Image via nst.com.my

The last batch of PMR students start their exams today

The last batch of PMR students start their exams today

Image via wordpress.com

A TOTAL of 462,940 candidates will  sit   the Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) examination today in 3,530 centres nationwide.
The examination will go on tomorrow, after which it will continue from Oct 7 to 9.

        nst.com.my

Of the total number of candidates, 430,146 are from government schools, government-aided schools and government-aided religious schools, 6,024 from schools under government agencies other than the Education Ministry and 9,906 from state-run religious schools.

        nst.com.my

A total of 13,637 candidates are from private schools registered under the ministry, 1,008 private candidates and 2,219 from religious schools.

        nst.com.my

This will be the last year for PMR as it will be replaced with School-Based Assessment in 2014

THE School-Based Assessment, better known by its Malay acronym PBS (Pentaksiran Ber-asaskan Sekolah) was introduced last year in all government and government-aided primary schools, and this year in all government and government-aided secondary schools.

        nst.com.my

Thus, the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) in 2016 and the Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) in 2014 will be revamped to accommodate the transformation.

        nst.com.my

Your mother says, "Drink Brand's essence of chicken to get more As."

Things I learnt as a PMR student: Brand's essence of chicken will help me get more As

Image via blogspot.com

Your form teacher says, "Must bring the whole box of 2B pencils or else it won't be enough."

Your geeky friends say, "Yes! We get to use pens in Form 4!"

Things I learnt as a PMR student: Going to Form 4 means graduating from pencils to pen

Image via neatoshop.com

Your relatives ask, "So... art, science or accounts stream?"

Typical Things People Say to PMR Students That May Or May Not Help
Image via visualphotos.com

Your dad says, "Sleep earlier. Sleeping late is no use because you won't remember anything."

Things I learnt as a PMR student: I would be so stressed out and tired from late night studying

Image via wordpress.com

Your seniors in school say, "During my PMR year, I 'lepak' only."

Things I learnt as a PMR student: But will never understand how my friends are still so 'lepak' and 'selamba' about it
Image via edidik.com

Everyone older than me says, "PMR is nothing lah. Wait till you sit for your SPM."

Everyone older than me says, "PMR is nothing lah. Wait till you sit for your SPM."

Image via windows.net

Your gut feeling says, "It's going to be alright... right?"

Things I learnt as a PMR student: But when it's all said and done, I will only finally realize that it wasn't so bad after all

Image via imgur.com

So to the last batch of PMR students, make the most out of this, good luck, and most importantly have fun!

These are the little joys that Form 3 students after this will never get to experience anymore

Image via thestar.com.my

See also: What to do with your textbooks after exams

                [PICS] What To Do With Your Textbooks After Exams

CLICK FOR FULL STORY: All done with exams and school and don't know what to do with your old textbooks? This is somet...

Read the full story


[VIDEO] Najib Cannot Run From Tun Mahathir In Pokemon

Najib might have successfully escaped Mahathir once...

Image via ShilleNide/YouTube

...but our PM and his darah pahlawan can't hide for long!

Image via ShilleNide/YouTube

Mahathir wants to take down Najib? He would have to go through Ahmad Maslan first!

Image via ShilleNide/YouTube

C'mon, Najib also has an armour of not-so-secret weapons at his disposal

Image via ShilleNide/YouTube

How will this epic battle end? We don't want to kena sedition, so we'll just let the video do all the talking:

×

This is definitely not the first time Najib has been featured in a video

                [VIDEO] Jib Kor And Rosmah's CNY Dance Routine Is Simply Fabulous

Who's the best couple in Malaysia? Ah Jib Kor and Rosmah!

Read the full story

                Video Najib Dan Rosmah "Bergoyang" Jadi Viral. Rakyat 'Happy' Atau Maki?

"When marimba rhythms start to play, dance with me, make me sway."

Read the full story


Muhamad Aidil, Top Scorer In Chinese School Gets Surprise Uni Sponsorship From Businessman

Hard work pays. At least, it did in the case of an 18-year-old boy of a single mother from Pengkalan Chepa in Kota Baru.

The boy scored 9A+, including scoring in the Mandarin subject, for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), emerging as the top student at Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan (SMJK).Muhamad Aidil Mohd Anis's success at the Chinese school has now earned him a four-year full sponsorship offer from a businessman to enable him to pursue his higher education at the Xiamen University, Malaysia branch in Sepang, Selangor.

Image via Nik Abdullah Nik Omar/NST

The businessman, Gan Leong Piow, said that he was "impressed with the boy's ability to excel in his studies, including the fact that he mastered the Mandarin language"

Gan, who came to know about Muhamad Aidil's plight through a friend who had informed him that an excellent student needed financial support, said he was amazed by the boy's ability to excel and emerge as the top student in a Chinese school."That is the main reason I decided to come forward an assist Muhamad Aidil. Such students are a rare breed. He is very talented. I am very confident that he will become a very successful person in the future," Gan was quoted as saying by Bernama.

Image via Bernama

Muhamad Aidil, who has so far depended on his mother for support after losing his father three years ago, wants to become a journalist who specialises in business reporting

"I pledge to study hard and repay the faith that everybody has placed on me, especially businessman Gan who has offered to sponsor my studies," he said.Speaking about his interest in the Mandarin language, Muhamad Aidil said that he was drawn to the Mandarin language when he was in pre-school at the age of six."I was initially taught Mandarin by a teacher known as Miss Chong. When I started by studies at the SRJK (C) Chung Cheng primary school and later SMJK Chung Cheng, I was told to be a good student to avoid being transferred to a Kebangsaan school. I took it as a challenge to study hard," he said, adding that he studied hard and through the motivation and inspiration provided by his mother.

Businessman Gan is not only taking care of the boy's expenses at the university but will also pay for his accommodation (RM500 a month) for the duration


“Lepas Solat Isya’, Pergi Clubbing. Sah Ke Solat Aku?” - Lelaki Ini Beri Jawapan Sebenar

Solat merupakan tiang agama. Dan sesungguhnya amal yang mula-mula akan dihisab pada hari kiamat ialah solat seseorang.

Gambar sekadar hiasan.
Image via Google

Tambahan pula, jika solat dikerjakan dengan sempurna ia dapat mencegah perbuatan keji dan mungkar sebaliknya mereka yang mengerjakan ibadat sambil lewa tidak dapat merasai ketenangan dan ketakwaan sebenar kepada Allah. Sebab itulah ramai yang tidak segan silu melakukan dosa dan maksiat sekalipun mengerjakan sembahyang, puasa dan amalan wajib lain.Namun, ibadah kepada Allah ini haruslah dilakukan secara sukarela dan bukan dalam bentuk paksaan. Sesiapa sahaja yang bergelar umat Islam mempunyai hak tersendiri untuk tunduk dan sembah kepadaNya.Tiada siapa yang boleh menghalang mereka untuk berbuat sedemikian.

Seperti perkongsian @shukery_azizan di laman Twitter miliknya di mana dia dilontarkan soalan adakah solat seseorang itu sah jika setelah selesai solat, seseorang itu pergi kelab malam dan minum arak?

Gambar sekadar hiasan.
Image via Mayanasional

Mungkin ramai juga yang tertanya-tanya. Adakah solatnya sah?Shukery walau bagaimanapun menjawab soalan itu dengan positif. Perkongsian yang ditulis melalui rangkaian tweet tersebut telah berjaya meraih lebih 14.2 ribu retweets dan 16.4 ribu likes ketika artikel ini ditulis.Baca penuh di bawah:

Soalan yang diberikan kepadanya agak mengejutkan.
Namun, dia terharu kerana individu tersebut masih risau akan ibadahnya kepada Allah.

