Boboiboy Movie 2 Nominated For Best Animated Film At Florence Film Festival In Italy

Subscribe to our new Telegram channel for the latest updates on COVID-19 and other issues.

The Malaysian animated film Boboiboy Movie 2 (BBBM2) has been nominated as a finalist for the prestigious Florence Film Awards!
The happy news was announced on Boboiboy Facebook page on Tuesday (16 June).

For the uninitiated, the Florence Film Awards is a film festival held in Tuscany, Italy once a month. The objective of the festival is to promote films and support the careers of talented filmmakers.
In case you missed out and haven’t watched it yet, BBBM2 is a story about a teenage boy with superpowers who fights alongside his friends to protect Earth from villain Retak’ka who wants to take over Boboiboy’s elemental power to conquer the galaxy.
The film was released in cinemas in August 2019, captivated 2.5 million viewers and collected RM30 million, thus making it amongst the best-selling films in Malaysian history.
Directed by Nizam Abdul Razak and produced by Monsta Studio (formerly known as Animonsta Studio), BBBM2 will be competing in the film festival in Italy together with the other finalists for the Best Animated Film award for the month of June.
This amazing achievement isn’t BBBM2’s only one though, as the film was also nominated as a finalist at the New York Animation Film Awards 2020 for Best Animation 3D Film recently as well.
         View this post on Instagram           Tahniah!🎉 BoBoiBoy Movie 2 telah tercalon untuk anugerah BEST ANIMATION 3D FILM di New York❗⚡ – – – Congratulations!🎉 BoBoiBoy Movie has been selected as one of the finalist in New York Animation Film Awards 2020❗⚡ . . #BoBoiBoy #BoBoiBoyMovie2 #Awards #Monsta2020 || http://nyafa.com/#about A post shared by  Monsta (@monsta.official) on Jun 15, 2020 at 8:13pm PDT
BBBM2 made an international achievement recently too after winning the Best Poster and Best Trailer categories at the Laurus Film Festival in Russia this year.
         View this post on Instagram           Tahniah! BoBoiBoy Movie 2 telah memenangi DUA ANUGERAH dari Laurus Film Festival, Rusia❗⚡ – – – Congratulations! BoBoiBoy Movie 2 WON TWO AWARDS from Laurus Film Festival, Russia❗⚡ . Visit:👉 laurusfilmfestival.ru/winners/ . . #BoBoiBoy #BoBoiBoyMovie2 #Awards #Monsta2020 A post shared by  Monsta (@monsta.official) on Jun 11, 2020 at 9:17pm PDT
Best of luck to the BBBM2 team! May your hard work continue to be recognised!

For more updates on Covid-19, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!


Lotus’s Recalls ‘Value Chicken Nugget’ After Customer Finds A Fly Inside

Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest stories and updates.

Chicken nuggets sold in Lotus’s Malaysia have been urgently recalled amid concerns over food safety and quality.

On Friday, Lotus’s Malaysia posted an alert on its Facebook page relating to chicken nuggets sold under its own brand, Value Chicken Nuggets.
Shoppers are urged to avoid eating the chicken nuggets and instead return them for a full refund.
They will be able to get a refund for the products – even without a receipt – by returning them to the store.
Lotus’s Malaysia assured that products under its own brand are safe and subject to quality assurance and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) food safety system.

Lotus’s Customers React
The announcement drew a flurry of responses from consumers.
Netizens took Lotus’s to task for the fiasco, with some saying that the products used to be much better under Tesco Malaysia.
Lotus’s is a retail chain that originated in Thailand by CP Group and now has expanded to Malaysia through the acquisition of Tesco Malaysia since December 2020.
READ MORE: Lotus’s Officially Takes Over Tesco Stores Today, All You Need To Know

The chicken nuggets had came under the limelight following a viral posting by a consumer.
In the video, the consumer alleaged that the chicken nugget even contained a dead fly.

Despite the criticisms, the chicken nugget under Lotus’s own brand is said to be quite popular among consumers due to its tastiness.
According to some consumers, the product is in high demand and often sold out.
  @ciklyngebu CHICKEN NUGGET GOLDEN CRUMB BY #lotus #lotusmalaysia #nugget #chickennugget #myfoodie #food #viral #tiktokviral #fyp #tiktokshare #foryou #foryoupage #followme #tesco #chickennuggetgoldencrumb ♬ suara asli  – Netty

Share your thoughts with us via TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


Some Klang Valley Water Cuts (Again) Due To Pollution Last Night

Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest stories and updates.

[UPDATE] Air Selangor has told NST that the water supply will be coming back from 3pm onwards.

Based on the report, it will be restored in stages with the complete recovery expected to happen by midnight.

If you’re living in Klang Valley and facing water disruptions today, that’s probably due to the recent pollution that affected the raw water supply in Sungai Selangor last night.
Both the water treatment plants in Rantau Panjang and Sungai Selangor had to close down in the late hours in the evening due to the pollution but both were operational again by 5 am.
This is after both plants recorded a reading of 0 TON.
Air Selangor said Rantau Panjang had to shut down at 11:30 PM while operations in Sungai Selangor Water Treatment Plants 1, 2 and 3 was halted at 1:00 AM.
The state’s water supplier also said that the disruption affects 1,274 areas in Kuala Lumpur, Petaling, Klang, Shah Alam, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Selangor, Gombak and Kuala Langat.
*Senarai terkini mengikut wilayah: Kuala Lumpur, Petaling, Klang, Shah Alam, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Selangor, Gombak dan Kuala Langat.— Air Selangor (@air_selangor) December 8, 2020

Share your thoughts with us on TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


Preschools & Kindergartens To Start In July. Here’s What You Need To Know

Subscribe to our new Telegram channel for the latest stories and updates.

With preschools, kindergartens, tadikas, and tabikas scheduled to reopen beginning July 1 comes a set of Covid-19 guidelines to ensure that a safe and healthy environment is maintained to allow for education to take place.
Here’s what you need to know regarding the official government standard operating procedures (SOPs);
Students are no longer required to bring along their equipment, backpack, and lunch boxes to school unless it’s allowed by school administrators.Students are encouraged to wear face masks.Parents are strictly prohibited from entering school premises and must be punctual at sending and picking up their kids, on time.No outsiders are to be allowed access during learning activities.Mandatory temperature checks for students attending classes; students with temperatures of 37.5⁰C and above are to be isolated or immediately sent home.Schools must ensure that there is a separate room available to be used to isolate sick students before parents can take them home.All textile materials such as carpets, rugs, table cloths are strictly prohibited and must be removed from the classroom setting.Outdoor school facilities are off-limits and all activities are to be done within the classroom setting.School trips, educational tours, and visits are banned.Schools would need to maintain a clean and hygienic learning environment by making sure that classrooms and equipment are cleaned and sanitized before and after each class session.Students must be made to maintain their hygiene; made to wash their hands before and after each activity.Social distancing must be maintained; students are to sit separately with no physical contact with other students during all school activities or share the same stationery and equipment, including during recess, where students are not allowed to share their meals and must be provided with their own separate eating utensils that are cleaned before and after every meal.Teachers and their assistance are to brief parents and educate students on the importance of hygiene and social distancing.
(Tanaphong Toochinda/Unsplash)
Despite the strict set of guidelines, there are those who still think that it is too early for the government to be allowing preschools and kindergartens to reopen.
The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) feels that schools across the country are unprepared and lack facilities, equipment, manpower as well as funding to abide by government SOP.
However, the Education Ministry (MOE) maintains its stance on the reopening due to the fact that working parents simply need to send their kids to school.
MOE explained that the government was fully prepared for any eventualities and if any problems should arise, they would be dealt with accordingly.

Express your thoughts on TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Source:
NUTP urges govt to postpone opening up pre-schools
Sesi prasekolah tetap diteruskan - Dr Mah
Ministry of Education Have Finalised Guidelines For Preschools To Reopen
Preschools And Kindergartens Can Operate Fully Starting July


Malaysia’s Unemployment Rate Declined On April From March, Says DOSM

Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest stories and updates.

Malaysia’s unemployment rate has continued to decline in April 2021, lessening by 0.1 percentage point to 4.6% compared to March which was at 4.7%, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).

DOSM said in their Key Statistics of Labour Force in Malaysia, April 2021 report that the number of unemployed workers has reduced in April by 10,500 to 742,700 compared to the previous month which was 753,200.
In April, the number of employed persons saw an increasing trend with 15.35 million persons employed. In March, the number of employed persons was 15.33 million
The employment-to-population ratio which indicates the ability of an economy to create employment remained unchanged at 65.4% in April 2021.Department of Statistics Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin
From the viewpoint of economic sector, DOSM said the services industry had an increase in employment numbers and they were largely in:
Wholesale & retail tradeFood and beverages servicesEducation Human health & social work activities
Similar trends were also observed in manufacturing and construction sectors, but DOSM said that both agriculture and mining & quarrying sectors continued to show a decline.
Any kind of employment is good employment
77.9% of employed persons are employees, while the remainder 22.1% reported to be own-account or self-employed.
In April, employees increased by 17,200, taking the number to 11.96 million compared to 11.95 million in March.
Meanwhile, more people are also dabbling in entrepreneurship, with own-account or self-employed workers registered an addition of 12,300 persons to record 2.49 million in April. In March 2021, the number was at 2.48 million.
Credit: Malay Mail
May a challenging month for labour market
Although April is looking good, DOSM said that May witnessed the public health crisis situation in Malaysia becoming more challenging with the rise in daily Covid-19 cases, resulting in the implementation of Movement Control Order (3.0) nationwide until 31 May 2021.
During this phase, the department added, most of economic sectors were allowed to operate, although employers had to adopt work from home policies with not more than 30% of management-level staff in the premises in addition to closures of all educational institutions while social events, sports activities, games and recreation were prohibited.
Inter-states and inter-district travels were also restricted with certain exceptions. This scenario signalled some challenges to the labour market in May especially to the new entrants and small business operators. Department of Statistics Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin
The department foresees a challenging situation for the labour market with the escalating number of Covid-19 cases and the sharp increase in daily cases towards the end of May 2021, resulted in the implementation of the total lockdown with the closure of all economic and social sectors except for essential economic and service sectors.
Although it might look gloomy, DOSM said that the government has been implementing various initiatives such as PEMERKASA and vaccine rollout will assist affected groups as well as help to restore the labour market condition and the public health situation in Malaysia in the months ahead.
READ MORE: [JUST IN] Prime Minister Announces RM40 Billion PEMERKASA Plus Plan
Credit: Malay Mail

Share your thoughts with us on TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


Melosaga Malaysia – Kpop Stars Zico & Crush Are Coming To MIECC This January

Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest stories and updates.

