Malayan Tiger In New York Tests Positive For Covid-19

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Here’s why social distancing is important: a Malayan tiger named Nadia has become the first known case of a tiger testing positive for Covid-19.
She lives at the Bronx Zoo in New York, where she was infected by an asymptomatic zoo employee while being cared for.
Nadia, her sister Azul, two Amur tigers, and three African lions had developed a dry cough but are all expected to make a full recovery.
However, only Nadia was tested because she was the sickest and had started to lose her appetite. She underwent anaesthesia, X-rays, an ultrasound, and blood tests to pinpoint her illness.
According to the Wildlife Conservation Society which manages the zoo, the big cats are doing well under veterinary care and are bright, alert, and interactive with their keepers despite a decrease in appetite.
None of the other big cats at the zoo are showing signs of illness.
However, it’s uncertain how the disease will develop in big cats, since different species can react different to the novel coronavirus.
The message is clear: even if you’re quarantined at home with just your pets, wash your hands.

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[Watch] Nigerian Shares Personal Accounts Of Racism And Xenophobia In Malaysia

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Why do the customs, taxis and restaurants in Malaysia discriminate against black people?

That is the question raised by a Nigerian who vowed never to come to Malaysia again.
The Nigerian, known as Suleiman, talked about the unpleasant experience of being racially discriminated against when he travelled to Malaysia.
He posted a video on TikTok, sharing his experience of racial discrimination when he came to Malaysia to visit friends and travel a few years ago.
  @suleiman_toks @lmfaomal The kind of premium rac|$m I experienced in Malaysia.. 👀 #storytime #travellingwhileblack ♬ original sound – Suleiman
The Persistent Problem Of Generalisation
He pointed out that when he was a student in 2016, he decided to visit two good friends in Malaysia by chance, and the two friends were Indian and Ugandan.
Suleiman recalled that after arriving in Kuala Lumpur, he spent three to four days with his friends there and then went to the islands in Sabah.
He said that other passengers stared at him and another African friend when he was on the plane.
Suleiman said he felt as if they had never seen a black person.
He claimed that after arriving in Sabah, he and his friend were detained by immigration officials, who then took him and his Ugandan friend to a separate room.

After some time, the (immigration) officer returned our passports but said we cannot enter Sabah.
Suleiman on being singled out by the authorities because of skin colour.
He said immigration officials told them more directly: “We don’t allow people like you to come.”
Suleiman said he did not complain too much then, saying he would return to Kuala Lumpur.
Still, the immigration officials insisted that they pay for their air tickets back to Kuala Lumpur.
However, Suleiman, who was still a student then, apparently could not afford the extra airfare, and immigration officials were eventually willing to let him fly back to Kuala Lumpur.
He said that since his friends could not afford the return trip, he stayed alone in Kuala Lumpur for 3 days and decided to use the time to wander around Kuala Lumpur.
However, Suleiman described this as the beginning of another nightmare.

When I want to go out, the taxi driver on the road is unwilling to stop to pick me up because I am black; when I go to the restaurant to order food, the waiter is unwilling to give me the order because I don’t want to talk to black people.
Suleiman on being rejected and stereotyped by Malaysians.
He angrily said he had to walk everywhere because no taxi driver would take him.
Suleiman added that when he was finally about to leave Malaysia and was queuing to board the plane, five airport personnel came to surround him.
He claimed they began to interrogate him, asking, “where is he from, where is he going” and so on, and took away his passport to check that it was not fake.
However, the allegations cannot be verified as the TikTok user only made this video after several years of his trip here.

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Calls To Talian Kasih From Lonely M’sian Kids Sign of Bigger Problems

Recently, Hannah Yeoh, the Deputy Minister of Women, Family, and Community Development, revealed that there have been 149 children calling Talian Kasih 15999 to talk about how lonely they are.
Alone All By Myself GIF from Alone GIFs

This number takes up 56% out of 264 calls received by this hotline meant for reporting domestic abuse!
On the surface, this may seem adorable â€“ imagine kids randomly calling to tell you theyâ€™re lonely! But if you look at the bigger picture, this â€˜lonelinessâ€™ actually stems from a more serious issue.

Photo credit: Malay Mail

â€œThese calls come from children who mention that theyâ€™re lonely and just need someone to talk to. This is why itâ€™s important to keep up a good relationship between parents and kids.

Since itâ€™s school holiday season, I really hope parents are keeping an eye on their children, monitoring how they use their gadgets and making sure theyâ€™re participating in healthy activities.â€

Hannah Yeoh,
Deputy Minister of Women, Family, and Community Development via Astro Awani
Twitterjaya weighed in, saying that parents arenâ€™t the only ones to be blamed and that itâ€™s more of a chain reaction.
Some of them believe that parents are overworked due to low wages.

â€œParents overworked, coming home late, siblings in boarding school/uni. Maybe Malaysians arenâ€™t lazy and we should reconfigure our work/life balance?â€

Working Poop GIF from Working GIFs

This user explains the reality of how Malaysian parents try to make ends meet.

On the other hand, there are also users who agreed with Hannah Yeoh.
Some of them (presumably parents themselves), blame smartphones instead.

â€œMy advice, keep aside your smartphones and gadgets when youâ€™re back from work. Just using it at work is enough. Have quality time with your kids for even an hour. Ask them what theyâ€™ve done today, what did they eat at school. On weekends, bring them out to a park. Happy family, happy life. â€œ

Some feel that parents shouldnâ€™t be making their careers an excuse to neglect their kids.

â€œKids like this are easily influenced. Parents, please pay serious attention. No matter how tired you are, spend some time with your kids. Donâ€™t wait until itâ€™s too late, youâ€™d regret it.â€

Real Man Father GIF from Realman GIFs

We feel that such an issue should be tackled both at home and on a national scale. The fact that so kids as young as 10 years old are calling Befrienders these days should be enough sign of how alarming this is.

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After 42 Years, Biography Of “The Golden Son Of The Kadazan” May No Longer Be Banned

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The government will review the 42-year ban on the book titled The Golden Son of the Kadazan, a biography of the late Sabahan politician and Member of Parliament (MP), Datuk Peter Joinod Mojuntin.

Written by former Bandar Hilir Assemblyperson Bernard Sta Maria, the book is a telling of the life and legacy of the ethnic Kadazan leader before he died in a plane crash in 1976, a tragedy which also took the life of the late Sabah Chief Minister Tun Mohd Fuad Stephens.
News clippings reporting the crash that took the life of 11 people.(Borneo Post)
The book was published in 1978 and has been banned ever since.
Apparently, the book was subjected to a Prohibition Order under the Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA) – a law which was repealed in 2011 – because of its perceived detrimental impact on national harmony.
Besides chronicling the life of the late politician as well as having insightful cultural context to the Kadazan community, the book is also said to contain strong criticism towards the government.
For his contributions to the state, a secondary school, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Datuk Peter Mojuntin, was named in his honor, along with a statue in his image erected in Penampang, Sabah.
Statue of the late Datuk Peter J. Mojuntin at a memorial plaza in Donggongon, Penampang.(Facebook/penampangtourismassociation)
According to the Home Ministry, steps are being taken to study the text and examine the book from a security and legal standpoint to see if it’s suitable for public consumption.
Reportedly, in 2017, then Home Minister Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi had concluded that the book poses no threat to Malaysia’s interest and security.
And despite the ban, much like any other censored content here in Malaysia, the book can be found on many online sources and social media channels.
Malaysia and censorship
Malaysia is known for its strict and arguably archaic censorship laws which prohibits the dissemination of content deemed inappropriate and damaging to the country’s class, racial and religious hegemony.
The government regularly censors or prohibits local and internationally made content like news reports, books, shows and movies, music, and all manner of digital content for containing inappropriate or sensitive material regarding sex, religion as well as supposedly harmful ideologies under a number of legislation such as the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 or through organizations such as the Film Censorship Board (LPF).
As of 2020, Malaysia stands at the 101st spot of the World Press Freedom index.
Read more: Is Malaysia Taking Censorship Too Far?

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Source:
Investigating Malaysia’s history, to understand the present
42-year ban on book about Sabah politician under review
Peter Joinud Mojuntin
Late Mojuntin advised son to stand his ground
 Datuk Peter J. Mojuntin Memorial
Lift ban on ‘The Golden Son of the Kadazan’, urges Jeffrey
The Golden Son of the Kadazan
Malaysia's book bans archaic: Think-tank
Malaysia bans 22 books, including satirical publication on 1MDB
Malaysia charts biggest improvement globally for press freedom in 2020 index; best in Asean again
GARIS PANDUAN PENERBITAN DI BAWAH AKTA MESIN CETAK DAN PENERBITAN 1984 [AKTA 301]
FILM CENSORSHIP ACT 2002
'New film classifications will reduce censorship'
Is Malaysia Taking Censorship Too Far?


Beirut Suffers Another Explosion With 4 Casualties So Far

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Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon, has been hit with another disaster as a a fuel tank has exploded in a densely populated area with at least four casualties and several injured.

It’s reported that the blast was caused by a fuel tank which caught fire.
Happening beside my house now i can't believe it pic.twitter.com/SRWep530j2— Léa (@leaisokeh) October 9, 2020
This is the third incident in span of three months.
The first is the port explosion in August as 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate was accidentally ignited, killing at least 192 people and injuring thousands.
Homes and other property were wrecked for miles and the blast was heard as far away as Cyprus, about 200km across the Mediterranean Sea.
It’s estimated that 300,000 people had been made temporarily homeless and that collective losses might reach USD10 billion to 15 billion (RM41.3 billion to RM62 billion).
Then in September, a massive fire broke out at a warehouse storing oil and tires which raged for over seven hours.
It was reported that the fire was caused by tools used by workers making repairs on a warehouse containing tires and engine oil.

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New Job? Claim A One Time RM1,000 Allowance From Government

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From January 2021, Malaysians who get jobs over 100 kilometres away from their homes can claim a one-off allowance of RM1,000.