Masa saya belajar di UKM dulu, pernah ada seorang kawan ni tanya soalan lebih kurang begini,"Shuk, sah tak solat aku, kalau lepas aku solat isyak, tapi malam tu jugak aku pergi clubbing? Biasa la, dah clubbing confirm minum.. Sah ke solat aku tu?"— Shukery Azizan (@shukery_azizan) April 18, 2020

Bila dapat soalan macam ni, mula2 pelik. Pelik sebab first kitorang tak rapat sangat pun. Tapi tiba2 tanya soalan cepumas pada stranger macam saya. Second, saya bukan ustaz. Saya budak kimia. Tapi mungkin dia pilih nak tanya saya sebab gaya saya macam ala-ala budak surau kot.— Shukery Azizan (@shukery_azizan) April 18, 2020

Tapi apa yang paling penting, soalan dia tu buat saya rasa terharu. Terharu sebab dia masih concern tentang solat dia sendiri. Lepas dia tanya macam tu, saya tersenyum dan tepuk perlahan bahu dia. Lepas tu, saya terus jawab, "Tahniah.."— Shukery Azizan (@shukery_azizan) April 18, 2020

"Tahniah sebab walaupun kau pergi club dan minum arak, kau tetap jaga solat..."

Masa saya jawab macam tu, muka dia berkerut sedikit. Mungkin sebab pelik tiba-tiba saya cakap tahniah. Atau mungkin juga sebab ingat saya perli dia. Wallahua'lam. Saya sambung lagi,— Shukery Azizan (@shukery_azizan) April 18, 2020

"Tahniah sebab walaupun kau pergi club dan minum arak bagai, tapi kau tetap jaga solat. Ada orang kat luar sana yang tak pernah pergi club pun seumur hidup, tapi solatnya tetap tak jaga."Lepas saya jawab macam ni, barulah reaksi mukanya berubah. Rasa lega barangkali.— Shukery Azizan (@shukery_azizan) April 18, 2020

Kemudian baru saya sambung jawab soalan dia,"Solat kau sah je insyaAllah selagi mana kau ikut rukun solat. Cuma itulah, kau kena teruskan jaga solat lagi dan usaha untuk tinggalkan apa kau buat sekarang ni.."Dia mengangguk dan jawab, "thanks bro."— Shukery Azizan (@shukery_azizan) April 18, 2020

Dia berkongsi tentang kisah ini untuk mengingatkan orang ramai untuk tidak pernah tinggal solat walau apa jua perkara buruk yang dilakukan

Lepas tu kami bersalaman dan dia terus balik ke bloknya. The rest is history.Kenapa saya kongsi kisah ni? Saya sebenarnya nak beritahu, walau banyak mana pun dosa kita buat, besar mana pun dosa kita pernah lakukan, hatta membunuh, berzina, etc JANGAN PERNAH TINGGAL SOLAT.— Shukery Azizan (@shukery_azizan) April 18, 2020

Pedulikanlah orang kata kita berlagak alim ke, orang tuduh Allah benci kau ke, ahli neraka ke, dan apa pun ejekan. Yang penting, jaga solat. Sebab ketahuilah, bila mula jaga solat, pasti kita akan tinggalkan dosa yang kita sedang buat tu. Sooner or later.— Shukery Azizan (@shukery_azizan) April 18, 2020

Dan bila kita solat, itu tanda Allah sayang pada kita. Bukti? Siapa yang gerakkan hati kita untuk jaga solat? Siapa yang buat kita rasa bersalah bila buat dosa? Siapa yang bagi kekuatan untuk kita solat dan bertaubat? Siapa yang bisikkan pada kita untuk minta ampun pada Allah?— Shukery Azizan (@shukery_azizan) April 18, 2020

Allah yang gerakkan dan buat. Semata-mata Allah. Takda siapa yang boleh kawal hati kita, melainkan Allah. Semata-mata Allah. Kita pun tak mampu kawal hati kita sendiri. Kan?Tapi begitu sayang Allah pada kita, Dia sentuh hati kita. Supaya kita kembali bertaubat.— Shukery Azizan (@shukery_azizan) April 18, 2020

Beberapa hari lagi untuk kita menyambut Ramadan, semoga ibadah setiap umat Islam diberikan kemudahan dan kelancaran

Moga Ramadhan tahun ni menjadi permulaan untuk kita mula serius untuk jaga solat, dan mula rajin untuk belajar membaca al-Quran. Jangan malu, dan jangan bertangguh. Sebab hidayah Allah adalah untuk dicari, bukan ditunggu. Wallahua'lam.#ShukeryAzizan#CeritaShukery— Shukery Azizan (@shukery_azizan) April 18, 2020

LIKE Facebook dan follow Twitter SAYS SEISMIK dan temui segala cerita mesti kongsi sekarang!


4 Affordable Travel Packages To South Korea That You Can Buy Now And Travel Later

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This Spotlight is sponsored by Korea Tourism Organization.

Man, we seriously miss travelling overseas, it's been so long since we've been able to go cuti-cuti outside Malaysia

With the situation slowly improving, more Malaysians getting vaccinated, and both overseas and interstate travel now allowed, we can look forward to going on holiday again, yay! It's time to start planning your next vacay, hehe. ;)

Dreaming of going on a trip to South Korea? Check out Korea Fest 2021, an event where you can buy tour packages now, but travel later!

Image via Korea Tourism Organization (Provided to SAYS)

Hosted by Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), the event will be held from 20 to 24 October at Mid Valley Megamall. Korea Fest 2021 is where you can discover more about South Korea and find out more about the country's many charms.And of course, you'll be able to take a look at attractive tour packages from KTO's tour agency partners such as Apple Vacations, Golden Destinations, Parlo Tours, and Sedunia Travel.Available for a limited time only, you can buy the packages now, but travel later!

Check out some of the attractive tour packages on offer:

1. 8D6N Classical Korea Tour by Apple Vacations

Price: From RM4,299Places included: Incheon, Seoul, Jeju Island, Busan, Gyeongju, Daegu, and JeonjuAttractions to check out:Jagalchi MarketFamous throughout the country, this iconic market is Korea's largest seafood market, selling both live and dried fish. You can also eat fresh raw fish and other seafood right at the market itself.

Image via Busan Tourism Organization

Busan Blueline ParkThis eco-friendly redevelopment of an old railroad facility is home to a tourist train that runs along the beautiful Haeundae Beach, as well as a romantic experience facility where you can enjoy the stunning view of Haeundae coast from seven to 10 metres above ground.

Image via Busan Tourism Organization

Busan X The SkyLocated in the second tallest building in Korea, each floor of this observatory boasts panoramic ocean views of the famous Haeundae Beach and gorgeous night views of the city.

Image via Busan Tourism Organization

2. 7D6N Seoul Enchanting Tour with Jeju Island by Sedunia Travel

Price: RM4,458 per person (30% off for second adult)Places included: Seoul, Gangwon, and Jeju IslandAttractions to check out:Orda CaféLocated near Jeju Island's Seongsan Sunrise Peak, this gorgeous café is a must-visit, as you'll definitely wanna snap Insta-worthy photos of their famous 'Stairway to Heaven' staircase.