Malaysian K-Pop lovers, boy, have we got news for you.

There’s a K-Pop concert coming to Malaysia this January! Not only that but they have two other main events filled with fun shows and activities.
Melosaga Malaysia Street Dance and Music Festival
Melosaga is Malaysia’s largest street dance and music festival happening this 13 – 15 January at the Mines International Exhibition & Convention Centre (MIECC), Kuala Lumpur.
Spanning over three days, Melosaga has three events which include Escapism; the concert, Battle Saga; international and local dance competition and K-Dimension; K-Culture Carnival with over 100 booths.
Escapism
Happening on 14 January, Escapism is a street music festival (concert) that’ll feature popular K-Pop talents like Zico, Crush, and also Malaysian talents like Dolla, Luqman Podolski and more.
Here is the full lineup of artists and groups performing on the day from 6 pm to 11 pm.
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by MELOSAGA (@melosaga_official)
Get your tickets for Escapism here. They start from RM259 to RM559. Early bird discounts (10% off) last from 8 – 11 December.
Battle Saga
Battle Saga is a mix of local and international dance competitions on 15 January which includes RF Jam Malaysia Qualifier Round and SDACA Championship.
For the former, winners from the 4v4 Breaking and 3v3 All-Style will win sponsored trip to RF Jam 2023 in Vietnam. For the latter, international and national all-star dancers will compete to become the champion of Battle Saga.
K-Dimension
K-Dimension, a Korean pop music carnival with more than 100 booths and various activities is happening from 13 to 15 January.
Among the main highlights are the YG audition, K-Dimension Dance Cover Championship, The Phaze International 2023 and YGX Dance Artist Workshop.
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by MELOSAGA (@melosaga_official)
Just to make things clear, YG Entertainment is the agency behind the success of  Blackpink and Big Bang. If you wanna be in the agency, you gotta polish those talents and skills, guys.
Tickets for Melosaga (without Escapism) are only RM35.
For more info, visit Melosaga’s website, Facebook and Instagram.

Share your thoughts with us via TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


Planning To Travel To Malaysia? Your Insurance Coverage Should Cover USD 20,000 At Minimum

Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest stories and updates.

With Malaysia’s borders reopening on 1 April 2022, travellers are finally able to fly in and out of the country. Some SOPs remain largely unchanged but there seems to be a source of uncertainty regarding insurance coverage.

According to Bernama, the government has set a minimum insurance coverage for Covid-19 and travelling of US$20,000 (RM 84,076) for travellers arriving in Malaysia.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said this applies to all foreigners entering Malaysia using short-term social visit passes, no matter their Covid-19 vaccination status.
The insurance protection is needed to cover the quarantine, treatment and hospitalisation costs, in case travellers are infected with Covid-19 during their stay in Malaysia.
Prior to leaving for Malaysia, travellers are required to comply with one of the general protocols which is to declare to MySejahtera that they have purchased the insurance coverage policy.
Insurance coverage exempted for fully-vaccinated travellers
However, the requirement for insurance coverage is exempted for fully-vaccinated travellers.
Those who are exempted are comprised of Singaporean or Malaysian citizens, Singaporean or Malaysian permanent residents, and long-term pass holders in Singapore or Malaysia.
The exemption is applicable to all travellers entering Malaysia from Singapore via air, land and sea.
Although the endemic phase in Malaysia starts on 1 April, the public still needs to observe SOPs such as wearing face masks, washing hands with soap or hand sanitiser, and avoiding mass gatherings.

Share your thoughts with us via TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


SEA’s Flying Tree Snakes Can Help Create Future Flying Robot Snakes

Subscribe to our new Telegram channel for the latest updates on Covid-19 and other issues.

In case you didn’t know, Malaysia has snakes. We have giant pythons, which are pretty well known, but we also have flying Paradise tree snakes (Chrysopelea paradisi) that literally launch themselves into the air. If you live near a forest, this is also how sometimes these snakes end up on your second-storey balcony. Or the roof.
Snakes are not the kind of animal that comes to mind when you think of flying, or gliding. For one thing, snakes have no limbs, wings, or any kind of biological evolution that helps them stay in air.
But they can cover a horizontal distance of about 100 meters in a single glide from the top of a tree. That’s no easy feat!
A new study conducted by a team of researchers at Virginia Tech bring us one step closer to understanding how these snakes actually do it.
The wavy way snakes move is called undulation.(Credit: Freepik)
Their research showed that the snakes’ lateral undulation was crucial for controlled gliding at a much further distance as opposed to merely considered a “behavioral remnant” from being a snake.
Lateral undulation is the smooth movement side-to-side, like the way snakes move when on ground, in water, or up a tree. It turns out that they do the same in the air, and it’s actually one of the key reasons why they can glide such distances in the air.
The research team set out to prove it via their experiments with models of differing geometric shapes. Glides simulated that included undulation performed better than those simulated without.
Gravity ain’t gonna get me down.(Credit: Freepik)
In fact, simulations that didn’t include undulation were prone to plummeting and tumbling to the ground. (Thanks, gravity.)
The authors of the study concluded that this research can improve technology in broadly stable gliding without the need for highly specialized stability and control surfaces (like birds). As such, the potential implementation in robotic flying snakes offer exciting avenues to explore.
So perhaps in the future, you’ll get more than just a snake on your balcony. You might get a robotic flying snake instead.

Share your thoughts with us on TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


Malaysia Is An Aging Nation Declining In Population, Partly Due To Covid-19

Subscribe to our new Telegram channel for the latest updates on Covid-19 and other issues.

The country has seen a steadily aging population as the birthrate declines. Additionally, the percentage of those in the working age have shrunk as well, especially as the nation closed our borders and working-aged foreigners returned to their respective homelands.
What you need to know: The population aged 0-14 years old decreased to 23.3% from 23.5% last year. The working age of 15-64 years old decreased to 69.7% from 69.8% last year. The senior population aged 65 and older have increased to 7% from 6.7% last year.
Why it matters: The combination of a decreasing younger population and an increasing older population shifts our country into an aging one. While not as serious as other countries such as Japan, it can still cause some stress on our working-age population.

The Malaysian Responsibility Struggle: Caring For Aging Parents

Who said what: Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin also mentioned that males outnumber females in the country, with the sex ratio remaining at 106 males to 100 females. He also mentioned that Ethnic Chinese and Indians continued to show a decline in population, from 22.8% in 2019 to 22.6% this year and from 6.9% to 6.8% respectively. The bumiputera population, however, rose to 69.6% this year from 69.3% in 2019.
Read more:M’sia heading into an ageing nation, says chief statistician [The Star]Still More Males Than Females In Malaysia, According To Stats By DOSM [TRP]The Malaysian Responsibility Struggle: Caring For Aging Parents [TRP]

Share your thoughts with us on TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


Are You Planning To Travel To Singapore? Remember To Fill The White Card Online

Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest stories and updates.

Singapore stopped using the physical white cards when the Covid-19 pandemic hit in March 2020.

The Star reported that some Malaysian travellers who didn’t know about the change two years ago were caught by surprise after the borders reopened on 1 April.
They suddenly find themselves scrambling to fill up the online white card at the Johor immigration checkpoints.
Travellers such as 37-year-old Rahimin Lokman were forced to wait up to three hours just to fill the white card.
Not convenient for all
Moving everything online isn’t as accessible to many as most would think. It’s especially difficult for the older crowd who are not well-versed with technology.
Most people report having difficulty getting an internet line to download the application to fill out the form.
Fortunately for Rahimin, the Singapore immigration officer was patient and helped him download and fill out the form.
Another person who struggled to fill out the online form was 38-year-old Wolni Jungin. She had to get help from her teenage nephews to fill the form for her because she wasn’t technologically savvy.
Where to get the online white card?
The white card is known as the SG Arrival Card and it can be downloaded and filled on the MyICA mobile app [Google Play, App Store] or the Singapore Arrival Card e-service website.
Travellers can opt to submit the white cards under Individual Submission or Group Submission.
Those who are entering Singapore by land have to submit an electronic health declaration card online through the same app or website too.
For more information, please check the FAQs on the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) website.

Share your thoughts with us via TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


Foreigner Fined RM800 For Not Wearing Face Mask & Flipping Off Mall Employee

Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest stories and updates.

A Canadian national was fined RM800 by the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate Court after he admitted to refusing to wear a face mask and also making an obscene gesture towards a Village Grocer employee in M-City Mall last week.

Travis Lee Theberg, 44, was charged under Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955 and  Regulation 18 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures Within the Infected Local Areas) Regulations.
According to a Malay Mail report, Theberg was fined RM700 for not wearing a face mask in a closed area and RM100 for showing his middle finger toward the mall employee.
“He had been feeling unwell and had not taken his medication. He told me he didn’t even realise he was not wearing a mask and can’t recall what triggered him,” Theberg’s lawyer, Jayananda Rao was quoted as saying.
Jayananda however said that he didn’t ask Theberg what medication he is taking.
Theberg also admits that he is guilty and wants to make amends for it and promises to do better, added Jayananda.
The Canadaian national who worked in oil and gas industry was employed to work in Malaysia this year.
He surrendered himself for questioning at the Wangsa Maju district police headquarters on 19 April after learning that he was the subject of a viral video a day earlier.
READ MORE: Caucasian Man Who Refused To Wear Mask In Ampang Supermarket Has Been Arrested
Theberg was caught on video refusing to wear a mask and then shouting expletive remarks before flipping off an employee inside the Village Grocer M- City Mall on Saturday, 16 April.
READ MORE: [Watch] Caucasian Man Refused To Wear Mask In Ampang Supermarket, Cursed At Guards

Share your thoughts with us via TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


MYAirline Apologises For Glitchy Ticket Sales, Flight Bookings Are Available Now

Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest stories and updates.