Those who get placements under 100 kilometres will receive a one-off RM500 cash aid.
While it may sound too good to be true, this is actually part of the Mobility Assistance initiative under the Short-term Economic Recovery Plan (PENJANA) announced back in June.
Initially, the Mobility Assistance programme provided lower amounts of cash aid to employees hired from 15 June 2020. However, Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan explained that the programme has been expanded to encourage the youth, especially, to find employment opportunities in different locations.
In the current economic downturn, many rural companies go bankrupt even though in terms of operating costs are not very high. So employees need to be prepared to change their mindset by being willing to migrate.M. Saravanan, Human Resources Minister
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan.(Credit: Yusof Mat Isa/Malay Mail)
How to claim
Employees and apprentices hired by employers under this incentive program who need to move over 100km from their current residence.
They are eligible to claim the RM1,000 cash aid through employers.
Employers can submit Mobility Assistance applications on behalf of eligible employees based on information such as electricity bill, Astro or other documents.
Applications can be made in the PenjanaKerjaya website HERE.

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Source:
SOALAN-SOALAN LAZIM (FAQ) PROGRAM INSENTIF PENGAMBILAN PEKERJA DAN PROGRAM LATIHAN
Bantuan 'one-off' RM1,000 jika penempatan pekerjaan lebih dari 100km - Saravanan


“Your Family Will Have To Pay Your House Debt If You Die” Netizens Warned To Be Aware Of Their House Insurance Policies

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Buying a house can be a daunting task for many, with the loan for these assets spanning up to multiple decades and also the costs that you have to put up with within the space of time.

One user shared on a Facebook group about the Mortgage Reducing Term Takaful (MRTT) or Mortgage Reducing Term Assurance (MRTA), which are insurance products that buyers have to take when they purchase a house.
It was originally written by user Azri Johan before it was reshared again recently.
The post starts off with the user saying that buyers should be aware of the important bits of information regarding their purchase including loan tenure and MRTT/MRTA coverage.
Many think that when buying a house, the house is 100% theirs. I was like that before. But in fact, if we buy a house on a loan with a bank, we have to check back our loan agreement. How long is a loan with a bank? How long is MRTT/MRTA coverage? This thing is the period the bank covers the loan in case of the death of a borrower during the period of still owing the bank. Please avoid being like the case below. Loan with a bank for 35 years, but MRTT coverage is up to 10 years 😱How long is a loan with a bank?
The post went on to describe what happens if a person dies within that 10-year period.
That is, if we die within the 10-year coverage period, the heirs can make a claim at the bank. But even this MRTT claim can’t cover the remaining loan, the heirs have to top up and use their own money 😥 Worst case scenario, if you die in the 11th year to the 35th year, the balance of your loan must be settled by your family members.
If the person is married, the post mentioned, then the burden will then fall on their surviving spouse or family members.
It is sad to lose the head of the family, even sadder when you have to bear a debt of hundreds of thousands of ringgit.
What happens when you can’t settle the debt
In the event that the family members can’t manage to pay back the loan, the house would have to be auctioned.
As long as we do not settle the debt with the bank, the bank has the right to our house. After all, banks must not lose money, because they are not charities. Right?Moral of the story. How much the insurance covers the house we bought.

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University Malaya makes world top universities list for employability ranking again!

Malaysian institutions of higher education are certainly having
a good month!
Just last week, 13 Malaysian universities made it onto the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020.
This week, thereâ€™s more good news as University Malaya emerges as Malaysiaâ€™s BEST for employability on the 2020 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Employability Ranking!
Friends Phoebe GIF from Friends GIFs

The ranking, which was released on 18th September, lists 500 universities across the globe and grades them based on graduate employability outcomes and prospects.

Credit: Quickmeme

Points are given based on 5 indicators:

Employer reputation (30%)
Alumni outcomes (25%)
Partnerships with Employers per Faculty (25%)
Employer/Student Connections (10%)
Graduate employment rate (10%)

University Malaya (UM) ranked at 141-150 with an overall
score of 46.4-48.4. Itâ€™s good news as Malaysiaâ€™s oldest university jumped two
spots up from last yearâ€™s 161-170 position.
Besides UM, 8 other local universities also earned a spot on the coveted list!

Screenshot from QS Top Universities

At No 6 globally, Chinaâ€™s Tsinghua University is top in Asia on graduate employability.
The University of Hong Kong (No 9), Peking University (No 19), The University of Tokyo (No 23) and National University of Singapore (No 24) round up Asiaâ€™s top 5.

 Original Image:Â Wikimedia CommonsÂ &Â Polandball Fandom

Globally, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) ranks
at No 1, followed by Stanford University and University of California, Los
Angeles.

Credit: PR Newswire

Earlier this year, the QS World University Rankings 2018-2020 was also cause for celebration as 10 Malaysian institutions made the list with UM at No 70.
Congratulations to all the public and private varsities that made the list!
Prouda You GIF from Ronswanson GIFs


This 2019 Photo Of KL Skyline Was So ‘Magical’ People Thought It Was Fake

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You may have seen this magical photograph of Kuala Lumpur with Genting Highlands in the background and the Petronas Twin Towers in front.

It first appeared on Facebook in 2019 and has been popping up here and there ever since.

Most people on social media were surprised by how close Genting appears to Kuala Lumpur with some even calling it a fake.
But the guy who took the photo, 26-year old Tan Jun Hong, explained that part of the reason is something called lens compression which was achieved with special equipment.
I’ve been wanting to shoot this photo for years now. A zoom lens was what I lacked. As soon as I got the lens, luck was on my side as soon I encountered with this stunning view. Tan Jun Hong via Facebook.
Tan says the composition is unedited and he only used Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop for some basic enhancement and tone adjustment.
He took the picture from a private residence somewhere near Bukit Jalil, explaining that he set the camera up for a time-lapse and went to watch Game of Thrones season 8, episode 3.
Tan says his parents bought him his first camera when he was 15 and he learnt how to use it through his uncle and YouTube videos.
Photography is just my hobby. I’m currently just studying dentistry.Tan Jun Hong via Facebook.

Check out Jun Hong’s other amazing works on Facebook or Instagram if you feel like you’ve been missing out on our beautiful KL city all throughout the Covid-19 lockdowns.
         View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Jun Hong (@jhong.visuals)

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These “Fancy” Local Seafood Actually Used To Be Super Cheap But Not Anymore, And Here’s Why

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If any of you don’t know, in the western world, lobster used to be a prison food for prisoners.

According to Business Insider, these ‘cockroaches of the sea’ were so plentiful that they could pile up around 2 feet high ashore in the Massachusetts Bay Colony when the first European settlers reached North America. The colonists were actually embarrassed at the sight of these cockroaches.
In fact, the Native Americans and colonists both used to use lobsters as fertiliser and fish bait. As they’re so undesirable and abundant, they are easily accessible proteins during bad seasons or harvest, making them an ideal poor man’s meal. To save costs, lobsters were fed to prisoners, apprentices, and also slaves.
(Credit: Freepik)
However, during the mid-1800s, people in their city could buy cheap canned lobster on the market. After having the taste of the delicious meat, they could also travel to the coastal American cities via reasonably-priced train tickets. Instead of a nuisance, lobsters had become a commodity with surging prices in the 1880s.
And guess what, the commodity still lasts till today, as lobsters are now one of the expensive delicacies you can find in a restaurant.
Other than that, did you know that before they became a rare delicacy, caviar, oysters and salmon were also abundant and considered cheap once upon a time?
Here Are Some Malaysian Food That Used To Be Cheap Too
Logically, everything will increase in price as the years go by due to inflation. But remember these foods? They used to be cheap! So cheap that no one wanted them.
Siham (blood cockles)
Being a food easily obtained from the shores of the sea and even drains (Longkang Siham), blood cockles or siham/kerang used to be like RM3 for a kilogram before more people started cooking them at seafood restaurants and they now cost RM18/kg.
(Credit: @pocongst, @fazleyjalal / Twitter)
Due to pollution and difficulties in getting high-quality ones, the cockles are sold in a variety of sizes and they can get very expensive. Aside from boiled and grilled cockles, they are also very popular in cuisines like Char Kuey Teow, Sambal Kerang, and even Laksa. Hey, maybe it’s the rising demand for these types of laksa that got the prices going up.
READ MORE: Types Of Laksa In (Almost) Every State In Malaysia
Mantis Shrimps
If you watch Mantis Shrimps on the discovery channel, they’ll look like these exotic shrimps that could pack one of the most powerful punches in the world. Well, did you know that we can get these in Malaysia too (well the silver mantis shrimps, at least)? They’re called Udang Lipan in Malay and back in the days, people weren’t really keen on them that they were even thrown back to the sea by the jetty.
Mantis Shrimps caught in a breeding farm in Penang. (Credit: Ahamd Adil Muhamad / Buletin Mutiara)
Nowadays, they’re much much more appreciated since we now know how to eat them properly (yeay!). They vary across sizes but generally, the price for a kilogram of these can be around RM150.
Scallops
Also known as kekapis in Malay, these molluscs were used as baits for fishermen once upon a time and their shells were used as decorations for locals at the beach. Now that the rich people like them, they are getting expensive! They’re exceptionally more expensive with imported ones from Japan, Canada or UK. For example, a Japanese brand of frozen scallop can sell for RM40/kg.
(Credit: Kujie2.com / Blog)
Sardine
Okay, we all know canned sardines are like the go-to meal you’ll get if you’re struggling with your financials. Food for the marhaen (low-income group), as they say. 25 years ago in 1997, it used to cost around RM2.50 for one tin and that enough is filling for a big meal with plain rice.
(Credit: @anysazizann, @cikyn / Twitter)
However, with the challenges of raw material availability and prices, minimum wages, logistics and inflationary pressures, the price of the same can of sardines has inevitably increased.
Now in 2022, a tin can easily cost around RM9.15 for only around 3 – 4 chunks of the fishes. For those who can afford may not feel the pain of the increase but for those who depend on these meals on a daily basis, they’re just a bitter pill to swallow.
All in all, we may not have caviar or salmon over here but we do have food that used to be cheap and now costs significantly more due to inflation and also their difficult breeding and storing process.
Do you know any more food like these?

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GrabCar Premium Customer In KL Enjoys Ride In BMW 5 Series For RM5.40

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A GrabCar was surprised when he ordered an e-hailing ride using JustGrab, as a BMW 5 Series came to pick him up, and the fare was only RM5.40.