Image via Jeju Tourism Organization

SeopjikojiThis beautiful coastline in Jeju Island is a famous shooting location for popular K-dramas, including Boys Over Flowers, Orange Marmalade, Warm and Cozy, and more. Make sure to snap a photo at the iconic swing, from which you can see Seongsan Sunrise Peak.

Image via Fazzytravel

3. 6D4N Seoul / Gangwon / Pyeongchang + Ski Fun by Golden Destinations

Price: From RM4,688 (all in)Places included: Seoul, Gangwon, and PyeongchangAttractions to check out:Yongpyong Resort & Alpensia Ski ResortAt these two major ski resorts in Gangwon Province, you can enjoy fun winter activities such as skiing, sledding, and snowboarding. They offer a variety of ski slopes that are suitable for all ages. Ski and snowboarding lessons are also available.

Image via Gangwon Province

Mt. Balwangsan SkywalkLocated in Yongpyong resort and built on top of Mt. Balwang, this is the highest skywalk in South Korea. There's a 14m wide sky square in the centre of the 64m long bridge, as well as a self-rotating 360-degree turntable. Take in the stunning views while feeling like you're floating on a cloud.

Image via Gangwon Province

Nami Island Forest DiningWell-known as the filming location of hit K-drama Winter Sonata and for its beautiful four seasons scenery, Nami Island has so much to offer. For a unique experience, give forest dining a try — it's suitable for a romantic date or for a special occasion with family or friends.

Image via Gangwon Province

Maengbang Beach, SamcheokAfter BTS shot the album jacket for their Butter digital single at this beach, it soared in popularity and has now become a tourist attraction. Besides being a famous camping site among Koreans, various fun beach events also take place here in the summer.

Image via Visit Korea

4. 8D6N Spring Beauty of Korea & Jeju Island by Parlo Tours

Price: From RM4,388Places included: Jeju Island, Yongin, Gyeonggi, Gangwon, and SeoulAttractions to check out:Dae Jang Geum ParkIf you love historical dramas, you gotta check out this park, which is the largest historical drama set in Korea. Created based on historical records, the facilities reflect the architectural style, lifestyle, and culture of the olden days. They blend in harmoniously with the surrounding natural landscapes, making you feel like you've time traveled to the past.

Image via Visit Korea

Popular dramas that were filmed at Dae Jang Geum Park include Gu Family Book, The Moon Embracing The Sun, Queen Seondeok, Dr. Jin, Arang and the Magistrate, and many more. Plus, music videos have been filmed here too, such as Suga of BTS' Daechwita.

Image via Visit Korea

While you're at Korea Fest 2021, don't forget to join the lucky draw when you purchase one of the awesome Korea travel packages!

With the Daily Lucky Draw, prizes worth up to RM25,000 are up for grabs throughout the event! This includes Samsung Z Flip3 phone, Samsung Earbuds, and Touch n' Go vouchers.Terms and conditions apply.

Mark your calendars for 20 to 24 October to make sure you don't miss out on Korea Fest 2021! Click here for more information.

For more cuti inspo, check out our other #travel stories:

                3 Things We Miss The Most About Going Cuti-Cuti In South Korea

Can't wait to go to South Korea again once things get better!

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                Malaysian Shares 6 Hidden Gems & Activities You Should Do In Perlis

Perlis is underrated.

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                10 Beachfront Resorts & Hotels With Stunning Sea Views In Pangkor

Vacation mood: on!

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Got some cool brand news to share?

Image via SAYS

Take a look at all our Spotlight stories to date here.


Discover On-Track Race Action & Off-Track Entertainment At The Singapore Grand Prix

This Spotlight is sponsored by Singapore Grand Prix.

The Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix is taking place from 20 to 22 September 2019 at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, and there are a few reasons why it's one of the most popular destinations on the Formula 1 calendar!

Image via Singapore Grand Prix

With the Formula 1 summer break almost coming to an end, it's time to get ready for the most action-packed night party ever! Here are the event details:Date: 20, 21, and 22 September 2019Location: Marina Bay Street CircuitYou can get your tickets here, before it's too late. ;)

Here's why you won't want to miss out:

1. The Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix is the only full night race on the racing calendar

Image via Singapore Grand Prix

That's right. The Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix is pretty unique and original. Being the only night race on the calendar, you'll also get to enjoy amazing fireworks and other amazing night-time activities.

2. Unlike other F1 locations, spectators in Singapore are in extremely close proximity to the track itself

Image via Singapore Grand Prix

You're close enough to smell the scent of burning rubber and hear the roaring engines of the Formula 1 cars as they zoom by with incredible speed. Who doesn't want that?

3. Since it's a street circuit, you get to watch all the action happen right in the heart of downtown Singapore

Image via Singapore Grand Prix

That also means you'll have ridiculously easy access to-and-from the circuit to wherever you need to go. There is plenty to see and do in and around the Circuit Park:Go on a gastronomic adventure with the wide range of restaurants and barsShop for official Singapore Grand Prix and Formula 1 team memorabilia at merchandise stores throughout the Circuit ParkTry out fun activities across all four zones in the Circuit Park - race simulators, Pit Stop Challenge where fans can change the tyres of a replica Formula 1 car, complimentary airbrush tattoo booths, and photo opportunities await!  Outside of the Circuit Park, whether it's for dinner, shopping, or some late night coffee, you're not going to be too far from where you need to be.

4. Being the small city-state that it is, Singapore completely lights up during Grand Prix weekend

Image via Singapore Grand Prix

The atmosphere in Singapore during Grand Prix weekend is absolutely electric. With fireworks, music, and an overall feeling of excitement in the air, you're never going to have a dull time.

5. With just one ticket, you don't just get to see the race, you'll also get to enjoy live music by some of the most talented artists around

Image via Singapore Grand Prix

With acts like Swedish House Mafia, Muse, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Gwen Stefani, Fatboy Slim, Hans Zimmer, Toots and the Maytals, and many more*, you'll definitely be jamming all night long, all weekend long.*Artiste line-up and schedule subject to change.

6. Outside of the Circuit Park, you also get to experience a whole medley of cool and exciting things

Clarke Quay
Image via Hotels.com

While people generally watch these events purely to support their favourite driver or to just enjoy the beautifully-loud roars of the Formula 1 cars, it's good to know that there are other things to do while you're here during Grand Prix weekend.There are many activities happening Clarke Quay, Chinatown, Civic District, and Orchard Road. You could go sightseeing, taste the amazing local cuisine, as well as learn a little bit more about the country itself. There will be non-stop festivities to party the night away.

7. All that cheering for your favourite driver and team will get you tired and hungry - Singapore's the ultimate buffet

From places like The Bee's Knees at the Garage, to more traditional establishments like Indigo Blue Kitchen, you'll find something to satiate your cravings. If you're into something more hearty, The Meat Smith and The Beast are your best bets!

Image via Indigo Blue Kitchen, The Beast, The Bee's Knee's at the Garage, & The Meat Smith

Speakeasies are no longer exclusive to serving alcohol - Wanderlost Lounge offers Muslims a halal speakasy serving scrumptious grilled food and delicious sips of mocktails. Like many speakeasies, you've got to wander in search of its hidden location. ;)

Image via @wanderlost | Instagram

The Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix is happening for three days - from 20 to 22 September 2019 and tickets are selling fast!

Image via Singapore GP

Tickets start from S$98.Click here to get your tickets today.

For more #lifestyle stories on SAYS:

                This Japanese Hack Shows You How To Fix The Stretched Neckline Of Your Favourite T-Shirt

It looks as good as new after!