Travellers who were excited to book flights on MYAirline were disappointed to find a glitch in the system when they visited the site last night.

The new low-cost carrier MYAirline had a rocky start when the booking system online failed to show any flights during its first-day sale.
Its CEO Rayner Teo apologised for the issue which was caused by unexpected technical glitches and massive online traffic.

So far, the airlines had managed to restore the booking engine, but travellers can only start booking for their Dec 2022 to January 2023 trips now.
They can book their travel for February to March 2023 starting on Tuesday, 29 November 2022.
As a goodwill gesture, MYAirline is offering an RM10 voucher for the next booking.

Previously, MYAirline announced they received permits to start selling tickets and will fly to three domestic locations from Kuala Lumpur: Langkawi, Kuching, and Kota Kinabalu.
More flights will be gradually added as the company grows. According to Malay Mail, checks on the website foresee MYAirline planning routes to Kota Bharu, Penang, Tawau, and Sibu soon.
READ MORE: MYAirline Gets Approval To Sell Tickets And Undertake Commercial Flights
READ MORE: New Low-Cost MYAirline Is Ready To Fly This December

Share your thoughts with us via TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


Nurflix Is A New Malaysian Made Islamic Entertainment Streaming Service

																		=AZUv3TtsxTa3rUlB5vBVcLtZMyZuHaGz1UmyVyUuO7wpFKQw8tqgLyuG4YggClrFVSju9AjdL_ImorfJSGacmqdeXiL0AbL8r5Du-LAQZFen1cxIuGVX-vQkYPPCz2o-uM-675V5A3aAvzA8fyOK6OcV4Yoe91qDBBylBMS9YgZuYg&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R"]=AZVXwwRsU9X9bCXLRmGRPV0eOcp0JQQTxIUipfRfRRrN7VrWgcaRNCjYAWJNCSitJJqakHN6Z9IRQtRANceyXTgX-udGk_Sz4LNBCPHgR5SADjxQpZAVEOAd9kMj6M7KUEorTU5_itOPtvFEfKQkOGAeyw8dR9u5_WCL-FXESdFInQ&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R"]
Subscribe to our new Telegram channel for the latest Malaysian news and stories

There’s a new streaming service coming to town! Nurflix is the first Malaysian-made Islamic entertainment online streaming service.
The concept of Nurflix is VOD (Video On Demand) as well, just like Netflix and other popular online streaming services. However, what sets it apart is the fact that Nurflix claims to be a fully aqeedah and shariah-compliant media platform.

The platform is established by none other than Brader Shah, a member of Kumpulan Brothers, the popular Malaysian music group known for their English and Malay nasheed songs.
Although the singing group is no longer active, Brader Shah said that he’s wanted an alternative entertainment source that’s religiously compliant for a while now.
According to The Vocket, Nurflix will not only offer Islamic content, but their whole production process will also be supervised by a special committee to ensure all work is conducted in an aqeedah and shariah-compliant manner.
The supervising committee NURPATH will be overseen by popular Malaysian preacher, Habib Ali Zaenal Abidin al Hamid as its Principal Advisor, and headed by Ustaz Raja Ahmad Muhklis.

Interestingly, the platform will have various viewing categories, such as general, women, religious preachers, and children.
The creators said that if there were any viewers who lied about their category and used a woman’s account even if they were not female, Nurflix has done it’s best to bring their audience shariah-compliant entertainment, and their actions would be between the viewer and Allah.

For more stories like this, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!


Sarawakians Arrested Again & Again For Violating MCO

Subscribe to our new Telegram channel for the latest stories and updates.

It appears that some Malaysians still can’t seem to stick with the nationwide Movement Control Order (MCO) even after being busted by the cops.
11 people were detained by police in Sarawak for violating the MCO for the second or subsequent time. Those arrested ranged from a 17-year-old girl, to a man who was in his 50sâ€™.
Police were baffled as to why these individuals still refused to abide by the rules as some had notably been issued several different compounds.
Malaysians caught in violation of the MCO can be found guilty of crimes under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act which carries a minimum fine of up to RM1,000 or jailed up to 6 months.
Though the publicâ€™s compliance to the MCO has been over 90%, the government has moved from simply issuing summons to disobedient citizens, to now taking more stern actions without any compromise by issuing compounds, and arresting anyone venturing outside without proper cause.
Around the country, those who defied the lockdown were already being given punishments for their acts – some fined and imprisoned while others were ordered by the courts to perform community service.

 Share your thoughts with us on TRPâ€™s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


From Watching ‘Free Shows’ To Buying CDs: Malaysians Bid Goodbye To Speedy Videos

Subscribe to our new Telegram channel for the latest updates on Covid-19 and other issues.

After 31 years in business, Speedy Video Distributors Sdn Bhd announced that it will close down all of its outlets nationwide.
The shocking news was delivered via the company Facebook page where it states they are sadly announcing the closure of all their outlets while thanking customers for their support over the years.

https://www.facebook.com/speedyvideo.my/posts/3385754854788039

Word of Speedy Videos’ closure quickly spread online and Malaysians reminisced on fond memories of days poring over the video tapes and CDs in the past.

https://twitter.com/babybinbaik/status/1272032301589778432?s=20

https://twitter.com/yewaun92/status/1272025922573438979?s=20

Sebenarnya aku lagi amaze Speedy masih bertahan sampai sekarang. Thank you for your existence Speedy. Selamat tinggal era 2000. pic.twitter.com/GaJdcTFVGN— Khairul Aqmal (@KhairulAqmal) June 14, 2020

Farewell Speedy, one of the last bastions of how beautiful the good old days were. https://t.co/XBD69C1BGS— Farah Harith (@farahharith) June 14, 2020

Memori dgn Speedy ialah duduk bersila depan kedai speedy sb dia pasang kartun dkt TV byk2 dkt depan kedai https://t.co/OaXUmv0ZXx— Khair Azri (@KhairAzri) June 14, 2020

I’m amazed that Speedy Videos survived this long in the first place…… piracy is one thing, but retail just can’t be business as usual in the age of Spotify and Netflix. https://t.co/oTowFZZNBh— Jason Ng (@ByJasonNg) June 14, 2020

https://twitter.com/QYYZR/status/1272003929367130113?s=20

Wow. End of an era. https://t.co/UdseLNlRHD— Jazli Aziz (@JazliAziz) June 14, 2020

https://twitter.com/kobkobain44/status/1272017975566950401?s=20

We used to love to sit in front of the tv panels of the store while waiting for our parents to finish their shopping. https://t.co/1QCh0joEQM— natasya k. (@mashedpatates) June 14, 2020

According to Malay Mail, Speedy Videos has had the sole rights to home releases from major Hollywood studios such as Paramount Pictures and 20th Century Fox since 1981.
Ten years after their founding, the enormously popular flagship store in Mid Valley Megamall which was sadly shuttered down in September last year.
Goodbye, Speedy. Thank you for the memories.

Share your thoughts with us on TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Source:
After over three decades, Speedy Videos closing all stores in Malaysia permanently


Another sun bear kept caged at home in Kuching for 7 years, but owners allegedly have a license

Whats an OK pet to keep?
Cats, definitely!

via GIPHY
Dogs, awesome!

via GIPHY
But a bear?

(Image Credit: Quick Memes)

Yet ANOTHER sun bear is reportedly the victim of human mistreatment.
The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) was tipped off by concerned citizens of a sun bear being kept under deplorable conditions at a home in Kuching, Sarawak.

(Image Credit: Meme Generator)

Apparently the animal has been locked up in a tiny steel cage for over 7 years!

(Image Credit: CHEEZBurger)

Even more concerning, it seems that the animal’s captors had a licence to keep the bear issued by the Sarawak Forest Department.
The Star reported that MNSâ€™s protest towards the animalâ€™s imprisonment has been forwarded to the Sarawak Forestry Corporation, an agency tasked with wildlife enforcement.

(Image Credit: RUNT)

The sun bear which gets its name the white or golden patch on its chest is an arboreal animal which spends its life foraging the jungle floor and trees for food.
The bear can grow up to 5 feet tall and weigh as much as 70kgs.
(which makes being locked up in a small cage, hellâ€¦)
The mammal is classified as a vulnerable species listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

(Image Credit: Meme Centre)

Sun bears are threatened by habitat loss, poaching and as well as being killed by farmers.
Though the animal is legally PROTECTED by domestic and international laws, according to the Sarawak Forestry Department website, a licence can be obtained to KEEP em as PETS, HUNT, CAPTURE, KILL or to TRADE the animal. (how very ironicâ€¦)
However, the website also states that ‘in general’, licences will not be issued to trade in any of the species listed on the Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998, which includes the sun bear as a ‘Totally Protected Animal’.
Unfortunately, stories of wild animals being ill-treated by humans are nothing short but common nowadays, and there could be many more cases such as this that need to be brought into light.

(Image Credit: Facebook)

If you spot a wild animal in need of help, hit us up on our Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
You can also report the issue to authorities:
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN)
Tel : 03-90866800
E-mail : webmaster@wildlife.gov.my


Malaysians Won Karate Gold In France Despite No Money For The Air Ticket

Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest stories and updates.

Despite lacking funds, a Malaysian karate team fought their way to success in the French Karate International Open.