JustGrab is a fixed-fare on-demand service that comprises taxis and cars across Malaysia.
This means that a passenger who books a JustGrab will be assigned the nearest vehicle, regardless of whether it is a taxi or a car.
In contrast, he had ordered a ride using GrabCar Premium for the first leg of the same journey.
A Nissan Teana sedan came, and the fare was RM17.
The experience was shared on Twitter by the Malay news portal Oh! Media, setting off discussions among netizens.
Some thought it was intriguing, and many are puzzled as to why a Nissan Teana could be regarded as a luxury car but not a BMW.
Tadi datang ambil GrabCar Premium (RM17) yang datang Nissan Teana. Nak balik ambil Just Grab (RM5.40) yang datang BMW 5 Series 😅Pelik-pelik dunia hari ini 🤭 pic.twitter.com/3NjKWbJP2H— OH! MEDIA (@ohtweet) September 19, 2022
According to the tweet, the BMW driver revealed that his sedan was more than four years old, so it did not meet Grab‘s luxury car regulations.
Luxury and Premium Cars, What’s the Difference?
Many netizens expressed their confusion, thinking that if Nissan sedans can be listed as luxury cars, a BMW should not be “downgraded” to ordinary e-hailing vehicles.
The BMW 5 Series is a large executive saloon aimed squarely at the Mercedes E-Class, Audi A6, Jaguar XF and Lexus ES.
The BMW 5 Series Sedan 2022 price in Malaysia starts from RM317,533 and goes up to RM368,121 (excluding SST).
In contrast, the Nissan Teana price in Malaysia is much more affordable, with prices from RM119,852 and going up to RM142,993 (excluding SST).
Some netizens said that the experience of riding a BMW 5 series sedan for only RM5.40 is worth it.
It is understood that according to Grab’s e-hailing terms, Grab Premium can only be applied to specific car models.
The car must be under five years old to be considered a luxury car.

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TLDR: The Uproar Surrounding Kuala Selangor’s “Naked Women Mural” Yesterday

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A mural painting in Kuala Selangor depicting three naked women had sparked flames of anger on social media on Monday (19 April), leading to police reports and even racialised comments.

The subject of the controversy was a depiction of three female forms in the nude holding hands to form a circle, on the exterior wall of the Sasaran Art Gallery Kuala Selangor in Kampung Sungai Buloh, Kuala Selangor.
This led to outrage among the public, and accusations of the artists promoting indecency and soon escalated to racist insults, including an angry mob protesting with racial accusations.
However, artist Lyana Leong has come out to clear the air.
Credit: Facebook
It isn’t meant to be a naked mural.
In a series of Instagram stories, Lyana explained that the final piece would be clothed women, but she drew them naked first to get a better understanding of the proportion and scale of their bodies.
The clothing would be painted on in additional layers.
What happened was a misunderstanding, she said.
“The reason I painted the women without clothing is based on my experience in painting murals, I need to paint the first layer first – as in paint the nude women, then paint the clothing.”
While we were in the process of painting the mural, we used a black cloth so the public will not see the women’s ‘aurat’. But that one time, my fellow artist (Sliz) and I wanted to check the mural from afar to check for imperfections. So, we removed the cloth, inspected the mural, then covered it back.Lyana Leong via Instagram.
The viral pictures were taken in that 30 minutes when the cloth was removed.
Screenshot from Lyana Leong/Instagram
Lyana admitted that it was indeed their mistake, but stressed that it was not the intended final image.
She also pleaded with social media users to stop racialising the issue.
Screenshot from Lyana Leong/Instagram
Fellow artist Sliz also addressed the issue on his Instagram stories, explaining that the police had paid a visit, along with the city council and local politicians contacting them after receiving complaints.
“It’s completely understandable that people misunderstood the mural because they WERE naked. But it’s part of the process and also training for Lyana (proportions & scale).”
“But to summarise it all, it was a human mistake on my part.”
Screenshot from thesliz/Instagram
Authorities clear the air
Bukit Melawati ADUN Juwairiya Zulkifli also addressed the issue following public complaints and shared the intended final image with a message calling for harmony.
I have received many complaints regarding a mural painting at Balai Seni Sasaran, Sg Buloh since this afternoon. However, the unsightly mural is still in the process of being completed. I would like to thank the locals as well as the concerned public. Together we maintain harmony, ethics and manners of community life.Juwairiya Zulkifli, ADUN Bukit Melawati

Kuala Selangor District Council (MDKS) president Rahilah Rahmat said that the local council had ordered the painter to complete the sensitive part of the mural within three hours after the issue went viral.
The mural was said to be a part of the preparation for an international exhibition to be held at the said art gallery, and expected to be completed by 26 April 2021.
Credit: MDKS/Facebook

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Source:
MDKS: Viral painting at Kuala Selangor art gallery work-in-progress, painter told to complete mural
Uproar over naked women mural in Sg Buloh settled after artists clarify intentions with police


Police To Question Malaysian Journalist Over Report On Slow Flood Relief Response

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Police have called in Malaysian journalist Sean Augustin, who writes for Free Malaysia Today (FMT), to question him on Wednesday regarding a report he wrote.

The report according to a source is believed to be a story that ran last year on December 21 and carried the headline “Fed up of waiting, the military rolls into flood relief”.
Screengrab of FMT article.
Augustin wrote that Malaysia’s Armed Forces sprang into action to help flood victims on December 17, 2021, without waiting for the approval of the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA).
He also wrote that his source told him the Selangor government was reluctant to get the military involved when flash floods hit the state at the end of the week.
Malaysian journalist Sean Augustin. (Pic via WhatsApp)
In response, NADMA director-general Datuk Dr. Aminuddin Hassim has said there is no rift between them and the Army.
Chief of Defence Forces Gen Tan Sri Affendi Buang has also said that if the water is rising, he won’t wait for approval to send his men in to save people.
Augustin also wrote that Defence Ministry personnel were “screaming” at NADMA personnel who had not monitored social media for SOS messages from victims of the floods.
The flood in Selangor, which was the worse the state had seen in 50 years and the worse the country had seen since 2014, displaced over 50,000 people and claimed 46 lives.
Augustin was previously a reporter for The News Straits Times and The Rakyat Post.

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Khairuddin Called To Give Statement At Bukit Aman Over Breaking Quarantine

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Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali has been told to give his statement at the Bukit Aman Police Headquarters today regarding his failure to follow quarantine orders.

What you need to know: According to Malay Mail, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador confirmed that the police have opened an investigation paper over Khairuddin’s failure to comply with quarantine orders.
Meanwhile, Federal Criminal Investigation Department deputy director (Investigation/Legislation) DCP Mior Faridalathrash Wahid confirmed that Khairuddin is to give his statement on the case tomorrow.
How it got here: Khairuddin received a lot of flak after it was discovered that he failed to adhere to his quarantine order after returning from Turkey on 7 July. Following his return, Khairuddin visited several places, including Parliament and the Istana.
The Health Ministry issued a RM1,000 compound against Khairuddin on 7 August and the Minister has since paid the fine.
Yesterday (25 Aug), Senior Minister (Defense) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that Khairuddin’s quarantine issue had been handed over to the police for investigation.
Read more:MP Who Returned From Turkey Attended Parliament Without Serving Full 14-Day Quarantine (TRP)Missing The Point, Khairuddin Says Was Tested Thrice For Covid-19 After Turkey Trip (TRP)Minister Finally Fined For Breaking Quarantine, But Just RM1,000 (TRP)Khairuddin to be quizzed by cops for breaking Covid-19 quarantine (Malay Mail)

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Want To Have Your Business & Brand Instantly Recognized By 5.9 Million Malaysian Customers? Here’s How The Bina Bersama 2021 Campaign Can Help You Out!

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The Covid-19 pandemic has become a defining moment of our generation – changing not only the way we live our lives but also how we run our businesses – and also showing that in every adversity there is opportunity.

Malaysian entrepreneurs have proven that they are capable of persevering with the right tools, a can-do attitude, and the courage to take some calculated risks.
As Malaysia’s richest man Tan Sri Robert Kuok once said, “There are risks in every business, if you are not brave enough to grab on to the first or next opportunities then you shall be a poor person forever.”
In fact, the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) said Malaysia actually saw exports rebound in the second half of 2020.
iStock
This could be attributed to the progressive opening of the economy and gradual recovery of external demand. In fact, exports in December was the highest monthly value recorded for 2020.Media Statement by Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), 30 January 2021.
Crisis of opportunity
The pandemic has seen businesses adapting to the challenges. Businesses became leaner and savvier, making the most of their resources and even relocating their physical operations when necessary from high concentrated malls to neighborhoods which are more accessible to local residents.
But, 2020 also served as a turning point for entrepreneurs to leverage on opportunities provided by the Covid-19 crisis to build their brands and make their businesses stand out in the market.
iStock
It has become important now more than ever for entrepreneurs to have their businesses and brands on the consumer radar and be, if not immediately recognised, at least in the back of people’s minds for the goods and services that they provide.
According to Amazon’s billionaire founder Jeff Bezos, also one of the most successful businessmen in the world, “Your brand is what other people say about you when you’re not in the room”, pointing out that it was crucial for businesses to connect and be remembered by their consumers on an emotional level.
Connecting with consumers
With people spending most of their days indoors and on their computers, out-of-home advertising (OOH) isn’t as effective as it used to be and the best way to connect to consumers is via online channels.
iStock
Offering Malaysian entrepreneurs the opportunity to spread their wings during these challenging times, a leading property developer, EcoWorld Malaysia, together with iMedia – one of the country’s fastest-growing digital media experts – are promising to put your brands and businesses directly on the consumer radar with the #BinaBersama 2021 digital marketing campaign.
Bina Bersama 2021 by EcoWorld and iMedia Asia is a project to provide start-ups, SMEs and long-time business owners the chance to build their brands and expand further into the market through strategic branch locations and targeted advertising.

Owners who purchase or lease any unit at any of EcoWorld’s 13 participating commercial properties in the Klang Valley, Iskandar Malaysia and Penang during the campaign will enjoy Digital Media Advertising shout-outs on top local online platforms.
Pic credit EcoWorld
Valued at RM1 MILLION*, the Bina Bersama 2021 campaign offers local businesses and brands the chance to directly reach over 5.9 million digital media users with the help of targeted advertisements through well-known websites such as Oh! Media, Beautiful Nara, Goody25, Moretify, Newswav and many others.
Interested? Simply visit the Bina Bersama 2021 official website, HERE, to find out more and scout your new business location, situated within sprawling communities at prime locations across the country.
*Terms and Conditions apply

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Trade & Consumer Affairs Ministry’s PSA On Chickens Gets Fried Online

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The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP) is taking some heat for a social media PSA it posted, then later deleted, about chickens.