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"We're both going to survive, okay?"

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#notsponsored

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Got some cool brand news to share?

Image via SAYS

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[VIDEO] Dua Beradik Ini Sanggup 'Tidur' Dalam Banjir, Demi Selamatkan 32 Kucing. Respect!

Bimbang 32 kucing peliharaan mereka lemas, dua beradik nekad menemani haiwan berkenaan walaupun terpaksa berendam dalam air selepas kediaman mereka dilanda banjir kilat malam tadi

Menurut sumber, kejadian itu berlaku dikatakan di Kampung Bukit Kecil, Kuala Terengganu. Jelas Azila Omar, 45 dan adiknya, Azmi, 38, tidak sampai hati meninggalkan kucing peliharaan berkenaan.Selain itu, mereka bimbang keselamatan haiwan tersebut selepas rumah mereka dinaiki air sedalam 0.5 meter."Jika diikutkan kami boleh menumpang rumah kakak sementara menunggu air surut tetapi tidak sampai hati tinggalkan kucing di sini, walaupun saya dan adik terpaksa duduk dalam air."Lagipun saya bimbang haiwan ini terjatuh kerana ada di antara kucing ini buta, pekak dan tidak cukup sifat," katanya.

Image via Harian Metro

Kampung berkenaan sudah lama tidak dilanda banjir dan kali terakhir pada tahun 2000

Sementara itu, Azmi berkata, rumah mereka dinaiki air kira-kira satu meter susulan hujan lebat berterusan sejak petang semalam.Menurutnya, sebaik pulang dari pasar raya, beliau mendapati air sudah mencurah masuk ke dalam rumah."Bila sampai di rumah, ada beberapa ekor kucing berada di dalam air. Mujurlah saya sempat selamatkan, bimbang juga kalau ada yang lemas."Bermula jam 10 malam, air mula masuk ikut depan rumah. Saya dan kakak tidak sempat selamatkan apa-apa, cuma sempat alihkan kucing," ujarnya.Tonton video penuh kisah dua beradik tersebut di bawah:

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Image via SAYS Seismik


"It’s About Channelling Passion" - Syed Saddiq Defends Helping 'Basikal Lajak' Community

Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said that he plans to help guide children racing on illegally modified bicycles onto the right path

The Youth and Sports Minister told reporters yesterday, 7 November, that building a track for teens racing on illegally modified bicycles, or also known as ‘basikal lajak’, is not enough.According to him, the right facilities and support are needed to help grow the teens into representatives for the country in future cycling competitions, reported The Star.

He said there are two types of people within the 'basikal lajak' community

Image via Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman/Facebook

Ones who love to modify bicycles and the others who yearn for the "need for speed".He said those who possess modifying skills can undergo mechanic lessons to put together bicycles with better safety features, while those who love to race can be trained to participate in competitive races.He said his ministry plans to train these teens at the National Youth Skills Institute to harness their skills."The last thing that we want is, if we just push them aside, they will still do it and in the end, they lose their life and safety will be compromised," Malay Mail quoted the Minister as saying."So it's about channelling their passion and energy to a more productive path."

However, many quarters have criticised the Youth Minister for encouraging the community and dubbed him as 'Basikal Lajak Minister'

In response, the Minister said some Malaysians only know how to punish the youths and forget how to guide them."I have been slammed for taking the stand of wanting to guide and not punish (these modified bicycle racers)," Syed Saddiq wrote in a Facebook post."Instead of constantly criticising them, I chose to educate them about road safety."

Image via Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman/Facebook

The 26-year-old Minister said he will grow these teens by enrolling them in Technical Education and Vocational Training (TVET) programmes and National Cycling Development Programme."Let us all find a way to lend a helping hand in guiding these youths to success. We owe it to Malaysia!"

Previously, Bukit Aman warned that they will take legal action against parents whose children are caught using 'basikal lajak':

                Parents Can Be Fined And Jailed For 5 Years If Their Kids Are Caught Using 'Basikal Lajak'

They can be charged under Section 33 of the Child Act 2001.

Read the full story


[VIDEO] What Could Happen If Your Flappy Bird Score Reached 999

Is a score that high even humanly possible? Past 900, the green pipes group together and move around in a zigzag pattern

Those pipes are meant for crushing
Image via imgur.com

Then bird-eating flowers snap on your heels, before that final 999 score...

Beware of the flowers
Image via tinypic.com

WATCH THE VIDEO: What happens when your Flappy Bird score reaches 999

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Don't get overly excited. What happens in the video is NOT the absolute truth. It's conceptual and doctored by video trickster, Filipe Costa.

Filipe Costa
Image via instagram.com

The video is obviously but wonderfully doctored by the guys at pipocaVFX but it's pretty perfect.

        gizmodo.com

With over 38,000 Youtube subscribers, Filipe Costa or PipocaVFX, is known for many video projects, like this famous first person view of classic video games:

      Unsupported video platform

Filipe isn't the only person who has wished for evil to fall upon that thick-lipped bird

                What The Internet Did With The Birth And Death Of Flappy Bird

Flappy Bird was part of the lives of over 50 million users, was it part of yours? Can you relate to these global #Fla...

Read the full story

"I really hope Flappy Bird II includes Mario as a new surprise enemy," says Jesus Diaz, Gizmodo
Image via gawkerassets.com


There’s A Beach Paradise In Cambodia That’s Just A 2-Hour Flight Away From KL

People usually think of Cambodia as the place to visit if you're into ancient temples

Image via SAYS

Most people know Cambodia for its majestic Angkorian temple ruins in Siem Reap, and remnants from the tragic history of the Pol Pot regime in Phnom Penh.

And since beach destinations like Bali, Boracay, Koh Samui, and Lombok are pretty mainstream already

Kuta Beach, Bali
Image via Colouring the World

Puka Beach, Boracay
Image via Boracay.com

Lombok
Image via Pinterest

Koh Samui
Image via Your Travel Secretary

Instagram is constantly flooded with photos from these places anyway.

There’s a lesser-known beach paradise in Cambodia that’s off the beaten (commercial) track

Image via Never Ending Footsteps

Not many people know that Cambodia is actually home to some of the most beautiful islands in the world - and Sihanoukville is the gateway to these island paradises.It's like Boracay, but not as crowded :)

Where is Sihanoukville and what's the place about?

Image via Travelfish

Sihanoukville is located about 250km away from Phnom Penh, an approximately 5-hour bus ride away from the capital. The coastal town has always been the local's go-to place for beach holidays, especially for the rich and famous. Unfortunately, the town was partially destroyed during the civil war and fell into ruins. People stopped visiting it for a long time, but tourism started growing again in the early 2000s. Today, Sihanoukville is a favourite among backpackers and those who love water activities.

What's there to do in Sihanoukville?

You go to Sihanoukville for the sun, sand, and sea. There are lots of water sports for you to try out, ranging from the usual snorkelling, to kayaking and jet-skiing. It's the perfect place to be if you just want to chill and relax by the beach.

Image via InstaTravel

There are many restaurants and pubs by the beach that you can dine at. Sunsets on Serendipity Beach is especially romantic and intimate, since it's not as crowded with tourists as other famous beach destinations like Kuta in Bali and Station 2 in Boracay.