It was their proudest career moment.
Each of the nine-member team brought back a medal in the tournament which was participated by 12 countries including karate heavyweights such as Japan and Italy.
The team was led by the president of the International Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Sei-bu-kan Karate Do Association of Malaysia (IOSSKAM), Minalochuni Pathmanathan.
The winners of the events are:
Nivashini Sivaraman, 17. Gold in Kata Female Junior;Thavanishwary Muniandy, 18. Silver in Kata Female Junior, bronze in Kumite Female Junior;Praveen Elancheran Dharmalingam. Silver in Kumite Junior Male, and Male 70kg and above;Shachiidanantha Guberan Pathmanathan, Mugeshvaran V. Ganesh, Praveen Elancheran Dharmalingam, Prakash Muhammad Arjuna. Bronze in Rotational Team Kumite Male Open; andPaveedra Devi V Ganesh, Nivashini Sivaraman, Thavanishwary Muniandy. Silver in Rotational Team Kumite Female Open.
An Almost Impossible Dream
Minalochuni was quoted by FMT as saying that they were turned down by many when looking for sponsors, including Malaysian airlines.
She said the team were ‘humiliated’ when they tried to look for sponsors.
They said they did not have the confidence as the team was too young and also being managed by a woman. We only managed to raise about RM18,000 when we needed four times the amount. The team has proven them wrong.IOSSKAM president Minalochuni Pathmanatha on their predicament prior to the tournament.
They pushed that boulder uphill against overwhelming negativity until it finally happened
Turkish Airlines To The Rescue
While local airlines turned them down, Turkish Airlines plucked them out of hopelessness.
The national flag carrier airline of Turkey, which is popular among many Malaysians, gave the team a shot by allowed them to fly on credit.
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Goh Liu Ying OLY 吴柳莹 (@gohliuying)
Team manager A Yasodharan also thanked a local travel agency for paying in advance for the trip to France.
The team also thanked MIC for helping them to fulfill their quest with a donation of RM10,000.
There were also other individuals which helped them out.
At the same time, he too expressed regret on how the team was treated with contempt and disdain.
In some instances, we were discriminated against and humiliated. And we were also left with empty promises with funds never being delivered. We had to use personal funds and loans to ensure the team participated in France.
Ministry Slammed Online
Their struggles provoked an angry response from netizens.
Many thought that the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) had bombed and failed miserably to address the needs of athletes.
READ MORE: Former Paralympic Athlete Now Selling Tissue Covers In Bukit Bintang, Netizens Heartbroken
Netizens also took a swipe at the local airlines for refusing to help.

Share your thoughts with us via TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


Transform Your Dessert Experience With Llaollao’s Special Edition Transformers Figurines

Subscribe to our Telegram channel or follow us on the Lumi News app for the latest stories and updates.

Calling all Llaollao and Transformers fans! Prepare to embark on a delicious adventure that combines the sweetness of frozen yoghurt with the excitement of the iconic Transformers franchise. Llaollao has just launched its latest promotion, and it’s a treat that will make your taste buds and inner child jump with joy.

Recently, the TRP team rolled out to Llaollao, armed with a hunger for frozen delights and an aim to collect these special edition Transformers figurines!
  @trpmsia Okay Autobot lovers, it's time to transform and roll out to your nearest llaollao. Enjoy a delicious transformers tub today and you might get a super rare glow in the dark transformers figurine! . #beritaditiktok #beritaterkini #beritatiktok #malaysianews #malaysiafacts #beritahariini #newsattiktok #trendingnewsmalaysia #viral #tiktokmalaysia #fypmalaysia #foryou #reels #shorts #tahukahanda #learnontiktok #edutok #llaollao #llaollaomalaysia #llaollaotransformers #transformers #transformersriseofthebeasts #optimusprime #bumblebee #optimusprimal #limitededition #rare ♬ original sound  – TRPMsia
The concept is simple. When you purchase a serving of Llaollao in their exclusive Transformers tub, you not only get to enjoy the creamy goodness of their frozen yoghurt but also receive a super-cute Transformers figurine.
And if fortune favours you, you might just stumble upon the highly coveted special edition glow-in-the-dark figurine. There are only 2000 glow-in-the-dark figurines available nationwide, so they’re super rare, and you’ll be super lucky to get your hands on ‘em!
But that’s not all!

(Credit: Llaollao)
For those fortunate enough to score the glow-in-the-dark figurines, there’s an additional surprise waiting.
Alongside your prized possession, you’ll receive a special code that allows you to redeem 2 small tubs of Llaollao for FREE on the myllaollao.club app. Now, you get to satisfy your cravings and share the joy with a lucky companion!

(Credit: Llaollao)
So, what are you waiting for? If you find yourself yearning for a delightful dessert adventure that blends the world of Transformers with the creamy goodness of Llaollao, head over to your nearest Llaollao outlet now.
Unleash your inner child, embrace the Transformers spirit, and embark on an unforgettable dessert quest that will leave you with a smile on your face, a figurine in your hand, and a heart full of joy. Let’s transform and Llaollao out!

Share your thoughts with us via TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


Reduce Social Events Or See 50,000 Active Cases By Hari Raya, Say Experts

Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest stories and updates.

Events such as gatherings should be avoided to reduce Covid-19 community clusters or Malaysia could see 50,000 active cases by Hari Raya Aidilfitri – which is in May.

NST quoted Epidemiologist Dr Malina Osman who said activities that require people to remove their face masks or eat together in public should postponed, including buka puasa events and going to parks and gyms.
She said that the current infection spike was linked to Malaysia’s culture of sharing meals as a form of social and communal interaction but acknowledged that social gatherings in private settings were difficult to monitor and regulate.
Kadar kebolehjangkitan #COVID19 atau Ro/Rt pada jangkaan mengikut kes seharian pada 21 April 2021 untuk seluruh negara turun sedikit kepada 1.15.Manakala pecahan mengikut negeri, Kelantan tertinggi 1.44, Kuala Lumpur 1.29 dan Pahang 1.18.#StayHomeStaySafe pic.twitter.com/sEpfuTyyC2— KKMalaysia🇲🇾 (@KKMPutrajaya) April 22, 2021
Dr Malina also added that also said if interstate travel is allowed before Hari Raya Aidiladha in July, this could have dire consequences to the healthcare system that’s struggling to cope with the daily new cases of more than 2,000 since April 15.
As of 21 April, 21,687 active Covid-19 cases have been recorded, based on stats from the Health Ministry.
It’s also reported that Malaysia’s daily new confirmed Covid-19 cases per population in Malaysia have exceeded the United Kingdom’s since April 9.
The country reported 66.03 new Covid-19 cases per million people on April 19 which is almost double compared to the UK’s average of 37.5 cases, based on a rolling seven-day average.
Inconsistencies don’t help
Manipal University College Malaysia (Community and Occupational Medicine) Professor Dr G. Jayakumar also agreed that social events which revolve around dining should not happen as they increase the risk of a virus transmission during a pandemic.
SOP compliance among the public has been waning recently as pandemic fatigue sets in. Malaysians are also frustrated and discontented with the perceived inconsistent enforcement of the SOP, where hefty fines are issued immediately to laymen for breaching the SOP, while VIPs get away scot-free.Manipal University College Malaysia Community and Occupational Medicine Professor Dr G. Jayakumar via NST
This sentiment was shared by Dr Malina who was also puzzled with the inconsistencies in SOP enforcement with a number of individuals seeming to have “immunity” when it comes to interstate travel.

Share your thoughts with us on TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


Malaysians React Over Countries More Likely To Be Biased About Islam, India At The Top-List Of Islamophobia Hotspots

Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest stories and updates.

The Malaysia Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) has released a survey which lists the top 10 countries prejudiced against Muslims.

PPIM cited the 14th Annual Report of Islamophobia prepared by the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Besides India, major western countries such as the United Kingdom, United States, France, Canada and Germany are also more likely to hold prejudiced views about Islam than Asian countries, according to the survey.
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by PPIM (@ppim.official)
In one of the most detailed surveys conducted on Islamophobia, the survey  detailed how Muslims had been subjected to fear, hate, and prejudice.
The survey added that Islamophobia transforms into negative sentiment, gestures, racist and intolerant attitude.
Muslims also suffered from deliberate act of discriminations against Muslims, insults upon Islamic sacred symbols and venerated figures, and even into violent crimes against people with Islamic attires.
The survey was carried out by OIC over concerns of intentional attempts to tarnish the image of Islam as religion together with its over 1.9 billion followers.
OIC said the majority of them have in fact built up radiant civilizations and stood as an exemplary model of tolerance and coexistence.
Public Censure Over Islamophobia
Malaysians have responded with sadness, disappointment and an indignance at the survey.
Many said they are not surprised that the Indian public is the most likely to hold prejudiced views of Islam than they are of all countries.
Some lashed out their anger at the Indian migrants working in mamak stalls, while others urged for cooler heads to prevail.

Muslim nations slam India over insulting remarks about Islam, Prophet Muhammad https://t.co/OXNtxw5VWZ— Rafiq A. TSCHANNEN (@MuslimPoly) June 7, 2022
At the same time, some expressed hope that the Muslim populations in some western countries will eventually become the majority and put an end to the discrimination.

Others questioned why China is not in the list for its persecution of the Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang.
READ MORE: Muslim Nations Must Stop Staying Silent Over China’s Abuse Of The Uyghurs
Netizens call for the boycott of India as a remedy to deal with Islamophobia, which could pose practical ramifications for Malaysia.