With a caption that read, “Laa, Why didn’t you buy it at the supermarket” on Twitter, and “Who said chickens from the supermarket aren’t fresh,” on Facebook, the ministry had shared a comic strip to provide the public with more information about poultry and a consumer right to choose where to shop. Which goes something like this…
A: Iiiih! The chickens sold at the public market is so expensive!B: Why didn’t you buy them at a supermarket? It’s cheaper than a public market.A: But supermarket chickens aren’t fresh, right?B: Eh, who said that? They don’t slaughter and process live chickens at public markets anymore? Supermarkets and public markets are the same.A: You’re absolutely right?!
The comic, however, did not sit well with netizens who accused the Ministry of Trade and Consumer Affairs of being out of touch with the affairs of consumers and traders.
Giler. Is KPDNHEP seriously siding with capitalists and discouraging people from buying from small owners now? What a sight???— kimberly (@ruby_twts) September 13, 2021
This is not what u supposed to do @kpdnhep, why make the rich richer and poor poorer. #distasteful https://t.co/vqUmp96MtB— RajivSethukarian (@friendsofk9) September 13, 2021
Even #KPDNHEP asking consumers to buy from pasar raya but how about the lifehood of pasar awam?R they humans too?#Malaysia https://t.co/X4Ifai3BJB— Dr. CK Chong (@CK_Chong18) September 14, 2021
The PSA also notably inspired some parodies from netizens who had some sense of humour.
https://t.co/K67s5aHcLO pic.twitter.com/GfJhK4rIBI— hxsm (@hxsm) September 13, 2021
pic.twitter.com/5wa2QXJbv2— Burhan 🏴 (@BurhanPlays) September 13, 2021
Reportedly, Malaysians have noted a steep rise in the price of chickens – with some places selling em’ for more than RM10 per kilogram.
In a statement, KPDNHEP explained that it was working on solutions to combat the chicken price hike by monitoring and engaging with farmers, wholesalers and traders.
The ministry also intends to introduce a price ceiling for necessary goods, similar to what we now have during the festive seasons.
It explained that the ministry would not hesitate to implement price controls if they increase too rapidly or if there exists a cartel that is manipulating prices within the supply chain.
KPDNHEP’s surveys across the country determined that the average price of processed chickens, nationally, as of 10 September, was at RM8.83 per kilo.
The price of standard processed chicken in the Peninsular was RMRM8.78 per kg and ranges between RM5.99 per kilo to RM11.00 per kilo.
In East Malaysia, the standard price for processed chickens ranges between RM10.90 per kg and RM11.80 per kilo in Sabah, while in Sarawak, the price was between RM7.50 per kilo to RM9.80 per kilo.
The ministry added that it would continue to monitor and take action against those found to manipulate the price of goods.

In a later posting, which wasn’t deleted this time, the KDNHEP quoted its Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi in saying that consumers must be smart in choosing where to shop for the best prices.

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Source:
Harga ayam naik lima kali dalam tempoh seminggu


Everything We Know About Vitamin C In Relation To Covid-19

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Vitamin C is an extremely popular health supplement, commonly cited to boost the immune system and promote general health. However, some people have started to make dangerous claims, glorifying the benefits of Vitamin C so much that it’s been touted as a cure to everything from the common cold to cancer to Covid-19.
While lack of vitamin C used to be a concern, in modern times, there is barely a reason to be worried about vitamin C deficiency, which can result in a painful disease called scurvy. Fresh food such as vegetables and fruits readily supply us with the nutrients our body needs.
Speaking of which, the recommended nutrient intake (RNI) for vitamin C is 45mg per day for an adult. If the adult has a regular diet of food that includes vitamin C, the body can sustain itself with zero additional intake of vitamin C and not show signs of scurvy for at least a month.
Different people have different needs for vitamin C.(Credit: WHO)
In fact, there’s actually a threshold of how much vitamin C your body can absorb. Once your body has almost reached full saturation, additional doses of the water-based vitamin will no longer be absorbed, and will instead be expelled out of the body with your urine.
The body just stops absorbing vitamin C once it has had enough.(Credit: WHO)
For the health-conscious who are already eating a fair amount of fresh vegetables and fruits, getting sufficient amounts of vitamin C, additional supplements might actually be bad for you.
Excessive amounts of supplemental vitamin C can lead to a potential toxicity that will result in unpleasant diarrhoea, but is not fatal. For daily use, 1g of vitamin C appears to be the advisable upper limit of dietary intake per day.
Basically, any brand (of vitamin C supplements) is good as long as you take the prescribed dose.Dr Suria Ridhuan to TRP
Are the benefits of vitamin C so great that it has the potential to cure the pandemic?
According to the World Health Organisation, despite the frequently made associations between vitamin C consumption and health status, there is little concrete evidence to support the statement as results from multiple studies remain inconsistent.
But while they can’t cure the disease, high-doses of vitamin C do have a positive impact. A 2016 study suggested that vitamin C in high doses does indeed boost the human immune system and aid recovery from illnesses.
While previous research focused on the daily intake of a healthy adult, further research in recent years focused on findings of the effects vitamin C has on those who are sick, especially with viral illnesses such as the common flu.
Multiple studies found that high-doses of vitamin C had a proven virucidal effect, meaning they could be poisonous to viruses under certain conditions.
Credit: Freepik
Since then, the Intravenous Vitamin C (IVC) therapy has been studied, involving high-dosages (1,000cc and up) of vitamin C being directly introduced into the body through an IV. Further studies found that this therapy improved the physical condition of the patient immediately.
However, globally, IVC therapy is not recognized as an official practice, and cannot claim to be a ‘cure’ for anything.
As death tolls rise due to Covid-19, which is also a kind of influenza virus, some researchers have presented high-dose IVC therapy as an alternative treatment for patients with cancers and infections to help them recover quicker.
Studies have shown that the main cause of death from Covid-19 is because the stressed caused on the lungs that results in organ failure. As Covid-19 vaccines and antiviral treatments are not yet available, there has been some attempt to use IVC as a form of treatment for the time being.
In New York, some hospitals have started treating coronavirus patients with IVC therapy. While the use of IVC therapy isn’t a proven cure, Northwell Health facilities claim that patients who receive IVC therapy recover significantly better than those who do not. In an effort to further study the claim, there has been a clinical trial set up in China that will be able to see results near the end of the year.
Credit: Freepik
In conclusion, vitamin C kinda helps, but only under the right circumstances.
Small doses taken orally as an everyday supplement, while without any particular health risk, also does not have a considerable positive immunity boost if one is already getting enough vitamin C through diet.
So, if you enjoy taking vitamin C supplements and think it helps prevent you from falling ill, go ahead- but it definitely does not prevent you from getting Covid-19.

Remember to practice social distancing during this pandemic! Catch more updates by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


Dell Is Ready For Windows 11 When It Arrives on 5 October

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With the new Windows 11 coming soon, it could be an awkward time to buy a new PC, especially if you buy from an online third party seller.

Not all vendors are prepared to offer their customers Microsoft’s latest operating system, but Dell Technologies said, they are.
From 5 October onwards, almost all PCs on sale at Dell.com will come with Windows 11 pre-installed.
If you need a PC sooner, no problem. Dell offers free upgrades to Windows 11 (for compatible systems) when it is available.
If you already own a Dell, there will be tools that would help guide you through the Free upgrade process. However, availability will vary from device to device.
Is Your Device Eligible?
Check with Dell’s upgrade eligibility list to see if your device can upgrade to Windows 11.
You can check when it is your device’s turn to upgrade after Windows 11 is rolled out by going to Settings / Windows Update.
You can choose whether to accept the upgrade or defer to a later date.
Dell Migrate will help users safely transfer data from Windows 10 to Windows 11.

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Is Amber Court Haunted? Or Is It More Than Meets The Eye?

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Public interest in Amber Court Villa D’Genting Resort has been recently reignited when residents protested the unending rumours of the apartment complex being haunted last week as reported by The Star.

More than 100 residents and Amber Court Management Corporation chairman Datuk Sri Dr KK Chai blasted content creators and ‘YouTubers’ who consistently play up the building as one of the most haunted places in Malaysia.
As a result, Amber Court suffers a poor reputation even until today.
The main lobby at Amber Court.(Credit: Anne Dorall/TRP)
A trip up the mountain
Naturally, when people deny such things, it garners even more curiosity. TRP ascended the mountain to investigate Amber Court for ourselves.
The road there is long and winding, almost a 10-minute drive past Genting Highlands resort. Amber Court apartments is quite hidden, at the literal end of the road, but it offers a frankly excellent mountain view.
A stunning mountain view on a clear day with no fog.(Credit: Anne Dorall/TRP)
As the apartment complex comes into view, the building honestly seems rather boring, painted a light gray that has little of the dark grimy discolouration so commonly found in online videos.
The first view of Amber Court apartments.(Credit: Anne Dorall/TRP)
What is truly surprising, in fact, is that the moment you head in the main lobby, you are greeted by the bright glowing neon sign of a KK Mart.
The KK Mart even has outdoor seating.(Credit: Anne Dorall/TRP)
Uniformed security guards greeted us at the door. There were also a good handful of people milling around in the lobby area, seemingly residents and a couple of visitors.
There was even a reception for a homestay business, which actually looked very warm and inviting.
The Amber Court’s Homestay reception. No ghost-sightings here.(Credit: Anne Dorall/TRP)
So is it scary?
Look, any building that has a 24-hour convinience store in the lobby is far from haunted. In fact, this supposedly “most haunted building in Malaysia” is frankly less scary than your old high school at night.
Surprisingly, there were also more than a few longtime residents living in the apartment complex. A longtime resident we spoke to who has lived there for 5 years said that he had never experienced anything spooky at all while living there.
There’s nothing scary here. It’s just very foggy and cold.Amber Court resident to TRP
In fact, the lack of spooky encounters tend to be something of a disappointment, as people interested in the paranormal often try to stay the night at the apartments.
Ghost hunters and paranormal thrill seekers looking for ghosts are very disappointed when they stay here. A lot of those ‘scary’ videos online are engineered in some way or faked with filters and stuff.Homestay worker to TRP
READ MORE: Klang Valley’s Most Notorious Dark Tourism Sites, And The Stories Behind Them
The apartment complex is simply old with a rather dated design, considering that it was built more than two decades ago in 1996, then faced some years of abandonment due to the Asian financial crisis in 1997.
The lobby stands rather empty, but it definitely looks clean.(Credit: Anne Dorall/TRP)
Right now, the empty lobby lends to its mildly eerie vibes, but the remaining shopkeepers noted that the place used to have more businesses on site. However, many closed down during the pandemic when tourism came to a standstill.
Still, businesses are slowly recovering. We even noted some construction happening in the outer balcony area, which probably means that good news as tourism restarts.
The main reason for its ill-repute and scary appearance is likely the moss that flourishes in the cold and damp air up the mountains. The red-coloured algae and mold that thrives in the foggy weather can be found not just on Amber Court, but even other buildings like Genting Highland’s own RSC staff hostel buildings.
Left: Amber Court. Right: Genting Highland’s staff hostel RSC.(Credit: Anne Dorall/TRP)
The only thing vaguely haunted about this apartment complex is the 2017 horror film Haunted Hotel. Amber Court was used as a shooting location in some parts of the film, but that’s simply part of movie magic.