There are also two beautiful islands nearby that you can visit

Koh Rong Island
Image via Koh Rong Island Travel

Koh RongKoh Rong is the bigger of the two islands situated near the mainland. It's 25km away from Sihanoukville, about an hour's ride away on a speedboat ferry. You can also get there via slow boat, which is the cheaper option, but the journey can take as long as two hours.The island is an ideal destination for any traveller who is looking for the 'untouched island paradise'. The water is crystal clear (you can still see your feet even when the water is at chest height) and parts of the island are so quiet that you'll feel as if you're on your own private beach!

Image via SAYS

Most people who visit Koh Rong will opt to spend a night there. Day trips are possible but can be a little rushed as the first boat departs Serendipity Beach Pier at 9am, and the last boat departs Koh Rong island at 4pm. You'll also need to be at the port at least 30 minutes before departure.

Koh Rong Samloem
Image via Travelfish

Koh Rong SamloemCommonly referred to as just Samloem, this is the smaller island compared to Koh Rong. It's also about an hour's ride from the mainland via speedboat ferry. Samloem is said to be the best diving area in Cambodia. There's also an old lighthouse and some waterfalls if you're up for some exploring. The first ferry to Samloem departs Serendipity Beach Pier daily at 9am and the last ferry back departs the island at 4pm.

Koh Rong Samloem
Image via Wanderluststorytelle

Both Koh Rong and Samloem have really good beachside restaurants that serve superb seafood barbecue and affordable drinks. Most guesthouses and hostels are run by foreigners, some of the backpackers also work as waiters while on holiday on the island.

Image via TripAdvisor

You can find budget and mid-range accommodation on both islands. Not all hostels come with air conditioners, so you should definitely do some research on the place before booking. Remember to bring enough cash before you hop on the ferry to the island as there aren't any ATMs around.

The months between November and March are the best times to visit Sihanoukville

Image via SAYS

This is the dry season in Cambodia, with minimal rain so your water and beach activities won't be affected. Temperature starts to increase in March till April, so that's the time you should avoid if you don't want to get sunburned.As November till March is the peak season, you might want to book your hotels in Sihanoukville or on the islands a few months before.

Image via Ren Resort

Accommodation in SihanoukvilleFor those looking for an intimate beach holiday, Otres Beach area has some of the best hotels with sandy white beaches and clear waters. It's also the quieter part of Sihanoukville as it's situated further away from town, about a 20-minute tuk-tuk ride away.Sokha Beach and Serendipity Beach are the best places to stay if you're on a budget and want more choices when it comes to food.

Image via Paradise Villas

Accommodation in Koh RongIf you're willing to splurge, Long Set Resort (from RM306 per night) is the best hotel to stay on Koh Rong. All rooms come with air conditioner and private bathrooms, some even have a hot tub for you to relax in after a long day on the beach. For something more affordable and rustic, Paradise Villas (from RM109 per night) and Coconut Beach Bungalows (from RM172 per night) have nice wooden bungalows with room enough for four.

Image via Lazy Beach Cambodia / Facebook

Accommodation in Koh Rong SamloemThere are many bungalows up for rent. They're all reasonably clean and come with private bathrooms. The better ones are Lazy Beach Cambodia (from RM277 per night) and Sweet Dreams Samloem (from RM150 per night).

Sihanoukville is only less than two hours away from KL via direct flight

Image via SAYS

It's pretty convenient to get to Sihanoukville now as there's a direct flight from Kuala Lumpur by AirAsia, which is about RM289 for a return trip. There's a shuttle bus at the Sihanoukville International Airport that you can take to any part of town, most of which are more than 20km away. The price is currently fixed at USD6 per person (RM25).To get to the islands, your best bet is the Speed Ferry Cambodia. You can purchase the tickets online and collect them later at the pier, or you can buy them at the pier when you're there. It's best to get your tickets at least one day before your chosen departure date during peak season. Return tickets to Koh Rong and Samloem are USD20 each (RM85.33).

Now, bring on that beach holiday

Image via Giphy


Dress Your Pets In Cute Lion Costumes To Divert The Usual "Why You No Kids Yet" Questions

Chinese New Year is just around the corner, which means it's time to get those outfits ready

And what better way to celebrate than to include every family member on this special occasion!This video of a cat shaking its booty in a Chinese lion costume goes viral every year:

Image via GIPHY

Which got us thinking, why not make your pet feel included in the festivities while gaining major 'awws' from your family?

We found out that you can purchase a similar pet lion dance costume on Lazada for around RM33 to RM43.

Image for illustration purposes only.
Image via Pinterest

Image for illustration purposes only.
Image via Picclick

It comes in several sizes - so even 'thicc' pets can feel included

Image via Lazada

Image via Lazada

Not sponsored btw, but if someone wants to send my cat one, I ain't complaining. :pYou can find the different versions here and here.

Maybe lions don't represent your pet's personality. Maybe you want your dog to look presentable for the aunties and uncles.
Don't worry, got samfu and cheongsam also.

Malaysian family business, Furry Closet, handmakes CNY outfits for your dog and cat with prices that start from RM68 onwards.

Image via Furry Closet/Facebook

Image via Furry Closet/Facebook

Image via Furry Closet/Facebook

Image via Furry Closet/Facebook

Just for CNY, they provide free size customisation. All you need to do is provide your pet's measurements and they will sew accordingly.You can check out more of their designs here.

Or you could also get this emperor outfit much like the famous cat fish vendor

Image via AliExpress

It is sold on Lazada for RM50.

The festive season can be a hectic time. How many of these can you relate with?

                10 Annoying Things 'Bananas' Have To Put Up With Because They’re "Not Chinese Enough"

"You're not a real Chinese!"

Read the full story


[VIDEO] Buah Hati Jauh Di Taiping, Bapa Steady Drive Dari KL Untuk Temankan Anak Dating

Follow kami di Telegram, jadi antara yang terawal untuk dapatkan berita dan artikel-artikel menarik di SAYS Seismik.

Setiap orang pasti pernah melalui zaman muda mereka, termasuklah ibu dan bapa kita

Macam-macam perkara yang kita telah lalui pada zaman muda, antaranya adalah bab percintaan. Tentu anda juga pernah merasainya betul tak? Tambahan lagi dengan kemajuan teknologi dan aplikasi yang ada, memang mudah untuk mengenali seseorang.Namun, lain pula dengan video yang tular di TikTok ini apabila seorang bapa sanggup memandu dari Kuala Lumpur (KL) ke Taiping demi menemani anaknya dating telah mencuri tumpuan ramai.Lihat video penuh itu di bawah:

  @remydamak Cinta Antara Benua#tiktokmalaysia #viral #fyp #lovestory  Kisah Cinta Kita - Hafiz Suip

Sempoi drive dari KL ke Taiping untuk teman anak

Menerusi video tersebut, kelihatan seorang lelaki yang juga bapa berkongsi pengalamannya menemani anaknya untuk bertemu buah hati untuk pertama kalinya.Difahamkan, anak lelakinya itu berkenalan dengan gadis tersebut melalui media sosial dan meminta izin daripada bapanya untuk berjumpa gadis tersebut.Bercakap kepada SAYS, bapanya yang dikenali sebagai Mohd Jasni itu memberitahu dia sebenarnya risaukan keselamatan anaknya."Mulanya dia mintak kebenaran utk berjumpa pasangan dia tu bila masa rentas negeri dibenarkan, dia nak pergi dengan kawan dia tapi saya tak benarkan""Pertama risaukan keselamatan, pasal dia tak pernah jumpa kenalan dia tu, walaupun anak saya lelaki zaman sekarang ni macam-macam boleh jadi"Kedua saya boleh kenal dengan teman wanita dia tu  face to face dan boleh pantau supaya dia tidak buat perkara-perkara yang langgar agama," katanya.