India recognises Malaysia as an important partner in Southeast Asia.
In 2020, Malaysia exported USD7.26 billion (RM31.92 billion) to India. The main products exported from Malaysia to India were palm oil, crude petroleum, and refined petroleum.
Biateral trade between Malaysia and India. (Pix: OEC)
It was not too long ago that India reduced its import of palm oil from Malaysia over diplomatic rows.
Dr Mahathir has a lot to answer for this latest India palm oil ban…India is the largest palm oil importer in the world. Perhaps the cost of Zakir Naik is worth more than this palm oil deal!Congratulations Malaysia, Hebat! https://t.co/NBEGkVtqpD— CapitalW (@capitalwatersh1) January 9, 2020
The high quality of education, low cost and India’s geographical proximity has also made Indian institutions of higher learning one of the most sought after places for the Malaysian students for pursuing higher studies.
You’ll be surprised how much medical/dental equipments prices in India. Tak masuk akal murah dia 😂I ingat nak deal dengan supplier sini untuk barang dental. Maybe can help students/dentists in Malaysia yang nak beli barang dental dengan harga lebih affordable https://t.co/ALjechY6KL— Wani (@syazwanismd) August 3, 2021
dapat direalisasikan sesuai dengan kepakaran yang dimiliki oleh universiti berprestij tersebut.Ketika ini, seramai 1,222 orang pelajar Malaysia sedang menuntut di IPT seluruh India, manakala kira-kira 3,331 pelajar India pula sedang mengikuti pengajian mereka di IPT di Malaysia pic.twitter.com/H3tpHORXCk— Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi (@MOHEOfficial) April 8, 2022
Netizens also urged Malaysians to stop holidaying in Islamophobic countries.
READ MORE: Malaysia Must Appoint Special Envoy On Islamophobia To Fight Discrimination And Racism, Says Political Analyst

Share your thoughts with us via TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


Honor defiantly launches 20 Series today. RM1,699 price

Smartphone maker Honor, a subsidiary of Chinese tech company Huawei, launches the Honor 20 for just RM1,699 in Malaysia today in open defiance of the blacklist by the U.S. government.

“There is a question that everyone wants to ask. To that, we answer that we are here. We are standing here launching a new product.”
Honor Malaysia Head Zhao Zhiwei
Honor have also highlighted that Honor’s tagline continues to be “Honor the Brave.”
The Honor 20 also features a front-facing pinhole camera and clicky fingerprint scanner on the side.
Huawei, and Honor by extension, have been in the headlines recently after Google cut business ties with them to comply with an Executive Order by U.S. President Donald J. Trump.
Tech hardware companies such as Intel, Qualcomm and ARM have also followed suit.

Honor 20 specifications appear to be quite promising for its RM1,699 price.

However, while the U.S. has since relaxed the restrictions on Huawei for 90 days following Google’s announcement, the Chinese-based companies don’t appear to be flinching.
Huawei has pointed out that they’ve been preparing for such a situation by building their own hardware and software solutions for a long time.

Honor 20 rear camera array and holographic backplate.

Regarding the Honor 20 Series, of particular interest is the Honor 20 Lite which will have a triple rear camera setup which Honor says is the best camera you can get for a phone under RM1,000.


Government Announces 4 Initiatives To Reduce Effects Of COVID-19

To reduce the economic impact of COVID-19, the government has announced three initiatives to lessen the burden of the rakyat.
Previously, the government has announced several aid programmes which includes RM600 to employees who are taking unpaid leave and a 2% on electricity for commercial and domestic consumers to help Malaysians cope with the current situation.
KWSP members can withdraw RM500 from Akaun 2
Employees Provident Fund (EPF) members under 55 can withdraw the savings from their Akaun 2 up to RM500 a month for the next twelve months.
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said applications can be made starting April 1.
Along with the 4% reduction in contribution, it’s expected that these initiatives would ensure Malaysians have some extra money to spend on commitments such as rent and household expenses.
Picture Credit: Malay Mail
More allocated for MOH
To cope with the increase in COVID-19 cases, the government has also pumped more money into the Ministry of Health.
RM500 million will given to purchase equipment such as ventilators, ICU equipment and protective equipment for civil servants.
Also, to help those on-ground staff who are strained because of the increase in cases, the government has also allocated RM100 million to allow hospitals to employ more nurses on a contract basis.
Sungai Buloh is one of the hospitals that treat COVID-19 patientsPicture Credit: Malay Mail
RM130 million for state governments
Muhyiddin has also announced RM130 million to be given to state governments to help hawkers and small business owners who are affected by COVID-19.
He said the allocation will be given to all states equally regardless of which party reigns over the state.

Extension of PTPTN loan repayments
The government has also announced the suspension of PTPTN loan repayments to be extended from 3 months to 6 months for borrowers until 30 September 2020.
Muhyiddin said it’s expected to benefit 1.5 million borrowers.
Picture Credit: Malay Mail
It’s part of a economic stimulus package that the Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin plans to announce on March 30.

 For more updates on COVID-19, check out our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!


Covid-19: Malaysia Records Highest Daily Recovery As Cases Surge Past 2,500

Subscribe to our new Telegram channel for the latest updates on Covid-19 and other issues.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah announced that three more people had lost their lives to Covid-19 today, bringing Malaysiaâ€™s death toll to 37.  However, the country’s death rate so far is still at 1.4%.
Case 1952 was a 57-year-old woman with a history of diabetes and travel to Indonesia. She was undergoing treatment in Sungai Buloh Hospital.
Meanwhile, the other two deaths were a 47-year-old man (Case 1941) and 46-year-old woman (Case 2471) in Sarawak. The deceased female was also suffering from an autoimmune disease and high blood pressure.
TRP sends our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased, and a big thank you to all medical staff for their hard work.
The countryâ€™s Covid-19 case count has also surged past the 2,500 mark with 156 new confirmed cases today, bringing the total number of infections to 2,626.
Dr Noor Hisham also informed that 94 patients are currently in Intensive Care Unit (ICU), whereby 62 patients are on ventilators.
However, he did have some good news to share. Malaysia marks its highest number of Covid-19 recoveries as 91 patients were discharged, bringing it to a total of 479 recovered cases.
This makes the nationâ€™s recovery rate an impressive 18.2%.

UPDATE #COVID19Malaysia 30 Mac 2020.Dukacita kematian berlaku tiga lagi kematian menjadikan 37 keseluruhan setakat ini. KKM mengucapkan takziah dan berharap keluarga pesakit terlibat tabah menghadapi dugaan.— KKMPutrajaya (@KKMPutrajaya) March 30, 2020

Share your thoughts with us on TRPâ€™s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


Did You Know Malaysia Has A Time Capsule 5 Years Past Its Scheduled Big Reveal?

Subscribe to our Telegram channel or follow us on the Lumi News app for the latest stories and updates.

Five years ago today, a time capsule was due for its big reveal. It was buried by then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad during the inauguration of the North-South Expressway (NSE) on 8 September 1994.

It contains a document of expiry of the original PLUS Highway concession which is on 31 May 2018, and the date the time capsule was supposed to be opened.
However, this has yet to happen.
The NSE is the longest expressway in the country that began operating in 1994, connecting Bukit Kayu Hitam in Kedah, close to the Malaysia-Thailand border, to Johor Baru along an 847.7km stretch.
The last segment of the NSE, which covered the Gopeng-Tapah length, was inaugurated by the late Sultan of Perak and Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah, on 7 February of the same year.
The NSE started full operations on 8 September, 1994, after more than seven years of phased construction, as reported by New Straits Times.
Currently the time capsule can be seen at the R&R (Rest and Relaxation) Rawang.
So why hasn’t the time capsule been opened?
The short answer is that the concession agreement with PLUS was extended, which simply means 31 May 2018 was no longer the expiry date.
Untuk makluman kapsul ini masih belum dikeluarkan walaupun hari ini genap 5 tahun overdue sebab konsesi lebuh raya dilanjutkan. pic.twitter.com/xuRTvf2qne— Muhammad Najib (@muhammadnajib79) May 31, 2023
According to a report by the New Straits Times, the concession was extended until December 2038.
An additional concession agreement was signed in 2005 which included the clause of not increasing the toll prices from 2005 to 2014.

Share your thoughts with us via TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


M’sian police to start using body cams for transparency

In a bid to increase transparency to combat reports of police brutality, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador has welcomed a proposal for police to use body cameras.

“This body camera will help a lot in the enforcement duties and avoid any misconduct while on duty.”
IGP Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador

Picture credit: Malay Mail

The body cameras can also provide evidence against allegations of misconduct and corruption.
The Auxiliary Force (AFSB), part of the Royal Malaysian Police Cooperative, has already been equipping officers with AI-powered facial recognition cameras.
Face Facial Recognition GIF from Face GIFs

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, after chairing a meeting with the Special Cabinet Committee on Anti-Corruption at Perdana Putra, agrees that body cameras will help to uncover the truth.
Dr Mahathir also spoke about the need to maintain and increase the use of CCTVs at police lock-ups. These initiatives would prevent misconduct and address the deaths that happened while under custody.
Enhance Cctv GIF from Enhance GIFs

In addition, IGP Abdul Hamid also hopes that more police equipment can be provided, such as Taser guns.
These items would help in the arrest of mentally unsound people or suspects that run away.


Stats Dept: New Poverty Line Income Is RM2,208 Per Month & Income Gap Has Increased

Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on Covid-19 and other issues.