(And as someone who actually watched the film, it’s really not that scary either.)
Amber Court is perfectly fine if you’re on a budget trip to Genting Highlands, or if you want a reprieve from our usual hot weather, or if you are super into fantastic mountain views. But if you’re looking for the paranormal, you’d have better luck elsewhere.

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RMCO: Foot Reflexology, Tuition Centres, Exhibitions & Conventions Allowed From 1st July Onwards

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Senior Minister (Defence) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that several sub-sectors have been allowed to operate under the Recovery Movement Control (RMCO) period from 1st July onwards.
In his RMCO press conference today, the Senior Minister revealed that a special Cabinet meeting has approved the operation of the following sub-sectors:
Meetings, Incentives, Conventions & Exhibitions (MICE)Travel and trade fairsSpa, wellness and foot reflexology centres
However these sectors are subject to health standard operating procedures (SOP) by the Health Ministry and National Security Council (MKN).
MICE events & travel & trade fairs
For MICE events as well as travel and trade fairs, there is a maximum limit of 250 attendees and all visitors must download and register themselves on the MySejahtera application.
He also stressed that the organisers must adhere to the SOPs in place such as temperature screening, registration of visitors and social distancing.
Spa, wellness & foot reflexology centres
Credit: Gundula Vogel/Pixabay
As for the spa, wellness and foot reflexology centres, Ismail Sabri explains that they can open only with workers who are Malaysian citizens.
These centres must also seek approval from the authorities and all workers must undergo Covid-19 screening.
Tuition centres,  Special education schools & Private education institutions
Credit: KE Ooi/Malay Mail
Tution centres, special education schools and private education institutions will be allowed to operate.
However, the exact date and SOP will be announced by the Education Ministry soon.
Tahfiz schools
Tahfiz schools are allowed to operate again. However, they can only open at the same time as public schools under the Education Ministry – which currently only allows Form 5 and Form 6 students who are sitting for SPM and STPM.
Only registered tahfiz schools will be allowed to open. According to Ismail Sabri, tahfiz schools that are not registered yet can make an application with the Islamic Department of their respective states.
Friday prayers
Credit: Yusof Mat Isa/Malay Mail
Ambassadors, high commissioners and diplomats as well as foreign diplomatic staff are allowed to enter mosques for Friday prayers from 3rd July onwards.
Non-Malaysian citizens aside from diplomatic staff are not allowed to participate in Friday prayers at public mosques, but Ismail Sabri states that this will be allowed in due time.

Malaysia entered the RMCO period on 10th June and restriction measures are continually being eased until it ends on 31st August.

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Using A Truck, Daughter Working Outstation Surprised Parents With A Giant Bouquet Of Money

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What bouquet would you like to get as a gift?

Flowers are nice, but for many people, a bouquet of money is often the best bunch especially when presented to loved ones.
No matter how much money is placed, it will surely turn out to be eye-catching and a pleasant surprise on a special occasion.
Sure, they say money can’t buy you love, but that didn’t deter a daughter who recently gave her parents a huge bouquet of “flowers” made from hundreds of RM10 banknotes.
Accordingly, she missed her parents while working outstation.
Even more surprising was the size of the bouquet.
It was so large and heavy, that it had to be delivered in a truck.
  @noraziemahahmad surprise dri anak de perantauan❤❤salam rindu ♬ original sound  – zinidinzidanfans111
Through a TikTok video uploaded by @noraziemahahmad, the daughter can be seen transporting the giant bouquet of money, decked with RM10 notes, onto the truck.
Because the bouquet of money was too large, it seemed like an umbrella when being delivered to the recipient’s house.
It is understood that the floral-cum-financial show of filial piety is worth RM6,000.
It is not known how long the arrangement took to complete.
It is not known how long it took to create the huge bouquet of flowers. (Source: Facebook)
The Virtue Of Respect And Deference
Netizens commented that the daughter really loves her parents.
Her quality stands out even more in a time and age where a rapidly modernised and urbanising society is changing relationships between both the old and young generations.
They praised her for her filial piety, which has long been a part of the nation’s social fabric.

Filial piety often carries the expectation that younger generations will care for their elders, often financially.
Of course, it’s not to say that older people do not have the resources to take care of themselves.
For her effort, netizens also hope that the daughter will be blessed many folds in return.

At the same time, netizens did not forget to point out that it was a beautiful bouquet.

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Malaysia’s Oldest Living Person Is Allegedly A 122YO Woman In Johor

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Thanks to the automatic voter registration (AVR) that was recently implemented, Malaysia currently holds the unofficial world record for having the oldest living person.

The Malay Mail reported that the oldest living person on record is a woman who’s supposedly living in Paloh, Johor.
Malay Mail did a quick check on the Election Commission’s (SPR) web portal for voter’s eligibility status and found a positive result on the 122-year-old woman who was born on 31 December 1900.
This new information also showed that the AVR system has introduced old unregistered voters who were most likely unable to vote and raised questions on the cleaning up of voter lists without cancelling legitimate registrations.
Paloh incumbent Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali said he was perplexed when he first found out but noted that the data wasn’t fabricated because it was obtained from SPR.
They have not been able to trace the person’s whereabouts because the existing personal records were incomplete.
Despite this, the 37-year-old DAP politician has instructed his party’s polling agent to keep watch if the said person shows up to vote on 12 March.
What do the records say?
So far, the current oldest living person in the world is a Japanese woman named Kane Tanaka, who was born in January 1903 and is now 119 years old.
The Malaysian Book of Records currently officially recognizes Annamah Abukutty from Penang as the oldest living woman in the country at the age of 110.
The oldest living man is Seliman Bandang from Sarawak at the age of 111.
A gathering of centenarians in Paloh
Among Paloh’s 25,831 registered voters, there are a total of 13 centenarians (those above 100 years old).
All 13 centenarians are registered as voters in SPR’s web portal.
Those aged 60 and above comprise 22.8% (5,884) of registered voters in the constituency, where the ageing population is on a gradual rise.
The implementation of Undi19 only saw an increase of 1,267 new voters between the ages of 18 and 20 in Paloh, a mere 4.9% of the total registered.
Overall, Paloh saw an increase of 4,432 new voters (17% from the 14th general election in 2018).
Those aged above 60 were the dominant voting group in 11 out of 18 district voting centres (PDM), with the highest proportion recorded at 57.1% in one of the PDM.

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‘Ikan Siakap’ Restaurateur To Be Taken To Court

A trader in Langkawi, Kedah who became infamous earlier this month for selling ‘ikan siakap’ (sea bass) for more than RM1,000 will soon face the music.
Kosmo reported that the trader is to be charged under Section 53 (A) of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011, which provides for a fine of up to RM50,000 or a compound of RM25,000 if convicted.

Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, Datuk Rosol Wahid said the traders involved had failed to submit complete business documents required by his ministry within the stipulated period.
He said the traders involved had given good cooperation to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP).
Unfortunately, they failed to fulfill the instructions to send complete and detailed business documents up until November 17.
Previously, the period for sending the detailed documents involved has been extended to enable the trader to correct the error.Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, Datuk Rosol Wahid
The investigation paper has been opened and will be sent to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for further action, said Rosol when met at the Peradong Food Production Park, Manir in Kuala Terengganu today.
Rosol said the action was imposed due to the trader’s failure to maintain and keep records properly.
Where It All Started
It all began when Facebook user Muhamad Faris Zulkarnain shared how a seafood spread – supposedly enjoyed with his family and friends at a local eatery in Langkawi – raked a total bill of RM1,855.20.
READ MORE: Family Paid Almost RM2K For 1 ‘Ikan Siakap’ At Langkawi Floating Restaurant

Later, another Facebook posting surfaced claiming to be a reply from the Sas Rimba floating restaurant.

Not long later, authorities began to investigate the fishy business.
READ MORE: KPDNHEP Investigates Langkawi Floating Restaurant That Charged RM1,196.80 For ‘Ikan Siakap’
KPDNHEP also started conducting checks at restaurants and eateries to prevent price manipulation under Ops Menu.
The operation aims to deter irresponsible traders from manipulating food prices and the weight of food products.

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Asics wonâ€™t let nasi lemak trend die, releases limited edition nasi lemak sneakers

If you thought the nasi lemak trend died a few years ago,
well, guess what?
Itâ€™s still alive and kicking.

Forget the nasi lemak burgers or condoms, now thereâ€™s nasi lemak sneakers.

Credit: Asics Malaysia via Hypebeast

Brought to you by the madlads at Asics Malaysia who refuse to let the nasi lemak trend die, there now exists a sneaker as spicy as sambal yet as cool as sliced cucumber.
Emmys GIF from Emmy GIFs

The ‘GEL-Kayano 5’ sneaker is decked in nasi lemak colours; a bed of white rice dipped in chilli red and streaked with yolk yellow, browned anchovies & nuts as well as the deep green of the cucumber and banana leaf packet.

Credit: Asics Malaysia via Sneaker Freaker

According to menâ€™s fashion site Hypebeast, the Asicsâ€™s ‘Nasi Lemak’ sneaker is cooked up with retail store Hundred% and SneakerLAH, Malaysiaâ€™s biggest sneaker event.
If you got the (sam)bal to put on these spicy kicks and RM599 to spare, take note that you can only get your hands on them at the SneakerLAH 2019 event thatâ€™s happening on 5th & 6th October at Mid Valley Exhibition Centre.