Image via @remydamak (TikTok)

Image via @remydamak (TikTok)

Malah, bapanya itu siap berhubung sendiri dengan gadis berkenaan tentang perjumpaannya itu. Tambahnya, semua ibu bapa pasti mahukan yang terbaik untuk anak-anak mereka."Jadi saya cuba santuni anak saya, baik kita yang hantar dia bole jugak kita pantau supaya dia tak buat bende yang tak elok""Ada masa kita marah, dia ada masa kita kene bermesra ngan anak macam kawan. Inshallah kasih sayang terjalin,” katanya.

"Wow, syok betul dapat ayah macam ni" - Netizen

Dalam pada itu, tinjauan di ruangan komen mendapati rata-rata netizen turut memberikan pandangan mereka sendiri selepas melihat video tersebut.Ketika artikel ini ditulis, video berkenaan telah meraih 65K views, 5,093 likes dan 602 comments di TikTok.Berikut di bawah adalah antara komen daripada netizen di TikTok:

Image via @remydamak (TikTok)

Image via @remydamak (TikTok)

Image via @remydamak (TikTok)

Image via @remydamak (TikTok)

Image via @remydamak (TikTok)

Image via @remydamak (TikTok)

Sporting habis ayahnya. Semoga hubungan mereka berkekalan hingga ke jinjang pelamin ya :D

LIKE Facebook dan follow Twitter SAYS SEISMIK dan temui segala cerita mesti kongsi sekarang!

Image via SAYS Seismik


[VIDEO] Woman Shares Importance Of Dashcams After Her Hit-And-Run Offender Lies To Police

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A woman is advising Malaysian drivers to install dashcams in their cars after a hit-and-run offender tried to pin the blame on her

Facebook user Nur Syafiqah took to her page to share the ordeal that happened last Tuesday, 30 November, when she was driving up from Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur.The incident occurred at about 11am as she was crossing Yong Peng to Pagoh on the North-South Expressway.Nur Syafiqah said that she was driving on the left lane at about 90km/h when a blue Perodua Bezza suddenly crashes into her Perodua Axia from behind."I definitely saw the car coming fast from my side mirror. Crazy fast like 120km/h. Then he suddenly banged into the back right side of my car and drove off without stopping," she recounted.

A screenshot of the dashcam footage showing the Perodua Bezza crashing into the back of Nur Syafiqah's car.
Image via Nur Syafiqah (Facebook)

Shocked, the lone driver stopped at the roadside and tried to calm herself down before reporting the incident to the police

"Alhamdulillah, I was not injured, maybe because I was driving slow, I could control the steering and stop at the side. But my right leg and neck hurt a bit. And I was traumatised a little because of the impact," she said.Nur Syafiqah shared that she was shaking as she dialed 911 to call for help when she realised the back of her car was damaged and one of her tyres had burst open.However, even through the panic, she said was thankful the whole incident was recorded by the dashcams she had installed in her car.A police car arrived and took her to the closest PLUS office in Yong Peng, where she made a police report, showed the police the footage she caught, and provided them with the perpetrator's number plate."The sergeant called the car's owner right then, and he denied everything. He told the sergeant that they had the wrong number because he didn't own a car," the victim said in disbelief.

Image via Nur Syafiqah (Facebook)

Image via Nur Syafiqah (Facebook)

Thankfully, Nur Syafiqah said the police visited the man's address later in the afternoon to verify the information

"To cut short the story, the sergeant called me to tell me that the owner [of the Perodua Bezza] also made a police report in Muar," she said, surprised that the other driver could make it so far with a broken front bumper.The sergeant then told her that the Bezza driver tried to blame her for the accident and accused her of recklessly changing lanes leading to the collision, to which she laughed."You seriously think a small, cheap car wouldn't have a camera? You made a big mistake!"

With that, Nur Syafiqah advised her Facebook followers to have their own dashcams to avoid situations like these

"Yes, it's a hit-and-run. But the proof is as clear as day because I have dashcams in the front and back," she said."Take my experience as a lesson. Thankfully, I installed these dashcams since May because I was worried of something like this happening."Lastly, she added, "Spend a bit of money for our safety, because we don't know what could happen at any time."Her Facebook post has since garnered over 4,600 shares with netizens agreeing with her.

Watch Nur Syafiqah's dashcam footage of the accident here:


Netizens Call Out School For Making Students Eat On Floor While Teachers Dine Under Tents

A Facebook post has gone viral after a user shared pictures of school students eating on the floor while teachers dine at decorated tables under tents

The user, Mohd Fadli Salleh, who is a teacher at a different school wrote that the situation is "improper" for many reasons.He pointed out that even if the canteen floors were mopped clean, there would still be an issue as the students did not take their shoes off.Many netizens agreed with him, saying that eating on the floor with the food close to their shoes is unhygienic.

Image via Mohd Fadli Salleh (Facebook)

The post goes on to say that there were VIPs seen passing out duit raya to the students while walking in between them near their packs of food.The Facebook user then took a jab at the teachers and VIPs for dining in luxurious tents and decorated tables.

Image via Mohd Fadli Salleh (Facebook)

Image via Mohd Fadli Salleh (Facebook)

Although there were many commenters that agreed with the post, some also argued that parents were being "overprotective" of their children for finding an issue in the situation

"This issue is a question of ethics and manners. It should not be passed off as parents coddling their children," Mohd Fadli rebutted.He suggested that instead of separating the students from the teachers and VIPs, they should instead provide equal treatment for everyone at the banquet.

You can read the original Facebook post here:


11 Home Remedies That Will Soothe That Sore Throat Of Yours

1. Chrysanthemum tea

Image via Brewed Goodness

It is antiviral in nature so drinking the tea can help to relieve your head congestion problems which are usually viral infections.Chrysanthemum tea is a warm, herbal beverage prepared from dried chrysanthemum flowers. This tea has a delicate, slightly floral aroma and a light, refreshing taste.To prepare the tea, you can ask for dried chrysanthemum flowers from local Chinese herbal stores and brew it in hot water. A few glasses every few hours daily would help soothe the itchy throat.

2. Turmeric or kunyit

Image via Home Remedy Hacks

Another great remedy for a sore throat is turmeric, which has powerful antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.Try any of these recipes with turmeric to cure your sore throat:- Mix 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric powder into a glass of warm water. Drink it slowly in the morning on an empty stomach. Do this once daily for three or four days.- Alternatively, you can add one teaspoon of turmeric powder and one teaspoon of ground black pepper to a glass of warm milk and drink it before going to bed.- You can also gargle with turmeric to soothe a bad throat. Add 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water and mix it well. Gargle with this mixture twice daily.

Image via Green Kitchen Stories

3. Honey

Image via Huffington Post

Honey has antibacterial properties, which can fight the infection and speed up the healing process. It also works like a hypertonic osmotic, which means that it helps draw water out of inflamed tissue and thus reduces swelling.Add one to two tablespoons of honey to one cup of hot water and drink it several times a day. You can also add honey to your favourite cup of herbal tea. Before going to bed, eat one teaspoon of honey as it will give you soothing relief and help you sleep.