The Statistics Department has revealed that the poverty line income for the average Malaysian household has risen to RM2,208 per month.
This figure is over twice the last national poverty line of RM980 monthly per household which was calculated in 2005.
The revelation was made in the 2019 Household Income and Basic Amenities Survey Report and Household Expenditure Survey Report released today.
Chief Statistician Malaysia, Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin explained this analysis has been refined with some updates which includes a revision on the poverty line income (PLI) according to current needs that emphasizes on optimal food intake and quality non-food basic requirements.
This translates to the average Malaysian household (3.9 persons) requiring RM1,038 monthly for optimal food intake.
Another startling revelation in the report is the rise of income inequality in Malaysia, measured using the Gini coefficient where a higher value shows greater inequality. A Gini of zero means everyone is earning the same amount.
In 2019, Malaysia’s Gini coefficient stands at 0.407, a 0.008 point increase from 2016’s 0.399 which marked the first time the figure dropped below 0.4. For reference, Malaysia’s Gini index in 2014 was 0.401 – which means the 2019 figure is worse.
The income inequality based on gross income increased for both the urban (0.389 to 0.398) and rural (0.364 to 0.367) areas.
(Credit: Department of Statistics Malaysia)
This income inequality also increased for all three major ethnic groups― Bumiputera (0.385 to 0.389), Chinese (0.411 to 0.417), Indians (0.382 to 0.411).
Gini coefficient across three major ethnic groups in Malaysia (Credit: Department of Statistics Malaysia)
The data also shows that income inequality within the Bumiputera group is lesser than in Chinese and Indian groups.
2018 household income figures based on ethnic groups and strata. Note that the blue font represent 2019 figures while the yellow font represent 2016 figures.(Credit: Department of Statistics Malaysia)

Share your thoughts with us on TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Source:
Report of Household Income And Basic Amenities Survey 2016
2019 Household Income and Basic Amenities Survey Report


How Much Drugs Can Land A Person The Death Penalty In Malaysia?

Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest stories and updates.

Recently, news broke out about a man who was given the death penalty after he was found guilty of distributing 208 grammes of cannabis, two years ago.

Based on reports from Sinar, he was charged with Section 39B (1) (a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which is punishable in accordance with Section 39B (2) of the same act.
He was accused of distributing 208 grams of marijuana in front of the food court at Jalan Rozhan Alma, near Bukit Mertajam at about 8.15 pm on 16 January 2018.
There’s also the case of ‘Mat Tarzan‘ who was caught growing cannabis in his front yard. He was investigated under Section 6B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for the illegal cultivation of cannabis as well as Section 15 for personal drug use.
According to reports, there are three drug-related offences that is punishable by law:
for personal usedrug posessiondrug trafficking.
Out of the three, drug possession and trafficking offenses are the most serious and can carry the death penalty or life imprisonment.
Picture Credit: Malay Mail
The weight for a person to be charged with the death penalty differs from each type of drug and it ranges from as little as 15 grammes to 1,000 grammes.
Below is the list according to the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952:
Plant-based
1,000 grammes or more in weight of prepared opium1,000 grammes or more in weight of raw opiumA total of 1,000 grammes or more in weight of prepared opium and raw opium200 grammes or more in weight of cannabis200 grammes or more in weight of cannabis resinA total of 200 grammes or more in weight of cannabis and cannabis resin40 grammes or more in weight of cocaine2,000 grammes or more in weight of coca leaves
Opioids
15 grammes or more in weight of heroin15 grammes or more in weight of morphine15 grammes or more in weight of monoacetylmorphines15 grammes or more in weight of heroin, morphine and monoacetylmorphines or a total of 15 grammes or more in weight of any two of the said dangerous drugs
Amphetamines
50 grammes or more in weight of 2-Amino-1-(2, 5-dimethoxy-4-methyl) phenylpropane50 grammes or more in weight of Amphetamine50 grammes or more in weight of 2, 5-Dimethoxyamphetamine (DMA)50 grammes or more in weight of Dimethoxybromoamphetamine (DOB)50 grammes or more in weight of 2, 5-Dimethoxy4-ethylamphetamine (DOET)50 grammes or more in weight of Methamphetamine50 grammes or more in weight of 5-Methoxy-3, 4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MMDA)50 grammes or more in weight of Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA)50 grammes or more in weight of N-ethyl MDA50 grammes or more in weight of N-hydroxy MDA50 grammes or more in weight of N-methyl-1 (3, 4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-butanamine50 grammes or more in weight of 3, 4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)50 grammes or more in weight of Paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA)50 grammes or more in weight of 3, 4, 5-Trimethoxyamphetamine (3, 4, 5-TMA) total of 50 grammes or more in weight of any combination of the dangerous drugs
Although it’s good to know, for general purposes, of course, but it’s the death penalty for the drug business, so don’t do drugs, kids.

Share your thoughts with us on TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


Bukit Jalil Stadium May Be ‘Banned’ By AFC After Waterlogged Malaysia Vs Bahrain Match

Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest stories and updates.

The Bukit Jalil National Stadium may not host any Asian-level football matches in the foreseeable future if the pitch is not upgraded immediately, reported Berita Harian.

This is after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had hinted that it may impose ‘restrictions’ on the stadium in the aftermath of the ‘Malaysia vs Bahrain’ game in the Asian Cup Qualifiers third-round Group E match which saw both teams play on a rain-soaked pitch last Saturday.
The matter was confirmed by AFC Secretary-General Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John who admits his disappointment with the poor condition of the national stadium’s field.
“We are shocked to see the condition of the field and do not want to blame the rain. The owners of the place need to be more prepared and this is not the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) responsibility.
“Furthermore, we are disappointed with the condition of the field which is still not being fixed as well as the use of unsuitable tools to dispose of (stagnant) water on the field.
“I think if the condition of the Bukit Jalil National Stadium pitch continues like this, the AFC will not allow for more matches to be played at the stadium,” he was quoted as saying by the Malay daily.
Last Saturday, the Malayan Tigers faced Bahrain in its bid to qualify for the Asian Cup for the first time on merit since 1980. Malaysia lost the game 1-2 despite taking a one-goal lead.
Credit: @skumar176 Twitter picture
However, the game was played in a water-logged field as there was a heavy downpour prior to kickoff.
Before the match, several stadium staff were seen pushing the water ‘manually’ using shovels and cardboard, enraging fans and officials alike, and brought into question the stadium’s drainage system.
READ MORE: [Watch] A Futile Exercise: Draining The Flooded Bukit Jalil Field With A Broom And Dustpan
The incident had since gone viral over social media with netizens describing the surface of the field at the national stadium as akin to a ‘paddy field’.
Meanwhile, the Malaysia Stadium Corporation (PSM) chief executive officer Mohd Faidz Sanusi said that it had advised for the game to be postponed for 30 minutes to allow for the drainage system to properly drain all the stagnant water on the pitch.
He however agreed that the use of unsuitable tools by the stadium staff to remove the stagnant water from the pitch only further damaged the field’s surface.

Share your thoughts with us via TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


“That Bald Pakcik Isn’t Me!” Yells Rapper Joe Flizzow As His Road Robber ‘Doppelganger’ Goes Viral

Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest stories and updates.

“That bald uncle isn’t me, damn it!” cried local rap star Joe Flizzow after Malaysians had turned his likeness into the internet meme of the day.

Netizens went havoc over the celebrity’s viral look-alike who’s claim to fame came as a prime suspect of a robbery that was caught on video.
Taking the opportunity to let their creativity loose, social media users showered the timeline with their comedic take on the ones they claim to be two peas in a pod.
Me : Mom can we have Joe Flizzow.Mom : We have Joe Flizzow at home.Joe Flizzow at home : https://t.co/mQCHvHcXgP— choking hazard (@____lito) April 18, 2021
Joe Flizzow beli kat Pavillion vs Joe Flizzow order online copy ori gred AAA 1:1 pic.twitter.com/sYhOrOksYw— 👄🧷 (@InjangNation) April 19, 2021
(Credit: faliqfahmie/Twitter)
Not wanting anything to do with the new doppelganger that was introduced to him, Joe came out with a video of his own, denying any relation to the “bald pakcik”.
pic.twitter.com/vs47LpOJL7— Joe Flizzow (@flizzow) April 19, 2021
The meme, the legend
Earlier, videos shared online captured the bald pakcik conducting a roadside robbery in Klang, assisted by three other people.
Me giving my love to you at full force pic.twitter.com/jDvmfJtlnU— Haffiz (@MHaffizJ) April 18, 2021
According to reports, the robbers had rammed into the back of their victim’s car before beating them up and mugging them of their belongings.
Two separate clips had shown the suspects wielding weapons, smashing the car’s window and attempting to hit the car’s passengers as the latter records the scene on tape.

Police said that all four individuals aged between 23 to 35-years old have been arrested.

Share your thoughts with us on TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Source:
Langgar kereta dari belakang sebelum pukul, samun


KL woman just became first Mâ€™sian to get RM3.36 million investment on hit US TV show, Shark Tank [Video]

Many here would have heard of â€˜Shark Tankâ€™, the no-holds-barred US TV show where budding entrepreneurs pitch their businesses to potential investors or â€œsharksâ€ in hopes of finding success.
In the â€œshark tankâ€, the hopeful entrepreneurs either make
it or break it as their business models and products are scrutinised by investors
who then decide if itâ€™s worth their money.

Credit: abc.go.com

Itâ€™s a nerve-wracking situation to be in for sure, but one Malaysian woman managed to swim with the sharks and emerged unscathed.
In fact, the KL woman just became the FIRST Malaysian to be featured on the show AND she walked away with a US$800,000 (RM3.36 million) deal!
Awesome GIF from Markcuban GIFs

Calling herself â€œa girl from a small town in Malaysiaâ€, Amber Leong who hails from Salak Selatan is the founder of Circadian Optics, a light therapy device that mimics the sun to help regulate the bodyâ€™s circadian rhythm. Hence, improving sleep.
According to US magazine Inc., Amberâ€™s company is valued at US$7.5 million (RM 31.5 million).
Amber presented her life-changing device on the showâ€™s 11th
season last Sunday.

 View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Circadian Optics (@circadianoptics) on Oct 6, 2019 at 5:17am PDT

While the sun mimicking device impressed the investors, they
were also moved by her journey from a poor childhood to starting a multi-million-dollar
company with her husband Kin Mun Chew.
With visions of Full House in her head, Amber dreamed of a life in the US. So, she convinced her parents to send her across the Pacific Ocean to attend college.
Her parents took out their retirement funds and borrowed money
from friends to send the starry-eyed lass to America.
. GIF from Ron GIFs

Unfortunately, 9 months into her American dream, Amber was diagnosed with toxic shock syndrome– a rare and dangerous condition caused by severe bacterial infections.
Doctors told her that she only had a 50% chance of survival.
However, Amber survived and thrived. Pulling through the life-changing episode, finished her studies and landed a 6-figure salary job, sending money to her family back here in Malaysia.