To add to the (spicy) challenge, thereâ€™s only 500 Nasi
Lemak sneakers available.
Better hurry, hungry hypebeasts!
Christmas Shopping GIF from Christmasshopping GIFs

Ps: If youâ€™re hungry for more, check out the Indomie Air Jordans designed by an Indonesian Nike fan HERE.


“It’s Criminal!” Parents Worry That Malaysian School Subjects Are Too Difficult For Children To Learn

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Education is a fundamental human right that provides us with the capacity to progress and opportunities to uplift ourselves from disparity. But what happens when acquiring knowledge becomes too difficult?

That was the question asked by parents who feel that their children’s school curriculum and syllabus was way too advanced for kids to understand or effectively learn from.
Facebook user M Salehin Salleh wondered why the content of his primary one level daughter’s education materials contained stuff he deemed too complicated for children at that age.
Even parents don’t know how to answer, and they have Masters and Degrees.M Salehin Salleh via Facebook
The paediatrician included images of what appears to be a school activity book that contained a set of questions that asked students to calculate the “mass” and “volume” of objects as well as identify shapes.
He ponders what the activity has to do with promoting students’ critical thinking skills (KBAT).
Why? Our kid is only in Standard 1 lahhh. Why are all of you like this? Is this KBAT? Kids don’t even know what mass is.”M Salehin Salleh via Facebook

The father’s anxieties seem to resonate with other parents on the internet who are convinced that some of the stuff being taught to kids at school was unnecessarily hard.
On Twitter, some shared the opinion that the syllabus currently being taught at schools was “criminally difficult” and may work to discourage students instead of motivating them to learn.
“A syllabus of this level kills the students’ motivation to learn,” wrote Hasrizal Abdul Jamil, a local educator and blogger.
To put things into context, Hasrizal shared samples of learning materials supposedly used by children of the same level in Finland.
The images he shared showed a schoolbook that teaches kids how to do simple maths, measurements and memorization activities.
I share the mathematics syllabus of a year one student that my own kid took in Finland a few years ago for the attention of friends who want to realise the terrorism that is attacking children in Malaysia.Hasrizal Abdul Jamil via Twitter
Saya kongsikan silibus matematik murid tahun 1 yang anak kami sendiri ikuti di Finland beberapa tahun lalu untuk perhatian sahabat yang ingin menginsafi ‘terrorism’ yang sedang menyerang anak-anak di Malaysia. pic.twitter.com/1nWbWeY0un— Hasrizal Abdul Jamil (@hasrizal2020) February 18, 2022
The conversation triggered other social media users to share more Malaysian educational materials that they believe were burdensome to youths.
“New syllabus for year six has this topic,” shared one commenter to which another replied, “So scary, I only learned about assets and liabilities during my diploma.”
takutnyaaa, saya yg diploma baru belajar asset& liabilities ni😭😭😭— 蜜糖 (@huhunnyyy) February 19, 2022
“This year five maths book teaches about financial literacy. Is it not too early? I mean honestly, most year five students just need to know how to shop in the store. Why do they need to know about investments and benefits at their level? Is Malaysia eager to make our children economists?” asked one commenter.
Ini pula bab celik wang dlm buku maths thn 5. Is it not too early? IMHO, most pelajar thn 5 hanya perlu tahu bagaimana untuk membeli di kedai. Kenapa mereka perlu tahu tentang pelaburan & faedah utk tahap mereka? Adakah Msia tak sabar utk menjadikan anak2 kita sbg pakar ekonomi? pic.twitter.com/5b96hipmdO— Amni (@Amni_lemon) February 19, 2022
Meanwhile, others conveyed the opinion that we must take another look at Malaysia’s education system.
Cognitive overload which would burden students’ comprehension & leads to a domino effect towards other disciplines of intelligence, this is what we should avoid the most. https://t.co/FoHc0J77VY— eliana (@AliahAlmond) February 19, 2022
This is more like an issue of ineffective teaching that doesn’t correspond to the new syllabus. Curating a brand new syllabus requires a whole other form of training for the teachers. You can’t expect kids to grasp abstract concepts when they’ve only learned basic arithmetic. https://t.co/wraQPF9o9P— pumpy (@adjxsnm) February 20, 2022
However, there are some who think that people should be more open to changes to the education system and believe that there should be trust that kids these days are smart enough to understand what’s being taught to them.
“Bro, if you don’t understand, you can ask the teacher. One more thing, we should not underestimate the ability of our children. When we see a difficult question, we feel that our kids cannot answer. Insyaallah. Open your chest and ask the teacher who taught them the subject. Our education system is evolving,” noted one commenter.
( Credit: M Salehin Salleh via Facebook)

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All the times Malaysians came together for Ramadan this year

Every year, we are again reminded of how incredible everyday Malaysians are. Our generosity and neighborliness for total strangers is what makes Malaysia so wonderful to live in.
With just a few days left to Raya, we’ve compiled the best of this year’s berbuka-puasa-together stories, to remind everyone that unity is our strength.

Mohd Fuzaimie Faizan shared a story of how a Chinese uncle waited until the appropriate time to buka puasa before eating. Mohd Fuzaimie was touched by his respectful gesture to wait and eat together.

Thank you Ahwei! I wish you nothing but an abundance of peace & prosperity. Those who reside around Batu Pahat, rate him 5 stars if you get him! He can negotiate & talk very well, i tell ya 😂 ((reuploading this one bcs some said the former tweet wasn’t proper)) pic.twitter.com/Ix1fBb8S1V
â€” Nas (@aqlhsyzwna) May 28, 2019

Nas was on her way home in the evening via Grab when they passed by a bazaar.
They stopped and shopped for food, which was all paid for by the Grab driver, Wong Zhen Wei. Nas even invited him back to her house to buka puasa together as thanks, but he declined.

via GIPHY

Norbaidura Shafie had invited two postmen into her house to buka puasa together. The two were working overtime.
It was a generous gesture for the tired postmen after delivering Raya parcels all day!

Lim Peng Chik, parenting right.Picture credit: New Straits Times

The New Straits Times reported that the adoptive parent of 4 Malay children helps them through the month of Ramadan. Lim Peng Chik had adopted 2 boys aged 5 and 8 and two 15-year-old girls.
His generosity started when he lived next to a poor Malay family. He would routinely buy them food and provide for them financially, saying that he lived alone and had no problem providing for them.

Brave firemen had to break fast and perform their prayers at a secluded roadside when a fire broke out.
Malaysians truly embodied the spirit of Ramadan this year with their kindness and generosity for each other. Selamat Hari Raya, everyone!
If you have other heart-warming stories, please drop us a message via PM on our Facebook page so we can update this post!


Total Lockdown: Here’s 10 Local e-Grocers on Lazada with Fast 24-to-48-Hour Deliveries

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Every lockdown announcement is inevitably followed by worry. But, savvy folks know that they can get groceries and essentials from Lazada while staying safe at home.

Ahead of the full lockdown, Lazada has empowered its local grocers with 24-to-48-hour delivery services, while also offering Malaysians millions of Free Shipping vouchers to be collected every day at 12AM for daily essentials on the Shop From Home page.
“During this crucial time, we are prioritising the delivery fulfilment of essential items, such as fresh produce, face masks, hand sanitisers, household goods, baby supplies, and pet supplies.
“Homebound Malaysians can rest easy knowing that we will ensure their groceries are delivered fast and on time throughout the nationwide total lockdown. We urge the local community to make use of the daily Free Shipping vouchers provided to shop safely from home and help curb the spread of COVID-19,” said Olivier Petra, Chief Logistics Officer, Lazada Malaysia.
10 local-favourite e-grocers on Lazada:
1. Cameron Farmers

Cameron Farmers offers farm-to-table fresh vegetable, and fruits. It has all you need for a well balanced diet and has a 95% positive seller rating.
2. Fully Online Seafood

Looking for  fresh fish and seafood? Fully Online Seafood has you fully covered.  Freshly-caught salmon, cod, shellfish, and more. They have it all and a 97% positive seller rating too.
3. Panjang Kee Chicken Wholesaler

Everyone knows the tastiest chicken and eggs are happy chicken and eggs. Panjang Kee Chicken Wholesaler offers free-range poultry and eggs. With a 99% positive seller rating, it looks like its not only the chickens that are happy.
4. Sejadi

Do not underestimate the convenience, freshness, and taste of vacuum-packed meat and ready-to-eat meals. During these tough times, they keep very well too. Sejadi has 96% positive seller rating, so you know it’s good.
5. Grocer E-Mart

Looking for fresh vegetables, meats, fruits, and other ingredients for that masterpiece you are cooking up today? Try Grocer E-Mart. It has a 88% positive seller rating.
6. GST FINE FOODS SDN BHD

Frozen means they were preserved fresh and they keep well too. For your frozen needs such as beef, lamb, mutton, and more, let your patronage go to GST FINE FOODS SDN BHD. On top of that they have a 96% positive seller rating.
7. FRUIT.CO

For a well balanced diet, you need fruits. For that, there is FRUIT.CO. Just like it says in the name, they sell fruits with a 95% positive seller rating.
8. CHOP TONG GUAN (CTG)

With a 95% positive seller rating, CHOP TONG GUAN (CTG) offers  apples, oranges, berries, and more fruits.
9. ifresh

If you want it healthy and fresh, there is ifresh. A convenience store that offers condiments, sauces, jam, spices, snacks and more. They also have a 95% positive seller rating.
10. Kawan Food Official Store

Frozen foods can be your best friend when hunger strikes. Pick from a selection of frozen wraps, mantou, pau, bread, and more from Kawan Food Official Store. It has a 98% positive seller rating that you can trust.
BONUS TIP
11. LazMall Grocery Store (Standard Delivery)

Spoiled for choice? Here is a bonus tip. Give LazMall Grocery Store a try for all you household supplies, tissue paper, cleaning products, and more.
Let’s all keep calm and just #ShopFromHomeLocal during this lockdown. Help spread the word to loved ones and friends. Lazada is also calling out to all small businesses to sign up as a new seller now on Lazada with zero set-up cost via this link (http://lzd.co/SellOnLazadaMY) by making use of the ongoing Lazada Pintar Niaga MSME stimulus package.

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Parliament Agrees To Abolish Mandatory Death Penalty

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In what is a historical move, the Parliament, via a voice vote today agreed to abolish the mandatory death penalty.

If the Bill passes the Senate later and is given royal assent, the death penalty will become an option, up to the judges’ discretion.
The bill was passed after its third reading at the Dewan Rakyat today, as reported by the Malay Mail.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) Ramkarpal Singh gave the winding-up speech on the Bill afterwhich the MPs voted.
READ MORE: Has The Death Penalty In Malaysia Been Abolished? Short Answer Is No, But Here’s What We Know So Far

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“Come Follow Me, I’ll Give You Candy” A 9YO Ipoh Girl Almost Abducted In Broad Daylight In Front Of Her School

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Most of us would still remember our parents’ advice not to entertain approaching strangers who offer candy or a ride when we are still kids.

This appears to be a solid piece of advice as the tactic were still used today to allure unsuspecting children by child kidnappers.
Recently, a Facebook user by the name of ‘Mohd Azreen Irman Ali’ shared that her daughter had almost become a kidnap victim in front of her school in broad daylight.
The incident was detailed on the Jabatan Netizen Negara Facebook page which stated that the kidnapping attempt had occurred last Friday (23 September) in front of SK Pengkalan, Taman Pinji Mewah in Ipoh, Perak.

It all began when the 9-year-old schoolgirl was waiting with her friend to enter her school at about 1.05pm last Friday.
As her schooling session started at 2pm, she and her peers had to wait outside the school gate until the morning school session ended.
While waiting outside the school gate, suddenly a white van with dark tinted glasses came about and out came a male Malay who approached the girl and her friend, saying “come follow me for a ride, I’ll give you candy”.
When the girl refuses the offer, the suspect then suddenly grabs her right arm. The girl then began to scream and went on to bite the suspect’s hand which caused him to flee the scene.
The scream alerted the school security guard who rushed out from the compound, but the suspect and the van had already gone.
The girl’s parents were told of the incident by the girl herself when she got back from school.
A police report had been made and the school was also asked to allow schoolchildren in the evening session to wait inside the school compound for their session to start in the future to prevent these incidents from happening again.
Regarding the van used during the kidnap attempt, it was described as a long white van without any logo on its body and CCTV footage confirmed that the plate number is VJ 5656.

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[Watch] Escalator At Ampang Park LRT Catches Fire, No One Injured

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Passersby at Jalan Ampang were shocked when an escalator connecting Intermark Mall and Ampang Park LRT caught fire today.

Fortunately, there were no casualties or injuries reported in the early morning incident which was caught on a video and has since gone viral on social media.
The fire and rescue department is conducting further investigations into the cause of the inferno.
Kebakaran eskalator di stesen LRT Ampang Park kira kira jam 5 pagi tadi merebak sehingga siling bumbung.Tidak melibatkan mangsa.Punca kebakaran masih dalam siasatan.Video : Bomba pic.twitter.com/oz0X1LNrie— Mohd Redzuan Abdul Manap (@redzuanNewsMPB) March 7, 2022
The Question Then Arises
The incident, which happened at 5 am, sparked speculation among netizens.
Describing it as tragic, netizens said it could be arson. They could not believe that the escalator would catch fire on its own.

The aftermath of the fire was also shared by netizens as they find their daily routine ‘rerouted’.
  @suhaila_sdn Escalator terbakar LRT Putra Ampang Park #fyp #fypmalaysia #ampangpark #lrtampangpark #intermark #kualalumpur  #ajl #ajl36 ♬ original sound  – manjalara__
Escalator fires had been few and far in between.
In July 2019, the escalator at Genting Highlands also caught fire. No one was injured.
Escalator in Genting Highlands catches fire, no one injured#gentinghighlandshttps://t.co/LSNoYUisRu pic.twitter.com/oBpDLjoqhx— BERNAMA (@bernamadotcom) July 1, 2019

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Get Ready To EAT This 65th Merdeka Day – RM6.50 Is The Magic Number

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Our Independence day and Malaysia day are just around the corner. So what does that mean? Sales and discounts!

This 65th Merdeka Day, a lot of the F&B are celebrating the number with a RM6.50 meal or RM6.50 discount.
Check the promo and discounts here:
1. McDonald’s
McDonald’s bringing back their Drive-Thru Carnival this Merdeka Day. In this carnival, they have a few different activities for you to get multiple free stuff (but you have to line up at their Drive-Thru!).
1. Get a free Nasi Lemak McD voucher (25-28 August)– Drive Thru with a red/blue/yellow/white car and shout “Saya Anak Malaysia” at the counter to win a Free Nasi Lemak McD voucher
2. Get a free Nasi Lemak McD voucher & Milo (31 August)– Just shout “Merdeka” proudly three times at the Drive-Thru to get a voucher and free Milo
3. Get a Nasi Lemak McD voucher (15 – 18 September)– Just shout “Saya Anak Malaysia” at your nearest Drive-Thru and get the Nasi Lemak voucher

2. KFC
KFC is offering discounts this Merdeka day. You can get 1 KFC chicken with a side only for RM6.50. Choose the Whipped Potato, Colonel Rice or Jalapeno Sauce. The offer stands till the 30th of August only.

3. Marrybrown
Marrybrown is also offering a RM6.50 meal on the 31st of August. Customers can get their hands on Marrybrown’s Nasi Lemak which normally costs RM10.70.

4. Burger King
Get a Chick’N Crisp or a Whopper Jr burger with a medium coke this 31st August only on Burger King. Did we tell you that it’s RM6.50 only for a meal?
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Burger King Malaysia (@burgerking_malaysia)
5. Texas Chicken
Texas Chicken is also joining the RM6.50 fest! Get their Classic Burger (with three chicken patties!) and Zero Calorie Coke at only RM6.50 on the 31st of August.

6. Subway
Who doesn’t want a free cookie? And subway cookies are some of the best!
Buy them in bulk (6 pieces) for only RM10! The promotion lasts from 24 August to 6 September.
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Subway Malaysia (@subway_my)
7. Secret Recipe
Another 65th celebration but this time, it’s only valid for the second purchase.
On the 31st of August from 12 pm to 5 pm, enjoy a second slice of cake at RM6.50 only at Secret Recipe.

8. US Pizza
What if you don’t want burgers or Nasi Lemak? You can opt for pizza too!
US pizza is offering 50% off ALL PIZZAS this Merdeka and Malaysia day when you order through their app. The promotion is valid from 16 August till 30 September.

9. Tealive
What if you need coffee this patriotic month? Don’t worry, Tealive’s got your back. Enjoy the 31% discount on their signature coffee until the 31st of August.

10. Dunkin Donuts
Craving for different types of doughnuts? Get them at a discounted price at Dunkin Donuts till the 31st of August!
Get a RM6.50 discount off when you buy the Combo B that has 9 donuts and two Iced Teh Tarik.

11. 7-Eleven
7-Eleven is offering a discount on their popular slushie drink! From 24th August till  18th September, enjoy a 220z Slurpee (with any flavour) at only RM2!

12. Santan
But what if you’re craving a patriotic kinda ice cream? Well, get a taste of Nasi Lemak in the form of ice cream!
Santan is offering a discount on their Nasi Lemak and Gula Melaka boba ice cream for only RM4.50 (normal price RM8.80).

Do keep in mind that these promotions are valid through certain days only like on the 31st of August itself or the date before that. Some are also valid till Malaysia Day on the 16th of September.
Anyhow, go get your Merdeka spirits on and Happy upcoming Merdeka!

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Sale Of Pufferfish With Poisonous Toxins Prohibited In Malaysia, Says Health DG

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Pufferfish, which contain a dangerous neurotoxin tetrodotoxin, is not allowed to be sold in Malaysia, said health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

The Malay Mail reported that the sale of the pufferfish is controlled under the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority Act 1972 and that Section 13 of the Food Act 1983 prohibits the sale of any food that has any poisonous substances, harmful or otherwise injurious to health.
The pufferfish is a delicacy in Japan, but only experienced and highly trained chefs are allowed to prepare it to be served and eaten. Malaysia does not have that expertise and regulation.
This news comes in the wake of reports that an elderly woman in Johor died of poisoning last Saturday (25 March) after eating cooked pufferfish with her husband.
READ MORE: Johor Couple’s Pufferfish Purchase Via Facebook Takes Deadly Turn
Her husband is still receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit. According to The Star, the couple’s daughter, Ng Ai Lee, 51, said her father is still in a coma and the hospital is trying to treat the infections in his body.
The doctor has advised the family to prepare for the worst because he might not be the same if he managed to pull through.
Ng said her parents didn’t know they were eating a poisonous pufferfish, known as the “drumstick fish” in Chinese.
Her father allegedly bought the fish from a fishmonger they’d known for years, so he didn’t think twice about buying it.
He would not have knowingly bought something so deadly to eat and put their lives in danger.Ng Ai Lee told The Star
Image: TRP File
Dr Hisham said data from the Disease Control Division of the Ministry of Health (KKM) showed that 58 pufferfish poisoning incidents involving 18 deaths were reported in Malaysia between 1985 and March 2023.
KKM’s Food Safety and Quality Division (FSQD) had also produced educational materials to increase awareness of the dangerous toxins in puffer fish.
Hisham added that an FQSD survey in 2019 showed that 86% of the respondents comprised of the public, fishmongers, fishermen, and cooks, had sufficient knowledge of the dangers of consuming puffer fish.
Do we have pufferfish in Malaysian waters?
According to the Fisheries Department, the commonly caught pufferfish are from the Lagocephalusia species which are banana pufferfish, including Lagocephalus wheeleri, Lagocephalus spadiceus, and Lagocephalus lunaris (this green pufferfish is noted for its bright yellow tail).
The Department added that the total landing of pufferfish in Malaysia in 2020 was around 1,337 tonnes, with the highest landing in Perak (804 tonnes), followed by Sarawak (228 tonnes) and Sabah (192 tonnes).
University Malaysia Terengganu vice-chancellor Mazlan Abd Ghaffar said not all pufferfish species are poisonous such as the thorny or spiny pufferfish, which is widely sold in Sabah and the Philippines market, The Star reported.
In Sarawak, there’s a festival in Betong that’s dedicated to the fish called “Pesta Ikan Buntal.”
Meanwhile, in Sabah, there’s a dish called “sagol” or”sinagol” that’s popular among the Bajau and Suluk ethnicities, which commonly consists of pufferfish meat and liver cooked in spices and turmeric.
However, it’s still safer not to eat pufferfish, especially for the untrained eye.
Can tetrodotoxin be destroyed by cooking?
Tetrodotoxin can’t be destroyed by high heat. When consumed, the toxin will attack the nerves and can lead to death.
Academy of Sciences Malaysia fellow Prof Mustafa Ali said tetrodotoxin is commonly found in the liver, ovaries, skin, and muscles of the pufferfish.
The toxin acts as a sodium blocker and inhibits minerals’ mobility through the cell membrane, which then leads to muscle paralysis.

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Say goodbye to Malaysia’s Sumatran rhinos

Malaysiaâ€™s efforts to save the Sumatran rhino are coming to a bitter end.

via GIPHY
According to conservationist, the health of the last surviving male Sumatran rhino â€“ affectionately known as â€œElder Tamâ€ â€“ is fast deteriorating due has died as reported by The Star.
The animal was thought to be in his mid-20s when he was rescued from a palm oil plantation in Kertam, Sabah, back in 2008 and had since lived under constant monitoring at the Tabin Nature Reserve.
(Picture credit: AsiaNews.it)
Previous efforts to establish a captive breeding program for the enigmatic creature was tarnished after it was identified that the last two remaining female member of his species currently residing in the country, Puntung, captured back in 2011 and Iman, captured in 2014, were unable to breed due to health complications.
Experts have also noted that these majestic and shy creatures
are most likely to be extinct in the wild.

via GIPHY
Sabah state government are now pushing for more conservation
efforts.
Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk
Christina Liew was quoted saying that with the failure to prevent the Sumatran rhino
from going extinct, the government will increase efforts to include all
parties, government or otherwise to band together and protect the remaining
wildlife population in the country.
Malaysia is known as one of the 12 mega-diversity countries with 14% of our current mammal cousins, listed under the endangered spiciest list by the World Conservation Union (IUCN).
Among the animals listed are; the Malayan tiger, tapir, Borneo pigmy elephant, and others.


Is Singapore’s Irvins Salted Egg Just As Good On Noodles? [Review]

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If you’re not eating instant noodles while travelling, then are you really touristing?

While exploring the streets of Singapore, I chanced upon a truly Singaporean cup noodles that I couldn’t resist: the Irvins Salted Egg flavour noodles, for around S$3 (approximately RM9).
Irvin’s Salted Egg flavour cup noodles is a collaboration with Japanese instant noodle manufacturer Nissin.(Credit: Anne Dorall/TRP)
Irvins is best known for their salted egg fish skin chips which have gained a cult following due to its rich eggy flavour. In fact, friends will likely ask you to buy them bags of Irvins if you travel to Singapore!
The instant noodles boast a ‘dangerously addictive’ flavour with mee pok noodles, a kind of broad flat noodles that is more commonly found in Singapore and Johor.
These are all my favourite things, so naturally I had to try it out.
The Taste Test
The Irvins Salted Egg cup noodles come with the usual amount of seasonings, plus a relatively big pack of salted egg flavoured powder.
The noodles come with flavoured oil, salted egg seasoning powder, salted egg garnish, and nissin garnish.(Credit: Anne Dorall/TRP)
Be sure to keep an eye on the timer as the mee pok is best when al dente and still springy.
While stirring the seasoning and noodles together, it smells truly delightful with rich salted egg aroma, like a promise of good things to come.
Upon first bite, it seems to hit all the right spots: like a rich, buttery noodle with a balanced salted egg flavour.
Give it a generous (and vigorous) stir before the noodles go cold.(Credit: Anne Dorall/TRP)
After a while, it becomes clear that it is an imitation of real rich and creamy salted egg sauce. Of course, salted egg powder can never replace the delight that is real fresh salted egg sauce.
In addition to the notes of salted egg, there is an oddly endearing hint of smokiness with a light hit of chili.
The noodles, however, were absolutely great for carrying the sauce on its broad surfaces, ensuring that each bite is flavourful.
The Verdict
This is a really good cup noodle if you are not expecting the crazy rich eggy flavour that is associated with Irvins salted egg fish skin chips.
I would actually say that the flavour is balanced just right for a portion of noodles, as I personally often find Irvins chips to quickly get jelak. However, I could finish the portion of noodles nicely without feeling bloated.
In terms of spiciness, it’s rather tame for Malaysians with barely any heat, so you could likely share this with kids or people who aren’t into spicy food.
It’s quite delicious, and definitely added a bit of fun as a late night snack, especially if you’re touristing in Singapore after so long.
It’s an enjoyable cup noodle and definitely worth the try.(Credit: Anne Dorall/TRP)
Right now, you can find this instant noodle being sold for upwards of RM15 on online e-commerce platforms. While curious and keen noodle lovers may jump at the chance to give it a shot, it might be more worth it to try them while in Singapore.

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2 Traders Infected With COVID-19. KL Wholesale Market To Undergo Cleaning Exercise

Pasar Borong Kuala Lumpur or the Kuala Lumpur Wholesale Market will temporarily close after 2 vegetable traders were tested positive of COVID-19.
Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will carry out sanitation work in the market and local authorities have issued a notice to inform the wholesalers’ associations.
The market will be closed from 7.30am to 11pm tomorrow and will resume operations after that.
It has been reported that authorities have started cleaning the stall operated by the 2 traders who were affected.
Wholesalers have been instructed to move their vegetables away from the market so that their produce won’t be damaged by the exercise.
DBKL has also planned to use the first Sunday of every month as the time to clean the wholesale market area.

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Covid-19 Infections Jumped To Highest Number Since 29 March With 1,854 New Cases Today

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Daily Covid-19 infections across the country climbed to 1,854 cases today (9 March), the highest it has been since dipping to 941 cases on 29 March.

(Credit: MOH)
Selangor remains the epicentre of the country’s coronavirus outbreak, leading with 403 recorded infections today and 119,105 total cases.
As of date, Malaysia records a total of 357,607 confirmed cases of Covid-19.
Pecahan kes baharu (1,854) pic.twitter.com/VaBcfLRLpi— KKMalaysia🇲🇾 (@KKMPutrajaya) April 9, 2021

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Bring Home The Starbucks Mooncake Set In A Christy Ng Tote Bag!

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Starbucks is really leaning into crafting lovely gift sets, and this time they have collaborated with local designer Christy Ng to create a delightful mooncake gift set.

The limited-edition mooncake gift set features distinctly-designed mini-tote bags created by Christy Ng and 4 delicious mooncake flavours.
The Starbucks x Christy Ng Exclusive Mooncake Set is quite lovely.(Credit: TRP)
The mooncake flavours come in:
Caramel MacchiatoMatcha AdzukiLotus Salted EggChocolate Hazelnut Praline
It’s a pretty good mix of traditional flavours and Starbucks drink flavours, so there’s bound to be something for everyone. All the filling for this year’s mooncake flavours are all in lava form, meaning the when you cut it open, be prepared for a soft gooey filling!
From top: the Lotus Salted Egg, Chocolate Hazelnut Praline, Caramel Macchiato, Matcha Adzuki.
The mooncakes are well baked, with a chewy base and thick filling, and surprisingly not that sweet. Even those who may find Starbucks drinks too sweet would find the mooncakes to be very decent.
Christy Ng’s exclusive totes
The mini totes, designed by Christy Ng, also comes in two colours: a limited editon Midnight Blue colour and Burgundy Red.
Both giftsets come with all four mooncake flavours, although the Midnight Blue edition comes with free name embroidery by Christy Ng.
The Midnight Blue colour is limited edition.(Credit: Starbucks)
They also have four tumbler and bottle designs specially for the Mid-Autumn Festival, featuring adorable bunnies gazing at the stars and moon.
The Starbucks x Christy Ng Exclusive Mooncake Set is priced at RM138 for the Burgundy Red and RM150 for the Midnight Blue. See the Starbucks website for more details.

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Najib Is Reportedly Undergoing Medical Tests In Hospital

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Astro Awani and The Star reported that Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is serving his 12-year jail sentence, is currently hospitalised and undergoing treatment at Hospital Kuala Lumpur.

According to Malay Mail, an unnamed aide to the convicted former prime minister confirmed the hospitalisation to be recent. However, the reason for admission is undisclosed.
Ya Datuk Seri’s condition is stable and he is currently undergoing all the required medical investigations.The unnamed aide
Najib has been in prison since 23 August when a five-judge panel at the Federal Court upheld his conviction, RM210 million fine and 12-year prison sentence for embezzling RM42 million belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd.
He faces another four criminal trials related to the 1MDB financial scandal, including two that have yet to start.
He has been brought out of prison twice so far to attend two ongoing criminal trials; the first on 25 August for the misappropriation of RM2.28 billion from 1MDB, and the next day for the resumption of his alleged tampering with the auditor-general’s audit report on 1MDB.
Najib is scheduled to return to the High Court tomorrow to continue the main 1MDB trial.

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Young & Healthy Malaysians Only To Get Covid-19 Vaccine By July 2021

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Young and healthy Malaysians would only receive the Covid-19 vaccine by July 2021 because frontliners and senior citizens are first in line to be inoculated.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister and Co-Chairman of the Covid-19 Vaccine Supplies Access Guarantee Special Committee (JKJAV) Khairy Jamaluddin wrote in a statement that the primary goal of the national vaccination program would be to protect high-risk individuals like frontline healthcare and security workers before moving on to the elderly and people with chronic illness.
He explained that healthy adults under the age of 60 can expect to be vaccinated, at the earliest, by the third quarter of the year in order for the country to achieve herd immunity against Covid-19.
READ MORE: Malaysia Not Giving Covid-19 Vaccine To Children, Depending On Herd Immunity Instead
Khairy says that it is important for Malaysia to manage their expectations and be realistic, adding that the country’s vaccination plan would take up to 18 months.
Supply and demand
Elaborating on the country’s vaccination schedule, Khairy said that Malaysia was on track to receive the first batch of Covid-19 vaccines in February and that we are among the first in the Asia Pacific to gain access to it.
The Pfizer (Covid-19 vaccine) that Malaysia has ordered, one million doses will be received in the first quarter (of 2021), 1.7 million doses in the second quarter, 5.8 million doses in the third quarter and 4.3 million doses in the fourth quarter. This is the same as other vaccines produced by other companies that have been ordered. This is the reality when demand (for the vaccine) exceeds manufacturing and production capacity.Khairy Jamaludin
Khairy also explained that Malaysia may update our vaccine orders in the future to ensure that all the purchased vaccines are safe, effective and beneficial to the country’s finances.
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Perkembangan Semasa Perolehan Vaksin