4. Salt water mixture

Image via Food Hacks

Try grandma's sore throat remedy by mixing 1/4 teaspoon salt in one cup of warm water. Use the hottest water you can comfortably tolerate. Cold gargles are ineffective. If you have it, add one tablespoon of mouthwash for germ-killing power.The briny solution helps rinse away and neutralise acids in the throat, relieving the burning sensation and promoting fast healing of irritated mucous membranes.Note: Mix a fresh batch of gargle for every use. Also, do not swallow the gargle; spit it out.

5. Clove tea

Image via Boldsky

Cloves have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe and heal a sore throat.Add one to three teaspoons of powdered or ground cloves to water, then mix and gargle.

Image via Season With Spice

6. Cinnamon milk

Image via Huffington Post

Cinnamaldehyde, the main active component of cinnamon, may help fight various kinds of infection.You will need:INGREDIENTS:8oz of milk1/8 teaspoon of baking soda1 tablespoon of sugar1 tablespoon of honey1/2 teaspoon of cinnamonDIRECTIONS:- Mix cinnamon, sugar, and baking soda in a small saucepan and add milk and heat it over a medium flame. - Allow to cool and add honey to sweeten and drink the concoction warm daily.

Image via Be Beautiful

7. Ginger, honey, and lemon drink

Image via NDTV Food

This home remedy mixes one teaspoon each of powdered ginger and honey, 1/2 cup of hot water, and the juice of 1/2 squeezed lemon. Pour the water over the ginger, then add the lemon juice and honey, and gargle.Honey coats the throat and also has antibacterial properties and lemon is high in vitamin C, which keeps the immune system strong and neutralises the free radicals in your body.Ginger, on the other hand, is great to sweat out the toxins in your body, which is helpful when you have a cold or flu.

8. Garlic

Image via Veg Kitchen

Garlic has antibacterial and antiseptic properties along with other medicinal properties that can help treat or prevent sore throats.Eat a raw garlic clove daily to release the chemical known as allicin that helps kill the bacteria may be causing the sore throat.Alternatively, you can use garlic oil. Add a few drops of garlic oil to 1/4 cup of water and gargle with it once daily.

Image via Elana's Pantry

9. Apple cider vinegar

Image via Stacy's Random Thoughts

Apple cider vinegar is a popular as a remedy for sore throats from colds or strep throat infections. The antibacterial properties of vinegar can help neutralize infections in the throat that cause pain.Simply add one to two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to a cup or two of warm water and stir. Sip the drink gradually one to three times a day. The strength of this mixture may be tailored to suit your tolerance. Generally, a higher vinegar concentration will treat symptoms more effectively.

Image via Man vs Hair

10. Hot sauce and water

Image via Tabasco

For a spicy gargle, add 10-20 drops of Tabasco sauce to a glass of water. Tabasco is made from hot chillies so it works like capsaicin and it also has antiviral properties.Don't swallow the gargle as it may irritate your stomach.

11. Baking soda

Image via The Alternative Daily

Baking soda is often times touted as a simple, straightforward, and effective home remedy for sore throats. The reason? Baking soda has antibacterial properties, which could help to kill off the bacteria camping out in your throat. It also has a slightly alkaline PH level - this soothes minor skin irritations such as bug bites and rashes, and it will act similarly on the swollen tissues in your throat.INGREDIENTS:1 cup of very warm water1/2 teaspoon salt1/2 teaspoon or a little less baking sodaDIRECTIONS:Heat the water until it is very warm, but not so warm that you can't drink it. Mix in 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon or a little less baking soda, stir, and test the temperature. Pour some of the liquid into your throat, let it sit for a moment, then gargle. Do this twice in a row, three times daily.

Meanwhile, with all the hazardous chemicals in air from the haze, here are nine scientifically proven home remedies that might come in handy:

                9 Home Remedies You Shouldn't Underestimate Because Science Says They Work

Yeap, your grandmother was right: ginger is good for you.

Read the full story


M'sian Hackers Attack 200 Websites In India Following Politicians' Insult Against Prophet

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A group of Malaysian hackers launched a series of cyberattacks targeting India's government websites after politicians from its ruling party made a controversial remark against Prophet Muhammad

According to New Straits Times, about 70 government websites and private portals in the country were down following the attack on  Sunday, 12 June.The affected websites include the Indian embassy in Israel, India's National Institute of Agriculture Extension Management and the Institute of Science, and the e-portal of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research, among others, reported Times of India.In the state of Maharashtra alone — the third most populous state in India — more than 50 websites were defaced.The group calls itself DragonForce Malaysia and has a Twitter account. In a tweet last night, 14 June, it is understood that the group has even compromised the websites of the Thane police department and a university in New Delhi.US media CNBC TV18 quoted researchers from a cybersecurity and machine intelligence company in India as saying that DragonForce Malaysia has hacked over 200 websites, including those with Government of India domains.

Image via Mashable SEA

A check by SAYS on one of the compromised websites found that the  "#OpPatuk" hacking operation is a "property of Malaysia"

"Greetings, the government of India. We are DragonForce Malaysia," read a message on the hacked website."This is an urgent call for all Muslim hackers, all hackers all over the world, human rights organisations, and activists all around the world to unite again and start [a] campaign against India, share what is really going on there, expose their terrorist [and] criminal war activity to the world.""We will never remain silent against India terrorist, criminal war activity.""You can burn [down] our mosques and our homes and our schools, but our spirit will never die!""This is a special operation on the insult of our Prophet Muhammad S.A.W."

Image via SAYS

DragonForce Malaysia seems to have attracted warnings from "Indian Secular Cyber Security Group" on Twitter, claiming that they know how to hack as well but have resorted not to do so due to ethical reasons."Take your steps backward, otherwise this is going to [be] very harmful for you," read a tweet causing the public spat.

Other than the attacks conducted by the said Malaysian group, it is understood that some websites were also hacked by people from Indonesia

CNBC TV18 reported that over 500 websites in India have been hacked.When asked who was responsible for the attacks, Maharashtra Cyber Cell ADG Madhukar Pandey said, "The names of two countries — Malaysia and Indonesia — are surfacing. We've not got any information about whether this gang is operating in India or not."The hackers are said to be demanding India apologise to Muslims.

The series of furious cyberattacks come after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharma made an offensive remark against Prophet Muhammad during a televised debate last month, reported BBC.

BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
Image via BBC

BJP is one of the two major political parties in India, which came into power in 2014 along with the Indian National Congress.The party's media head in the Delhi unit, Naveen Jindal, also posted a provocative tweet on the issue.The duo has since been removed from the party, but their statements have caused a diplomatic nightmare for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration.Many media chose not to repeat the remark that Nupur made due to its offensive nature. However, it is understood that clips of her making the statement have gone viral on the Internet, even attracting the attention of extremist group Al-Qaeda.


Father & Toddler Thrown Off Motorcycle After Collision With Car

Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Telegram for the latest stories and breaking news.Warning: This story contains images that some readers may find upsetting.

A father and his toddler were thrown off a motorcycle yesterday, 18 January, near the Endah Parade Mall in Sri Petaling

According to a video posted by Zoul BraveSlick on Facebook group DashCam Owners Malaysia, the father was seen riding a motorcycle with his daughter sitting in front of him.As the motorcyclist veered to the right at the fork, he crashed into the side of a BMW.Upon impact, the child fell onto the road while the father lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into a road barrier a few metres ahead.The driver of the BMW car immediately got out of it to pick up the crying child as Zoul went to lend a hand.