â€œI survived and it gave me a new perspective in life. It made me ask myself: â€œWhat am I going to do with my one wild and precious life?â€ I want to do something courageous. I have to take a chance! So, I had this idea and I wanted to choose creativity over certainty.â€
Amber Leong on Shark Tank.
Her miraculous recovery drives and motivates her every single day. She then started Circadian Optics in 2016 after discovering that light therapy lamps helped her overcome her disrupted sleep patterns.

 View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Circadian Optics (@circadianoptics) on Sep 10, 2019 at 7:52am PDT

Inc. reports that Circadian Optics sold US$4 million (RM16.8 million) worth of products last year. This year, theyâ€™re expecting US$5.6 million (RM23.5 million) in sales.
Amberâ€™s spark had the investors teary-eyed as well.

â€œYou represent to everybody around the world who watches this show that it doesn’t matter where you come from, if you put your mind to it, anything is possible.â€
Mark Cuban, investor on Shark Tank.
In exchange for the RM3.36 million investment, investors Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner will get 20% ownership in the company.

Credit: Circadian Optics/Facebook

What an inspiring story! TRP wishes Amber great success with her company and we look forward to hearing more from her.
Watch the Amber relay her story on Shark Tank in the videos below:

 View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Circadian Optics (@circadianoptics) on Oct 5, 2019 at 7:53am PDT

If youâ€™re inspired by Amberâ€™s tale as well, let us know on TRPâ€™s  Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!


Malaysians Leave Home Early And Sleep In The Car Before Work

Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest stories and updates.
The problem of traffic congestion has caused urban commuters to leave home for work early.

Upon arriving at work, they would sleep in the car until office hours started.
Many urban office workers have chosen this option because they can no longer bear the pain of being stuck in traffic, with roads usually congested after 7 am.
Kosmo interviewed some office workers, and most said that instead of being stuck in traffic queues, it is better to go to work early and catch up on sleep.
This is so wrong and unhealthy 💩💩 pls don’t normalize this. Nanti bos kata “orang lain boleh je keluar rumah awal tido dalam kereta”.— Afif 라히미 🏴 (@afifemi96) February 8, 2023
The news report resonated with many netizens, who said they go out at 5 am and sleep in the car until 9 am.
A netizen said it took him 1 hour and 15 minutes to go to work from Kajang to Kuala Lumpur.
He arrived at work early to avoid traffic jams and slept in the car.
Another netizen said that he left for work at 6:30 in the morning, slept in the car at 7 am when he arrived, and only entered the office when it was time for work.
What Is The Purpose Of Employees Coming To Work In The Office?
Many netizens believe this new normal is unhealthy and should not be normalized.
Some netizens suggested that the government provide incentives to encourage employers to implement homework.
They say this would solve the problem of traffic jams for employees commuting to and fro work.
Many netizens also hope companies will bring back the work-from-home concept, saying that this is the best solution to the traffic jam.
jalan jem sebab makin banyak kerate public transport pun sesak sebab makin ramai tenaga kerja tapi employer tetap bangsat tak nak 100% work from home sedangkan pkp 2 tahun bukti kukuh kerja masih berjalan macam biasa untuk yang work from home— Tora As Sabeel (@shrayzer) January 31, 2023
tak boleh ke orang kerja KL Work From Home je hari-hari?— Erik Ten Kip (@akiffmad) February 1, 2023
Some netizens even tagged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar, hoping the government could force employers to implement working from home.
They said companies should let computer-operated employees implement homework policies as all work is done on laptops, just like working from home.
At the same time, some netizens said that the new normal of sleeping in the car is wrong and unhealthy.
The pain is not only when going to work but also when going home, as some had to go home late to avoid traffic jams after work.
Already, some had fallen victim to crime.
A Twitter user named Izwan Izzat said a thief stole his belongings while sleeping in the car.
The thief also found his ATM card PIN and withdrew money from the bank.
Guys, if you have to sleep in the car for any reason, please please please lock the door. I just got robbed last night and I lost my bag, bank cards, cash. Almost everything except my phone 😞😢— Izwan Izzat (@heyizwanizzat) February 11, 2023
Traffic Jam Affects Your Health
A previous study by the MARA University Of Technology (UiTM) showed that employees in the Klang Valley waste an average of 44 hours a month in traffic jams.
Most employees waste 1 to 2 hours a day trapped in traffic queues.
Because of traffic jam, I go out from the house 6 am and arrived 640 am, even though work starts at 8 am. And i return home late, 10 pm and up even though work ends at 7pm. And because of rent, instead of living in KV, i stay 40km away from KL. https://t.co/3QODFDPV5r— hollis (@holiltheV) January 21, 2023
Being trapped in immobile or slow-moving traffic lanes for a long time can easily adversely affect emotions and psychology.
If an employee arrives at the company after experiencing a 2-hour traffic jam, the person will likely show negative behaviours such as impatience, lack of patience, and even irritability.
Therefore, the people are right in telling the government to implement work-from-home and flexible working hours.
 Malaysia is a fairly high car-dependent country, leading to frequent and massive traffic jams. (Pix: Statista)

Share your thoughts with us on TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


Celebrating The First Day Of Hari Raya: Covid-19 Edition

As the holy month of Ramadan comes to an end, Muslims all around the world are poised to celebrate Eid al-Fitr – Hari Raya Aidilfitri or Hari Raya Puasa as it’s more commonly known here.
Marking the end of a month of fasting and rigorous self-control, Raya is a joyous occasion and remains one of the biggest celebrations in the Islamic calendar.
Loosely translated to the festival of Breaking Fast, Aidilfitri sees millions of Muslims from across the globe coming together for a day of communion and festivities which only comes once a year.
Although each corner of the globe would have their own unique customs and traditions in celebrating this blissful occasion, with the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, the ‘new normal’ Aidilfitri would be sort of revolutionary in a sense.
We thought to take a moment to quickly reflect on how Raya is usually celebrated, how things might be different this year, and how Malaysians across the country can still enjoy this festive holiday season.
The start of Syawal
It is a widely accepted notion in Islam that a new day would begin at sundown. This is why Raya celebration tends to start even before the actual holiday even begins.
Spying on the moon.(Credit: Astro Gempak)
Traditionally, Hari Raya would begin with the first sighting of the crescent moon, signifying the end of Ramadan and the start of Syawal – the 10th month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
During the good old days, families would crowd together in front of the TV, eagerly awaiting the appearance of the fable Pakcik Songkok or the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal, to declare the official date for Aidilfitri.
Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal Tan Sri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad would make an appearance either one or two nights before Aidilfitri to announce the coming of Hari Raya. (Credit: YouTube/Muhammad Wasif)
With Malaysians now relatively confined at home due to the nationwide Movement Control Order (MCO), maybe it’s time to bring back this tradition and have the whole family geared up for a night of indoor Aidilfitri goodness camped out in front of the telly.
Takbir Raya in the air
The coming of Raya is typically accompanied by the soulful sounds of the takbeer or takbir, where Muslims chant the name of God as a show of faithful gratitude and to give thanks for the blessings that they have been given throughout the month of Ramadan.
Reciting the takbir is also considered to be a declaration of one’s success in tying down one’s demons and lustful desires during the whole fasting month.
The takbir recited in the Southeast Asian region is usually slower and more sing-songy than the ones they recite in other parts of the world.(Credit: Twitter/H2O Comms)
Each Aidilfitri, the takbir Raya can be heard echoing through the night, from sundown till the following morning, as Muslims gather for the days Raya festivities.
However, with only a number of masjids and suraus across the nation allowed to open and host religious activities on minimal attendance, Malaysian Muslims would just have to make do with reciting the takbir in the confines of their own homes.
But fret not my friends, with the advances in our modern world, one can still relish in the fervid melodies of the takbir through our consumption of media.
There are a number of takbir videos to chant along to on Youtube.(Credit: YouTube/Zulfadhli khiruddin)
For instance, the Masjid Negara official Facebook account has been hosting live tarawih sessions all month long for your viewing pleasure. We’re more than sure that mosques and Islamic channels would be airing the takbir all night long in earnest celebration of Syawal.
Hari Raya prayer
During the first day of Aidilfitri, Muslims would congregate to the mosques for prayer and listen in to a short khutbah (religious sermon).
Generally, the Eid Prayers would only be attended by men, however women are welcomed and encouraged to join in.
Families exiting the Shah Alam mosque after finishing their Eid Prayers(Credit: Unikversiti)
This is also the time where you would get the first look at your family, friends, neighbors (and even arch-nemesis), strutting out their glamorous looks for Aidilfitri.
Though it might be a bit disappointing that the majority of us won’t be able to join in this year’s congregational prayers, Muslims are reminded that performing Eid Prayers is considered sunnat or mustahabb, meaning that although performing it is encouraged, it is not at all compulsory like the normal daily prayers.
In fact, Malaysia’s Islamic clerics have been encouraging the people to perform their own solo or congregational Aidilfirti prayer at home and cherish the small, quiet, and private moments we’re given with our loved ones.
A family performs the Ramadan tarawih prayers at home.(Credit: Bernama/Astro Awani)
And simply enough, you can just look up a guide on how to perform your own Eid prayers by yourselves online, for those of you who might not be too familiar with the details of how this once-a-year activity is done.
Paying Zakat Fitrah
Zakat is the act of giving charity or alms to the poor and is considered to be one of the main pillars of the Islamic faith.
The act of paying Zakat Al-Fitr or Zakat Fitrah is mandatory to all Muslims (man or woman) if they can afford to do so.
It is encouraged for Muslims to pay their zakat before the end of the morning Eid Prayers, as the principle behind the collection is to be used and distributed to the needy in order to aid them during the festive period of Aidilfitri.
Normally, zakats are collected by registered officials. A customary handshake and some prayers usually accompany the process.(Credit: Harian Metro)
With the MCO in place, there have been a few changes in this year’s collection of alms.
Guidelines have been introduced to maintain hygiene and social distancing to allow Malaysian Muslims to pay their zakat at designated mosques and zakat collection centers across the country.
Similarly, you can also opt to zakat via the internet through online transactions.
Selangor has made its zakat payments systems available online.(Credit: Anarmnet)
Selangor for instance has its own online EZakatPay system available for online zakat payments besides having a list of all the designated zakat collection places open throughout the state. So do check with your own state’s religious departments to see where and how you can pay your alms this year.
Visiting deceased loved ones
The morning of Aidilfitri is also a somber and reflective moment for some, and we’d imagine it to be more so this year as Malaysians are prohibited from going to the cemetary to visit their deceased loved ones.
Families praying together at a cemetery during Aidilfitri.(Credit: Illuminasi)
Normally, families and friends would gather around gravesites of their fallen relatives and friends, clad in their festive baju raya attires, to pray and even taking time to clean and spruce up their loved ones’ final resting places in the spirit of Hari Raya.
With cemeteries being strictly closed to visitors this year, Malaysian would have to make do with paying their respects from a distance.
Family time
Whether you’re having a small gathering at home or a huge family assembly at kampung, Raya time is usually best spent surrounded by those you love (or mildly annoy you).
The first hours of Aidilfitri are generally spent cherishing those around you and taking the opportunity to strengthen the bonds between one another and (at least, try to) enjoying each other’s company.
Kids spending their time enjoying Hari Raya.(Credit: Deenamik)
But with the balik kampung ban on interstate travel, this year’s Aidilfiti atmosphere would definitely be different, especially for those who are living far apart from their loved ones.
But don’t let a little distance get you down. Take out those phones, laptops, computers, or even walkie talkies if you got ‘em, and connect with all the people you love (or hate) for an interactive, digital Hari Raya experience.
You can even host calls between multiple people on apps now, so get the whole family together in one big conference call.(Credit: Youtube/Maxis)
Besides, since most at-risk individuals to suffer from Covid-19 are children and the elderly, having a little distance between everyone this year isn’t such a bad thing if it means keeping your loved ones safe and healthy.
Asking for forgiveness
As the common Raya greeting goes “Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf Zahir Batin”, which basically translates to, ‘Happy Aidilfitri’ and ‘I seek forgiveness from you’.
A big part of the Hari Raya celebration is the act of giving thanks and seeking forgiveness from those around you.
Aidilfitri is THAT time of the year (for most also the ONLY time) to ask for forgiveness and to pardon those who have done you wrong.
Do remember to maintain social distancing.(Credit: Kashoorga)
It is the time known for moving forward in life, to wipe the slate clean and start anew.
And as we live in a world where tiny, invisible microbes can take a life away at any moment, it’s important now more than ever to, as they say, live and let live – showing compassion and love in the truest sense of the human spirit.
Just be sure to avoid skin-to-skin contact and try not to salam anyone this year. Remember it’s not rude if you’re keeping everyone’s health and safety in check with a little social distancing.
Duit raya
We’re all familiar with the saying “it’s better to give is better than to receive”, well it is a common belief in Islam that the MORE you GIVE, the MORE you shall RECIEVE.
Though the history behind the practice of giving Duit Raya is shrouded in mystery (check out our article, HERE, for a quick history lesson on the origins of Duit Raya) the act of giving out packets of money as a customary gift has become synonymous with the festivities of Aidilfitri.
Kids with their duit raya envelopes.(Credit: Harian Metro)
It is generally considered to be an offering given from the elder members of society (regardless of your relations or ties) to the younger ones of the generation, with the notion of teaching them  valuable lessons in effort, compassion and the faithful practice of charity.
With the pandemic going around this year, its best to avoid huddling at the bank to get your fresh stacks of singles.
Maintain hygiene and social distancing by opting to go cashless with gifting the ones you cherish their own packets of e-Duit Raya using the many online banking services or e-Wallet applications out there.
Some banks have the option to send duit raya directly to someones account.(Credit: Stuff)
Though it might not be as aesthetically pleasing as receiving a physical envelope full of cash that we’re used to, any money is good money in our book!
Eat all the food!
Well this part comes to no surprise as Hari Raya is of course the time to indulge in delightful dishes!
Muslims are also forbidden to fast during the first day of Aidilfitri, so Raya is the perfect time to relish in delectable traditional local delicacies, some of which you can only get during the Raya season.
Smile grow ever wide in the face of good food.(Credit: Borneo Post)
But we know what you might be thinking, “where am I going to find my lemang and dodol with the MCO?”.
Well, here at TRP we implore our readers to scope out the many intrepid local entrepreneurs who’ve taken their businesses online and promoting their mouth-watering meals on social media and other online shopping and food delivery services that can have your ketupats and rendangs sent straight to your doorstep.
Raiding open houses
It is a common custom here in Malaysia to invite guests over to celebrate the holiday seasons together.
A Hari Raya Open House is usually the perfect occasion to spend quality time with friends, family, neighbors, and even strangers. All in the festive spirit of Aidilfitri.
Malaysians would usually move from house to house and from pekan to kampung visiting as many homes as they can, while filling out their tummies (and pockets) along the way.
Uninvited and unannounced visits are also all too common but welcomed on Hari raya.(Credit: Penang Kini)
This year there might not be that much of a Raya parade as Malaysians have been advised to celebrate their Raya in true minimalist moderation with a set of strict rules and guidelines in place to ensure everyone remains safe from Covid-19 while enjoying each other’s company.
Just be sure not to party too hard or you might get an unexpected visit from the police and Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) who’ve been tasked to make sure you abide by the Hari Raya ‘policy’.
Bang and sparkle in the night
Though fireworks are technically illegal here in Malaysia, it can’t be denied that no festive season would be the same without the sparkle, sounds, and dazzle of fireworks filling the night sky.
Both children and adults share this common love for all things that go boom (even when the fear of losing an eye or a finger would loom in the back of everyone’s minds).
Be sure to keep your an eye on your kids when their playing with mercuns.(Credit: Bernama/Astro Awani)
But things might be less explosive this year as shops are currently prohibited from selling firecrackers and fireworks in stores due to Covid-19 regulations.
Not only that, but legal action can also be taken against anyone who sells or purchases ‘mercuns’ online.

Things might be different this Aidilfitri, but that shouldn’t stop us from enjoying all of our long-cherished traditions, granted with a bit of a twist, to keep our spirits strong as we face the Covid-19 crisis together.
Selamat Hari Raya everyone!

Share your thoughts on TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Source:
Johor Police Jokingly Place Order For Fireworks From Online Seller
Perlis Mufti Department Releases Guidelines For Aidilfitri
Military Joins Police For Hari Raya Patrols
The "New Normal" Has Begun & Malaysians Must Exercise “Self-Control”
Hari Raya Is Not Cancelled, We Just Can't Go Visit Each Other At The Moment
Perak & Johor Mosques To Hold Friday & Aidilfitri Prayers, But Not For The Public
Cyber Security Concerns Over Zoom? Here’s Some Other Alternatives
Duit Raya: The Multicultural Origins Of A Sincere Act That Comes From The Heart
Celebrating the first day of Hari Raya


First CNY As A Married Couple? How Much Ang Pow To Give

Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest stories and updates.

Many young newlyweds may panic when Chinese New Year comes around because with large families come many young children. With many young children come many empty hands asking for ang pow.
To help young couples out, we spoke to Master Lexsmond Kengo, a chaperone of the Chinese traditions, about how much ang pow should you give and to whom.
Chaperones are professional practitioners for Chinese weddings or other auspicious ceremonies and rituals. They must be competent in their knowledge of customs, traditions, and rituals, similar to a Mak Andam for Malay weddings.
The Right Philosophy
The point of the ang pow isn’t so much about the money than of the good fortunes it bestows.
Giving ang pows is wishing good fortune on the other party, a blessing that everything would go right. As such, there isn’t a minimum fixed amount you should give because it’s not really about the money.Master Lexsmond to TRP
He says that some people are entirely okay with just RM1 or RM5 in their ang pow, because the monetary value is simply symbolic.
It’s a blessing to have enough to give, and those with blessings attract good fortune. Thus, those who give out ang pow generously will end up receiving more good fortune.
The true #blessed.(Credit:Unsplash)
The Right People
There isn’t a limit as to who you’re allowed to give the ang pow to either, though there are some people you should definitely give it to.
Naturally, close family must be included: your parents and grandparents should always receive the biggest ang pow, as they were the most influential people who brought you into the world and raised you.
Unmarried relatives younger than you should also receive ang pow, although it isn’t necessary to give ang pow to unmarried relatives older than you.
Don’t miss out the younger generations!(Credit: Freepik)
Then, consider those closest in your life that you want to show appreciation to. This could be your siblings, friends, teachers, work colleagues, mentors, or even a caretaker.
It’s also a good time to gift a small ang pow to service providers such as cleaners, sanitation workers, or even your favourite hawker stall aunty/uncle to show your appreciation for them in your everyday life.
The Right Price
The amount of money that you put in an ang pow depends entirely upon you and your financial abilities.
However, as a very loose general rule, your parents and grandparents should receive ang pows of RM100 and up, other elders should receive around RM50-RM100, and the rest can be around the RM10-RM20 mark.
Newly-weds have to take note and provide two ang pows on their first Chinese New Year together as a married couple.
Double up on your ang pow for double the blessings.(Credit: Freepik)
This doesn’t mean you have to give double the cash, but rather both the husband and the wife must give an ang pow each. The recipient of the ang pow must also receive ang pow from both the husband and wife as a blessing to the couple so that they may have good news.
After the first year, the couple can then give just one ang pow that represents them both.

Graduating from receiving ang pow to giving out ang pow is a blessing in itself! Share your CNY stories with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!