Image via Zoul BraveSlick/DashCam Owners Malaysia (Facebook)

Upon surveying their condition, Zoul said that the father was in bad shape while his daughter was bleeding from her nose and mouth and seemed traumatised from the accident

In a short conversation with SAYS, Zoul said that he performed first aid on the duo while waiting for help to arrive. The father explained to him that his wife had returned to her hometown, so he had to bring his daughter along with him to work.An ambulance arrived at the scene shortly after to take them to Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (HUKM) for treatment.Zoul added that the father's boss went to HUKM to check up on his employee and informed him that the man's condition was severe but did not elaborate. His daughter, on the other hand, escaped with light injuries.

The father and daughter resting at the side of the road before being taken to the hospital.
Image via Zoul BraveSlick/DashCam Owners Malaysia (Facebook)


M'sian Saves Over 2,000 Wild Plants In His Backyard & Has New Species Named After Him

Out of his love for the forests, a Malaysian man has made it his personal mission to save as many endangered species as he can in his house compound in Setiu, Terengganu

According to Bernama, Suzairi Zakaria, who has been involved in tropical rainforest conservation efforts since 2015, has successfully replanted over 2,000 species of forest plants in his home, including 200 types of wild orchids that he found in unfavourable soil and logging areas in the state.The 46-year-old developed the passion to save wild plants when, as a freelance photographer, he visited the Setiu Wetlands to capture its greenery about a decade ago.However, when he returned for a photoshoot, he discovered that the wetlands' landscape had utterly changed due to development for agricultural and residential purposes.

Image via Bernama/New Straits Times

It was then that Suzairi, also known as Dome Nikong, resolved to doing what he can to save nature

The independent conservationist began collecting cuttings of wild plants and orchids that were under threat in their natural habitats and bringing them home to replant them.After the Setiu Wetlands, he extended his conservation efforts to other logging areas, including the Tasik Kenyir area.Suzairi's collection now includes various species of forest plants — ranging from endangered to non-endangered — such as ferns, hoyas, wild gingers, orchids, and pitcher plants.With over 2,000 species under his care, his home has even been turned into a conservatory that has become a reference for other conservationists, researchers, and orchid enthusiasts in the country.

Image via Bernama (Facebook)

Image via Bernama (Facebook)

Over the years of collecting plants, Suzairi has also managed to discover several new species of orchids, pitcher plants, and parasitic flora called thismia

With the discoveries, he has also been given the honour of having the plants named after him, such as a new pitcher plant called Nepenthes domei and a parasitic plant called Thismia domei — both named after a variation of his nickname.There is even an orchid species, the Chysis domei, named after him by researchers in Guatemala who follow his efforts.According to MalaysiaNow, he has also named another species of the thismia genus after his mother, Thismia setimeriamae.

The conservationist is now working with institutes like the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) to study and register his discoveries

"I need to work with qualified botanists to elaborate on the findings of the new species because each discovery needs to have a written research paper to confirm the findings in any scientific journal," he told Bernama.To thank him for his efforts, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu's Faculty of Science and Marine Environment has also recently appointed him a Guest Fellow.The faculty's senior lecturer, Assoc Prof Dr Jamilah Mohd Salim, said Suzairi's efforts has raised awareness on the importance of conserving biodiversity among individuals and local communities."Suzairi's role [has helped] university researchers to know more about natural phenomena that occur in the forest," she said.

In 2020, social media called for the protection of an 84-year-old retired planter's nursery that consisted of two million endangered rainforest trees in Perak which were being destroyed for development:

                A Retired Planter's Rainforest Nursery With 2 Million Trees Is Being Bulldozed In Perak

According to a journalist, a state-owned firm in Perak has taken over the development.

Read the full story


This Startup Is Moving Education In Malaysia Forward Through Crowdfunding For Teachers

Technology has broken down many doors and has given the chance to many startups and individuals to pursue diverse goals.
It has also became a tool for change and betterment of the society - education is one, for start.

Image via TheMalayMail

100% Project, is a Malaysian startup that  aims to push education forward through the crowdfunding

Image via 100% Project

100% Project believes that great strides can only be made in education through collective impact. This means that we want to work with everyone - corporations, foundations, start-ups, social enterprises, schools, parents, teachers and individuals to move education forward in Malaysia.

        100percentproject.org

The young startup connects with the public, allowing us a chance to contribute to a particular education project

Image via 100% Project

The projects could vary from improving their classrooms, organising field trips to implementing more innovative teaching ideas.

Following that, the startup will engage the public and connect them to these teachers, so we can all have a chance to contribute.

        vulcanpost.com

Founded by a trio of friends, 100% Project has done so well at its launch that it ran out of projects to fund

From left to right: Andrew Yong,  Amelia Tan, Karthik Karunanithy.
Image via VulcanPost

Andrew Yong, co-founder of 100% Project shared, “We’ve been surprised and encouraged by how supportive the public has been—it’s really affirmed how we Malaysians have always been strongly supportive of education and our teachers, it’s just that we’ve lacked, until now, an easy channel through which to help these teachers.”

        vulcanpost.com

The public was so convinced with the idea that it ran out of projects for people to fund!

So, how does one get crowdsource for a project? First, you have to be a teacher!

Image via 100% Project

Image via 100% Project

Teachers will have to fill out a form consisting of required details like subject taught, name of school and problems faced in said school.100% Project takes up to 20 projects every cycle (year).

If a project is selected, it would be posted on the site's 'Explore' tab for the public to view and contribute

Image via 100% Project

Image via 100% Project

The public would be able to view each project in detail.

Since its inception, 100% Project has partnered with other businesses to help market their products.
The startup is also supported by MaGIC ( Malaysian Global Innovation & Creativity Centre)!

Image via 100% Project

100% Project has managed to rope in several partners, like FoodPanda and KFI to aid in their pursuit of helping educators fund well-meaning projects. Partners can use 100% Project as a platform to market their services by offering contributors’ perks in the form of discount vouchers to their services.

        vulcanpost.com

Check out 100% Project here for more details! Be sure to like them on Facebook too!


"They're Flood Victims Too" — Man Hits Wild Boar Trying To Climb Onto Boat During Flood

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The recent floods hitting Peninsular Malaysia haven't just affected humans, but the animals that co-exist alongside us.
While some are eager to lend a helping hand to those in need, furry or otherwise, some are not so.

A video recently went viral on Twitter showing two men hooting and hollering at a family of wild boars while traversing their flooded village by boat.One boar can be seen ignoring the presence of the boat, while one of the them swims towards the men.

Image via 我们是马来西亚人 We are Malaysians (Facebook)

The men start hitting the surface of the water with their paddles in an attempt to discourage the boar from getting close, but the determined creature tries to climb onto the boat anyway. In a panic, one of the men hit the wild pig on the head with their oar, and it hurriedly swims away.

Image via 我们是马来西亚人 We are Malaysians (Facebook)

Image via 我们是马来西亚人 We are Malaysians (Facebook)

The video sparked debate online, with some decrying the men's insensitivity to the plight of a fellow flood victim

"So sad... They're flood victims too," one user said on Facebook.

Image via 我们是马来西亚人 We are Malaysians (Facebook)

Image via 我们是马来西亚人 We are Malaysians (Facebook)

However, other netizens defended the men's actions, saying that wild boars are not the same as domesticated pigs, as they are known to be extremely aggressive and excellent swimmers.

Image via @KlutzyKucing (Twitter)

Users were also frustrated with the ignorance of city folk, who might be unaware that wild boars are not the same as domesticated pigs.

Image via @KlutzyKucing (Twitter)

Image via @KlutzyKucing (Twitter)

Watch the full video here: