Health DG Suggests Walk-Ins For Anyone Who Wants AstraZeneca Covid-19 Vaccine

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

Anyone willing to skip the queue and take the AstraZeneca vaccine via a walk-in appointment?

Well, the Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah is actually considering implementing the move with the public currently split over the side effects of the vaccine developed by the drugmaker AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford
In a Tweet on Tuesday evening (27 April), the Health DG responded to a frustrated user who was willing to take the vaccine, saying:
“Perhaps we should open a walk-in for AZ (AstraZeneca) vaccine. No need to wait. What do you think?”Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, Health Director-General via Twitter
The aforementioned user had retweeted Dr Noor Hisham’s infographic explaining the risk of developing blood clots from the AstraZeneca vaccine in comparison to birth control, smoking and a Covid-19 infection.
Perhaps we should open a walk in for AZ vaccine. No need to wait. What do you think?— Noor Hisham Abdullah (@DGHisham) April 27, 2021
“Not a bad idea” say Malaysians online
Responses to the Health DG’s suggestion has been largely positive, with many agreeing with the move and even volunteering to take up the AstraZeneca vaccine.
“I wouldn’t mind myself, better than waiting. In my opinion, in any forms of medication, there is always risk,” Tweeted one user. Another Twitter user replied: “Yes please. My hubby and I will be the first in line. My relations in (the) UK, aged between 38 till 70 have all been vaccinated with AZ and they don’t see what the fuss is all about.”
What’s up with AstraZeneca vaccine, blood clots & backlash?
Vials labelled “Astra Zeneca COVID-19 Coronavirus Vaccine” and a syringe are seen in front of a displayed AstraZeneca logo, in this illustration photo taken March 14, 2021.(Credit: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration)
Malaysia has secured a total of 12.8 million doses from AstraZeneca, half of which will come via COVAX. The first batch arrived this week and the Health Ministry (KKM) confirmed the jab would be administered to those over 60 years old.
In a press conference on Monday (26 April) Health Minister Dr Adham Baba said the vaccine was found to be “suitable for use” for those aged 60 and older, and they were assessing available data before approving it for use for younger people.
After the news broke though, many Malaysians took to social media to voice their worries over allowing their parents and other senior citizens to take the vaccine even though the blood clot side effect was very rare.
Several cases of rare blood clots were identified by the regulatory body in the United Kingdom – the MHRA – after people received the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Credit: Anne Weston/ Francis Crick Institute via Wellcome
The blood clots occurred in veins in the brain (cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, CVST) and the abdomen (splanchnic vein thrombosis) and in arteries, together with low levels of blood platelets and sometimes bleeding.
According to BBC, 79 people – two-thirds of them women – experienced clots after receiving a first vaccine dose. Nineteen of them died.
This is in contrast to over 20 million AstraZeneca vaccines doses already administered across the UK by the end of March 2021.
The MHRA said about four people in a million would normally be expected to develop this particular kind of blood clot – though the fact they are so rare makes the usual rate hard to estimate.
Nonetheless, the MHRA states that benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine far outweighs the risks of the virus – hospitalisation and death – especially for the elderly. It does say though that under-30s with no underlying health conditions should be offered an alternative vaccine where available.
Credit: jcomp/Freepik
The European Medicines Agency safety committee (PRAC) concluded that unusual blood clots with low blood platelets should be listed as very rare side effects for the AstraZeneca vaccine. However, PRAC stresses that the reported combination of blood clots and low blood platelets is very rare, and the overall benefits of the vaccine in preventing Covid-19 outweigh the risks of side effects.
KKM has also made the decision to proceed with the vaccine, based on clinical data which proved the benefits outweigh the harm.

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

Source:
Health minister: Amid delay in Australia, AstraZeneca vaccine’s arrival to Malaysia still on track for June
AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine: EMA finds possible link to very rare cases of unusual blood clots with low blood platelets Share
Covid: How does the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine work?
Malaysia to roll out AstraZeneca COVID jab for over-60s


Shops, Restaurants In KL Can Now Open Until 2 AM

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

Kuala Lumpur has decided to allow shops and restaurants to extend their operating hours to 2 am, based on an announcement made by the Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa.

He said that the decision was made to be in line with the current directives by the National Security Council (MKN).
Earlier, Kuala Lumpur refused to follow the 2 am extension, after a decision was made by the capital’s municipality, DBKL based on a Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur’s Crisis Management meeting on 11 September.
Traders have been making huge losses, if they (businessmen) do not threaten security which has been evaluated by MKN, I agree that cityhall (DBKL) allow opening to 2 am.Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa via Bernama
On 10 September, MKN announced that eateries and shops can now open up to 2 am after previously limiting it up to midnight.

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


Malaysian Father Criticised For Sexualising Women While Looking For Babysitter For Son

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

A Facebook user recently posted about facing a dilemma in choosing young babysitters for his son.

The netizen, who referred to himself as Abam, said his wife tasked him to find a babysitter so he registered on a babysitter site to look.
However, he felt spoiled for choice because all the babysitters listed on the website are young women between the ages of 20 and 40. He said he tried looking for “aunties” on the site but there were none.
He said he felt guilty if he proceeded to hire any of the babysitters, adding that the video call option to chat with the potential babysitters made him feel “weak.”
At the end of the post, he asked his followers whether they were interested. If they were, they could contact him for the details.
His post unsurprisingly drew inappropriate comments from men; some believed to be fathers.
At the time of writing, his original post was deleted, but netizens uploaded copies of the post.

A netizen Nad Masrom expressed her disappointment with the behaviours shown by the men in the comments.
She sympathised with the capable women who were trying to make a living by being good babysitters, but they have to deal with perverted men.
Nad said not all men are like this and she has used babysitter apps with her husband.
This man [Abam] made perverted jokes and publicly invited other men to pretend to be fathers to be perverts as well on his post.Nad Masrom
She turned the tables on him and asked how he would feel if someone used his daughter’s picture and posted it online in the same manner.
If your daughter’s photo is shared one day by a man who’s also a father, how will you feel?Nad Masrom
On Facebook, Abam allegedly wrote to say his posts have always been jokes. He shared that his number of followers has increased and reiterated that all he wanted to do was to share the babysitter website with no other intentions.
Netizens praised Nad for speaking out on behalf of the babysitters.
Another babysitter site Kiddocare also expressed their disappointment in seeing babysitters getting treated in a disrespectful manner.
The incident also reminds everyone not to make light of or normalize such “jokes.” A few netizens said what the men did was shameful and urged others to make the names of these men go viral so that their wives knew what they were up to.
Seronok dia tiber dapat attention 🙄 pic.twitter.com/DdvOXPmPon— PogCatMint (Commission Open!) (@lyana_rustam) April 14, 2023
Komen dari bapa2 yang tgh cari orang utk jaga anak dia tu. Teruk nya perangai. Thank you for standing up on behalf of the girls— ratnareharahim (@ratnareharahim) April 14, 2023
Sedih tengok orang post macam ni. Walaupun bukan Carer daripada Kiddocare, tapi kami tak condone behaviour sebegini. Wanita ni semua cuma nak mencari duit untuk sara diri dengan menjaga kanak-kanak, they should not be treated or insinuated to be anything else.— Kiddocare- Trusted Babysitters (@kiddocaremy) April 14, 2023
Please Malaysian don’t normalize just for joking, alaa gurau sikit je, sembang lah kau kitorang gurau je bukan serius pun. Kalau kitorang pakat lempang korang 100x pun kitorang GURAU!— 希衿。 (@heythisxijin) April 14, 2023
Selain amik tindakan, viralkan je para daddies tu. Biar mommies kat rumah setelkan mereka. Spesis camtu, kat socmed je sembang gebang bagai. Dpn bini, duk tenung lantai je mereka berani— Ady Kent (@ady_kent) April 14, 2023
I hope all you girls/women stay safe and selalu on high alert when dealing with anonymous individual when working/lepaking. As a man, perangai ni sgt memalukan…lagi2 pada org yg berstatus Ayah/Father. pic.twitter.com/hKRX2g4J9u— AJ (@Demonzhaofan) April 14, 2023

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


Man’s Close Shave With Death Reinforces Importance Of Having Dashcams In Vehicles

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

As the number of car ownership increases, it follows logically that the number of road accidents will also rise.

Based on the Transport Ministry’s website, the data collected from 2010 to 2019 showed that the number of road accidents increased. Conversely, the number of fatalities has seen a steady reduction in those ten years.
From January to September 2022, police statistics revealed that a total of 402,626 road accidents were recorded, which resulted in 4,379 fatalities.
It was a jump from the 255,532 road accidents and 3,324 deaths recorded from the same period in 2021.
Due to the number of road accidents occurring, it’s also wise to have a dashcam in the car to help record evidence in case one gets into an accident.
There have been cases where victims had a hard time seeking justice because they had no evidence.
READ MORE: Father Who Lost Only Son In Accident Appeals For Witnesses To Come Forward
READ MORE: Victim’s Family Ask Public’s Help To Produce Dashcam Vids To Help Solve Hit-And-Run Case
READ MORE: [Watch] Why You Need A Dashcam – Woman Fakes Being Hit By Car In Bukit Bintang
A recent road accident on 1 April 2023 almost claimed the life of a Twitter user’s father in Johor. Ain (@ainzaabar) shared a dashcam recording that showed a yellow Mini Cooper ramming her father’s car.
The accident caused her father’s car to flip on its side on the road. Ain’s father allegedly said it felt like he was already dead.
“Ayah rasa macam dah mati”Taktahu nak react apa bila ayah cakap macam ni. Lepas tengok gambar dan video dashcam, memang mostly akan ingat something really bad happened to Ayah.But Allah Maha Besar! pic.twitter.com/gVegotkL4L— ❤努艾妮❤ 🇲🇾 (@ainzaabar) April 3, 2023
Masuk bulan baru dapat berita yang ayah accident. Seram sejuk jadinya bila tengok kereta ayah sampai macam tu (kereta hitam).Allah! pic.twitter.com/CDnP9RZren— ❤努艾妮❤ 🇲🇾 (@ainzaabar) April 1, 2023
Fortunately, the driver of the Mini Cooper admitted his fault while lodging the police report about the accident. He claimed he was looking at Waze when he drove onto the curb and hit Ain’s father’s car.
It was likely that the driver couldn’t refute responsibility because there was a dashcam recording of the incident.
Ain also shared that her father only installed the dashcam less than a year after his friend got into an accident. Unfortunately, his friend did not have proof or a recording of the incident.
Accident cases like these further showed that it’s more important than ever for every driver to have a dashcam in their vehicles for safety purposes.
If you’re looking for a dashcam, here are some highly-rated dashcams in the market so far.
READ MORE: 6 Senarai Top Dashcam Di Shopee. Confirm Berbaloi!

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


Kuching Is A ‘Creative City Of Gastronomy’ Says UNESCO

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

It is an important feat to be recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Its role in cultural heritage for example is to endeavour international treaties to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.
Malaysia already has five intangible cultural heritage recognised by UNESCO.
Read More: UNESCO Recognises Silat As Malaysian Cultural Heritage
Read More: Wangkang And Pantun Recognised As Intangible Cultural Heritage By UNESCO
There are also currently four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Malaysia and they include the Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley in Perak, Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak, Kinabalu Park in Sabah, and Melaka and George Town – Historic Cities of the Straights of Malacca.
Malaysia’s latest addition to UNESCO is in its Creative Cities Network (UCCN).
Creative City of Gastronomy
Of the 49 cities recently added to the UCCN, Kuching has now been included and in the field of gastronomy.
UCCN is a project to promote cooperation among cities that recognise creativity as a major factor in their urban development.
This will be a very good marketing point for us as far as tourism is concerned. If you want to have diverse food, Kuching, Sarawak is the best.Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah in a press conference on 9 November 2021
Hard Work With A Passion Pays Off
The application to join UCCN was filed by the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) in April this year.
There is even a website called kuchingcreativecity.com that documents their pitch to becoming part of the UCCN.
Included on the site is a 37-page proposal which was put together by a group of “like-minded people and organisations, bound together by a shared love of Kuching, of its food and its gastronomic culture.”
They also included their bid video.

MBKS believes that through collaboration with Sarawak’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, they could promote Kuching to the world as a gastronomic destination.
The recognition could also bring growth to the creative economy that could benefit Sarawakians.
MBKS said the application was the first for Malaysia under the seven creative fields under UCCN. Apart from gastronomy, the six other categories include crafts and folk art, design, film, literature, media arts, and music.
There are now a total of 295 cities in the UCCN.

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


Serious, Sentimental & A Bit Funny: Who Is Ahmad Faizal Azumu?

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

Datuk Ahmad Faizal Azumu may have only started his political career 10 years ago, but in just a decade or so he has made quite the impact to have made it to “minister-level”.

As of 5 August 2021, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tambun is now also Special Advisor to Prime Minister Tan Sri Mahiaddin Md Yasin.
What does a Special Advisor to the PM do?Faizal Azumu, who is also BERSATU’s Deputy President, will be in charge of advising Mahiaddin on matters related to community affairs, community communications and socio-economic development.

Before this considerable step up for Faizal Azumu, let’s take a quick look at what the former Perak Menteri Besar has done prior to his latest appointment.
In the beginning
(Credit: Anderson School Ipoh Facebook)
Faizal Azumu was born in Ipoh, Perak on 10 June 1970.
The now 51-year-old attended all-boys school Cator Avenue School in Ipoh for his primary education and Anderson School in Ipoh for his secondary education.
For his higher education, Faizal Azumu pursued a Business Studies degree from Edith Cowan University in Perth, Australia but did not complete the course.
Political journey and timeline
Faizal Azumu’s foray into politics began 10 years ago in 2011 at the of 41 when he was Special Officer to then Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai till 2013.
2013 – 2016: Senior Special Officer to then Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir
2016 – 2017: Ipoh Barat Youth Chief for the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
2017:
Perak BERSATU chairmanSubsequently in August became Perak Pakatan Harapan chairmanServed in the now-defunct Special Affairs Department (JASA), an agency formed by Barisan Nasional (BN) and the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia (MCMC)
Farhan Najib / Malay Mail
2018 – 2020
Served as Menteri Besar of Perak from May 2018, even through the fall of the Pakatan Harapan Federal Government, till UMNO and DAP MPs joined forces to oust him in 2020.Member of Parliament for Tambun since 9 May 2018Member of the Perak State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Chenderiang since 9 May 2018Member, Deputy President and State Chairman of Perak as well as Pahang for the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU)
Faizal Azumu is also one of only two Menteri Besars who have led state administrations in two different and opposing political coalitions.
From May 2018 to March 2020, he served with Pakatan Harapan (PH) and from March 2020 till his resignation in December 2020, he was with the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration.
READ MORE: What Happened To Faizal Azumu After The Confidence Vote?
2021
Appointed ministerial-level Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on 5 August.
Controversies
Like his cohorts in the past and present, Faizal Azumu has also had his share of controversies.
In 2018, Faizal Azumu turned heads for openly criticising Orang Asli indigenous tribes by saying they should improve themselves before asking for Aid.A year later in 2019, he claimed there is no definition or recognition of ancestral or customary land (tanah adat)for Orang Asli under the state constitution. He was later refuted by his fellow PH MP Ramkarpal Singh and the Malaysian Bar.Also in 2019, he was reported to have had a degree in Business Studies from Edith Cowan University in Perth but later openly admitted he did not complete the course.  In June 2020, Faizal Azumu was spotted in a luxury Lexus ES Sedan but claimed Perak’s state government bought it for him at a discount of RM200,000 (basic model retail price is about RM300,000).Also in 2020, he famously said that the public should not blame politicians for the spike in Covid-19 cases back in October 2020, saying that anyone can get infected.
READ MORE: Politician Says Don’t Blame Politicians For Covid-19 Spike
Sentimental and with a sense of humour?
(Credit: Head Topics)
During his farewell speech after being voted out as Perak Menteri Besar in December 2020, Faizal Azumu not only expressed appreciation for his state executive council and lawmakers from both sides of the divide but said he missed his former colleagues in Pakatan Harapan.
“I would like to thank my comrades in Pakatan Harapan. I miss you guys sometimes actually. Seriously.”Ahmad Faizal Azumu at the Perak Assembly Proceeding, 4 December 2020
 It has also come to our attention that Faizal Azumu may be a bit of a funny man with various Gif’s of him online that look as though they were professionally shot for the intention of being a bit humourous.

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


Malaysia Ranks 8th Most Stressful Country To Drive In

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

If you’ve been complaining about how stressful it is to drive in Malaysia, your views are now validated by a ranking published by Confused.com, a UK-based financial services comparison platform specialising in comparing insurance and financial services.

The factors taken into consideration to come up with the overall score are:
Road qualityNumber of speed camerasFatal accidents per country populationNumber of cars per KM of road
Each country is scored out of 100 for each factor and then the average score out of 100 is calculated to rank the countries.
Confused.com also used several different sources, from the World Health Organisation to the World Economic Forum, to rank countries on each factor.
How did Malaysia do?
Do you feel the stress yet? Credit:  Malay Mail.
Results show that Malaysia is the eighth most stressful country to drive in, with an overall score of 72 out of 100.
Here’s how Malaysia fared under each factor:
One speed camera for every KM of the road: 995.88Road quality: 72.4Fatal accidents per 100,000 population: 22.93Number of cars per KM of road: 91.5
Number one on the most stressful list is occupied by the United Arab Emirates due to the immense traffic on the roads and the highest number of fatal accidents per population.
What about our Southeast Asian neighbours?
Singapore ranked 17th on the list but scored a lower fatal accident score (2.51) as compared to Malaysia (22.93).
Meanwhile, the Philippines and Thailand ranked 13th and 27th respectively.
Top 3 least stressful countries to drive in
Denmark, Japan and Finland ranked as the three least stressful countries to drive in. Each country scored under 28 out of 100, scoring particularly low in each factor.
Top 10 countries with the most speed cameras
Where’s the camera? Credit: Malay Mail
Speed cameras are put in place to help keep other road users safe. However, the number of speed traps can also add to the driving stress on an already hectic lifestyle.
These are the countries that have the most speed cameras on the road:
Hong KongUAESingaporeTurkeyBelgiumItalyCzech RepublicUnited KingdomAustriaBulgaria
Top 10 nations with the worst quality of roads
Potholes, potholes everywhere. Credit: Malay Mail
Most road users will complain about potholes and it seems to be a problem experienced worldwide. Poor road quality can endanger other road users and make the driving experience hellish.
These are the countries that ranked highly for poor road quality:
ZimbabweRomaniaBrazilPeruColombiaBulgariaArgentinaPhilippinesIranCzech Republic
Top 10 countries with the most fatal accidents
More road accidents are likely to happen when there are more cars on the road. Thus, it’s not a surprise to see the United Arab Emirates and India topping the list of most fatal accidents.
These are the countries that scored high for most fatal accidents:
UAEIndiaChileHong KongTurkeyCanadaChinaNetherlandsThailandSouth Africa
You can check out the full list at Confused.com. Meanwhile, remember to drive safe always.

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


Malaysians Could Expect More Internet Issues With The Govt’s Latest Decision

Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest stories and updates

Former Transport Minister Anthony Loke has questioned the Perikatan Nasional government’s move to revoke the cabotage exemption for foreign-registered vessels to perform undersea cable maintenance.

The exemption was given to reduce the time to repair underwater sea cables which affects internet connection.
It’s reported by Malay Mail that Malaysia currently has 16 underwater international cable networks, and nine domestic cable networks.
I would like to ask the Transport Ministry, what were the government’s considerations in cancelling the cabotage exemption policy for undersea cable maintenance effect November 13 as gazetted in the Federal Gazette PU (B) 592 recently. Were the voices and demands of the local telecommunications and internet industries taken into account? What is the priority of Internet access in Malaysia, in terms of industrial development for the Industrial Revolution 4.0 here?Former Transport Minister Anthony Loke via Malay Mail
What do these cables do?
Submarine sea cables are used to transfer data using fibre optics wrapped in layers of plastic or steel wires and has about the same width as a garden hose.
As the name suggests, these cables are located deep underwater which cables nearer to the shore being buried under the seabed for protection.
As of early 2020, there are approximately 406 submarine cables in service around the world, stretching 1.2 million kilometres.
What’s a Cabotage Exemption?
According to the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), it’s a policy that allows foreign operators to transport goods or passengers between two places along coastal routes in Malaysia.
This is practiced by many nations worldwide including developed nations and it allows for foreign vessels to operate here.
It began in 1980 to promote local ownership and shipping while at the same time minimising the country’s dependence on foreign vessels.
This was later extended to vessels who worked on undersea cable maintenance in local waters in 1 April 2019 – when Anthony Loke was the Minister of Transport.
At the time, the aim was to attract foreign investors, including big players such as Facebook, Google, and Amazon, and it was requested by local telco companies such as TIME dotCom and Telekom Malaysia.
It’s also because Malaysia only has one vessel to repair undersea cables.
It was reported that it can cut down repair times from 27 days to 14 days, compared to 20 days in the Philippines, 19 days in Singapore and 12 days in Vietnam.
READ MORE: Malaysians Are Experiencing Slower Internet Due To Submarine Cable Fault

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


Petrol Stations In Johor Under Investigation For Selling RON95 To Foreign Vehicles

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

The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) is investigating two petrol stations in Johor Bahru for selling subsidized petrol to foreign vehicles from neighbouring countries.

Berita Harian quoted KPDNHEP Enforcement Director Azman Adam saying they received five complaints after the country’s border reopened on 1 April.
So far, we have identified two petrol stations involved in this case. Investigations under the Control of Supply Act 1971 are in the final stages.KPDNHEP Enforcement Director Azman Adam on the action taken by his ministry.
He added that investigations are also being carried out to identify the petrol stations involved in three other complaints.
The identity and exact location of the company involved was not revealed.
Prohibition On Sale Of RON95 Petrol To Foreign-registered Vehicles.
At the same time, KPDNHEP reminded petrol stations not to allow vehicles from neighbouring countries to buy subsidized fuel.
Earlier, photos of drivers believed to be foreigners filling RON95 on their Singapore registered vehicles had gone viral on social media.
READ MORE: Ministry To Take Action On Singaporeans Caught ‘Stealing’ Subsidized Petrol
The situation prompted Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi to instruct KPDNHEP’s Enforcement Division to investigate.
Azman said his party did not hesitate to take action against any party who misappropriated subsidies, and if found guilty, they could be prosecuted according to the law.
KPDNHEP is grateful to consumers who channelled information on the case because it involves the issue of subsidies. If used a lot by foreigners, it may affect the supply quantity.KPDNHEP Enforcement Director Azman Adam encouraging the public to cooperate on the matter.
Petrol Vigilante
Meanwhile, some netizens had come up with suggestions to deal with the matter because they felt the authorities are slow to act.
A Facebook user Mohd Anshahrizat Aluhar suggested pressing the emergency shutoff on petrol pumps.
He said this should only be a last resort if the foreigners refused to listen and continued to pump the RON95.

His suggestion triggered a debate among netizens as some find it inappropriate and a misuse of the emergency button.
Some pointed out that the proper way is to take down the vehicle plate number, the time, location and photos of the incident and submit it to KPDNHEP for further action.

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


Japan’s Ex-PM Shinzo Abe Shot While Delivering Speech, Shooter Apprehended At The Scene

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

Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe has been taken to the hospital after he was allegedly shot while delivering a speech in the western city of Nara.

Malay Mail reported that Abe was delivering a speech at an event ahead of Sunday’s upper house elections when sounds of gunshots were heard.
Abe, 67, collapsed and was bleeding from the neck. NHK and Kyodo reported that Abe was in cardiorespiratory arrest, a term used in Japan to indicate that there are no vital signs. It generally means a preceding formal certification of death by a coroner.
Reports indicate that Abe was possibly shot with a shotgun from the back. The perpetrator had been apprehended at the scene.
Abe is Japan’s longest-serving prime minister and held office in 2006 for a year and again from 2012 to 2020.

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


The Spirit of the NBA; Cognac Hennessy Unveils Second Season Tip-Off With The NBA

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

Hennessy, one of the world’s best-selling cognac brands and the first global spirit partner of the NBA, is continuing its global campaign on the basketball courts of Malaysia.
Hennessy recently announced the launch of the second season tip-off, ‘The Spirit of the NBA’ in an unprecedented launch 6,000 feet above sea level at Genting Highlands.
Both global brands celebrated and expanded the influence that the league, the beloved sport itself, and Hennessy have had in and out of the court.
Thomas Bouleuc, Managing Director of Moët Hennessy Malaysia, said the company is tremendously proud to be a part of this 75th Anniversary Celebration, with the NBA playoffs as the Official Spirit of the NBA.
As the sun dropped, the court transformed into a neon-lit celebration at Genting Highlands.
He said that Hennessy had established a reputation as more than just a cognac brand over the years.
Hennessy has always sought to represent global communities and empower people to come together through entertainment, fellowship, and unity.Moët Hennessy Malaysia Managing Director Thomas Bouleuc on the collaboration between Hennessy and the NBA.
As the NBA’s 21-22 season shoots off in Malaysia, Hennessy said it is enormously gratified to be working with such a distinguished partner who shares these very same values and shared culture of integrity, teamwork, esteem and community.
Hennessy is marking this season’s tip-off by reaching out to loyal fans and introducing new ways of celebrating NBA game night.
The launch, the first of its kind, was held at High Line Rooftop Market in SkyAvenue,  Genting Highlands recently.
The evening featured bespoke NBA cocktails designed specifically to toast the occasion, representing Hennessy’s dedication to supporting this awesome game and the culture that comes hand-in-hand.
Moët Hennessy Malaysia Managing Director Thomas Bouleuc and guests at the ‘Spirit of the NBA’ event.
Hennessy’s ‘The Spirit of NBA’ campaign brings a dedicated story of an exhilarating sport that has created a cultural movement with significant influence and has impacted all walks of life across generations, whether as a player, a supporter or a loyal fan.
Hennessy created an immersive experience, showcasing the NBA league’s influence and association with the creatives across the various industries of fashion, music, and art in Malaysia.
The ‘Spirit of the NBA’ event features an enthralling basketball court installation and engaging activities that include a photocall and hoop shoot game.
Guests posing for a photo at the ‘Spirit of the NBA’ event.
Guests also had the chance to mix their own Hennessy cocktail drink at the bar, bringing to life the partnership of Hennessy and the NBA at the stellar venue.
Uniting on and off the court, Hennessy brings together a solid collaborative effort with prominent local streetwear brands, Atmos KL and Against Lab.
Uplifting the spirit of the NBA, lucky winners also walked away with NBA tickets, Atmos vouchers and merchandise, NBA jerseys and NBA basketballs.
A lucky draw winner receives a pair of limited edition shoes from atmos KL, presented by Moët Hennessy Malaysia Managing Director Thomas Bouleuc.
Beyond that, Hennessy will also be organising watch parties at three selected venues – Kongzhi in Sri Petaling, Park-in Subang and Light Bar in Johor Bahru for fans to come together and cheer in victory in celebration of the NBA final play-offs.
Those attending can also toast with exclusive bespoke cocktails specially developed to commemorate the 75th Anniversary tip-off.
Specially-curated cocktails are part of Hennessy’s partnership with the NBA.
For more than 250 years, Hennessy has celebrated those who embody the “Never Stop. Never Settle” ethos personified by the players’ unwavering commitment to drive culture forward.
Basketball fans can look forward to a nine-week long campaign that shoots off in Malaysia in April.
Following the event launch at Genting Highlands, there will be a slam dunk finale at participating outlets that will culminate in this season’s league.
To celebrate @HENNESSY as the global spirit of the @NBA I sat down to reflect on my philosophy of the game which truly aligns with Hennessy’s Never Stop. Never Settle approach. Read the article here: https://t.co/HnShNrG6u1 #SpiritOfTheNBA #HennessyxNBA Please drink responsibly! pic.twitter.com/q38pOvYwrL— Vince Carter (@mrvincecarter15) June 20, 2021

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


Covid-19: Economic Affairs Minister Tok Pa Tests Positive

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

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, or commonly known as Tok Pa, has tested positive for Covid-19.

According to a report by The Star, the Economic Affairs Minister’s Covid-19 test result was made public through a statement from his office.
It said that Tok Pa was confirmed positive on Saturday night (9 January), after taking a test as soon as he reached Kota Baru, Kelatan, that morning.
He is currently being warded at Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II, Kota Baru for observation, but in stable condition.
Tok Pa is the second Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department to test positive for Covid-19. (Credit: Malay Mail)
Tok Pa had also been screened for Covid-19 on 1 January and tested negative. As such, all his close contacts between 1 and 9 January have been advised to get themselves screened for the virus as soon as possible.
His office added that Tok Pa apologised for all the inconvenience caused.
Tok Pa is the second Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department to test positive for Covid-19. In October 2020, Religious Affairs Minister Datuk Dr Zulkifli Mohamed Al-Bakri confirmed on Twitter that he had tested positive as well.
READ MORE: Religious Affairs Minister Tests Positive For Covid-19, Attendees Of Meeting At PM Office Under HSO

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


“Sabah & Sarawak Are Not Anybody’s Dumpster” Kota Belud MP Slams Decision To Transfer Problematic Cops To East Malaysia

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

Kota Belud MP Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis condemns the police force for transferring nine of its personnel from Selangor police contingent that was under investigation for extorting a businessman in Gombak.

“Sabah and Sarawak are not dumping ground. Whose idea was this?” she wrote on Twitter yesterday, accompanying her update with a screenshot of a media report of the decision.
Sabah Sarawak bukan tong sampah ya. Siapa punya idea ni? 😡 pic.twitter.com/5Y41wEvbEy— Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (@munirahmajilis) August 2, 2022
She also posted the same question on Facebook, where she laments the apparent prejudice and apathetic attitude toward Sabah and Sarawak by the Federal Government.
The Warisan Wirawati chief said that it was bad enough that East Malaysia fell behind other Peninsular states in terms of infrastructure and urged the Federal Government not to dump problematic civil servants to Sabah and Sarawak.
“When will we progress,” she asked, while also demanding better treatment from the Federal Government to the East Malaysian states.

Last Friday, nine policemen – ranked from constable to sub-inspector – were arrested for allegedly extorting a businessman, believed to be related to a drugs case, in Gombak recently.
All nine policemen were subsequently transferred to Sabah and Sarawak, said Selangor deputy police chief, S Sasikala Devi.
It was not uncommon for civil servants that were facing disciplinary actions to be put in cold storage and transferred out from their current department.
In supporting Isnaraissah, netizens suggested a revamp in the disciplinary actions imposed on civil servants that had flaunted the law.
Ini namanya kerja mudah. Tak pasal-pasal ketua jabatan baru pulak yang hadap masalah. Ketua jabatan lama elok je relaks2 jaga prestasi 🤭— Faizal (@Sky0ne_) August 3, 2022
Habis kalau dekat sabah serawak dia buat hal? Hantar kemana? Semenanjung balik? Lepas tu buat lagi, hantar balik ke sabah serawak.. sampai bila?— Pdot Othman (@PdotOthman) August 2, 2022
YB kena mulakan usul untuk kerajaan ambil tindakan yang keras kepada pegawai kerajaan tidak disiplin ni. Cikgu, polis, pegawai SPRM, doktor, dan lain lain asyik ditukar saja.— ZafranHaikal (@zafranhaikal) August 2, 2022

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


Malaysians Are Hooked On This Video Showing A House Filled With Fish After Flood

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

Some fishy footage that’s swimming around social media has Malaysians jumping out of the water with joy.
The 33-second clip shows the inside of a house that appeared to be teeming with schools of live freshwater catfish, after it was supposedly ravaged by floods.
In the video, the person behind the camera takes viewers on a personal tour inside the home which was filled with at least a few centimetres of muddy water and fish of varying sizes, in almost every room.
The video also includes some hilarious narration by a man with a distinct Terengganu accent who invites viewers to come and visit the makeshift aquarium.
Look at all the fish inside the house! Come, come, there’s all kinds of fish here. There’s fish everywhere. A lot of people are coming to visit my house. I’m only charging them RM5 each. Your kampung doesn’t have (this), right? Said the narrator.
Ikang masuk dalam rumoh, kampung takdok banjir gini pic.twitter.com/cgyXYs0Sue— Sid Razali ฏ๎๎๎๎๎๎๎ (@sidchan) November 24, 2020
The video serves as a neat satirical commentary to the ongoing flood problems we experience in Malaysia every single year.
READ MORE: Who’s to blame for M’sian flood woes?
Ongoing problem
According to the Federal government’s “Infobanjir” flood information system, throughout 2020, floods have been reported across Terengganu, Kelantan, Melaka, Penang, Pahang, Perlis, Perak, Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Selangor as well as the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak.
Recently, Kuala Lumpur was also left submerged after several hours of heavy rain had caused flash floods through the capital city.
READ MORE: Masjid Jamek Is Now Pulau Jamek Due To Heavy Rain

Thousands of people across the country have been forced to evacuate their homes and placed into temporary relief centres in order to wait out the floods.
In 2019, over 15,000 people across the country were forced to leave their homes and evacuate affected flood areas.
(Malay Mail)
This year, the flood situation and ongoing evacuations have raised fears of further Covid-19 outbreaks.
Acknowledging this concern, Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was quoted as saying that the government was fully prepared to face the problem and “prays” that nothing bad will happen.
Deputy Minister of Health Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali had also urged flood victims and emergency services personnel to abide by Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOP) to prevent further spread of infections.

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


“My Child Needs A Phone For School” – Father In Indonesia Stole RM44 From Mosque, Promises To Pay Back

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

A desperate father in need of money reportedly stole money from a mosque donation box.

The incident took place in neighboring Indonesia but it is now viral, as the man has left behind on a note that touched the hearts of many.
Through the CCTV footage at a mosque in Desa Demangan, Jepara district in Central Java, the man was seen leaving behind a note after stealing the money.
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by solla taufiq (@shollataufiq)
According to Tribun Papua Barat, the letter explained why he did so. The man promised to return all the money he stole within a year and he also apologized.
In less than a year I will return the money in this box. My son needs a mobile phone for school. The desperate father on why he stole money from the mosque.
The note that was left behind by the father. (Credit: Tribun Papua Barat)
Jepara Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit, Assistant Commissioner of Police, M Fachrur Rozi said the total theft was worth Rp 150,000 (RM44.06).
He added that the mosque declined to lodge a police report on the matter, but the police will complete their investigation nevertheless.
His actions violated the law and no one knows what his real life conditions are. We don’t know his identity, nor do we know if he is a recidivist. Even if he is underprivileged, the police have an obligation to help, foster and provide education for him to become a better person.Jepara Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit, Assistant Commissioner of Police, M Fachrur Rozi on the police investigation

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


After Going Viral, Malaysian Teacher’s Online Class Now Full After Students Apologise For Flaking

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

Recently, a secondary school teacher who organised an online learning session through Zoom was left alone when none of his students came online to join his class.

Despite spending hours learning how to use Google Meets and Zoom to prepare for the online class, the teacher’s efforts went unappreciated as attempts to reach his students failed.
Some even turned off their mobile phones so that they would be unreachable when Cikgu Mustakim tried to call them.
However, things this week have taken a turn for the better as Cikgu Mustakim’s students have called to apologise and ask to join his online classes!
His online classroom is now full of his students!(Credit: @skinleas/Twitter)
According to his daughter, Cikgu Mustakim now has a full classroom again with his students. Many have called him to apologise for missing his previous online classes and requested that he start another one.
Cikgu Mustakim happily obliged and hosted another online class, this time grateful and elated that it was attended by his students.
As Cikgu Mustakim teaches students facing their SPM this year, it is even more important that they are able to focus on their studies. As long as the Movement Control Order (MCO) is in place, classes will have to be held online.
We wish Cikgu Mustakim and his students all the best in their studies!
UPDATED. Alhamdulillah, student dah minta maaf & call abi minta buat class & ramai yang join 🥺 Abi pun bersyukur & happy sangat. Semoga quantity ni kekal sampai habis class online (pkpb)Thankyou untuk semua yang mendoakan & bagi kata kata semangat dekat abi ❤ pic.twitter.com/hFiEEpioXO— Nuha 🦩 (@skinleas) November 28, 2020

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


Malaysians Unemployed By Covid-19 Can Apply To Become Babysitters & Childcare Center Operators

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

It appears that Malaysians who were unfortunate enough to have lost their jobs during the country’s Covid-19 crisis can maybe try their luck at babysitting.
The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is encouraging unemployed Malaysians who are interested in early childhood education to sign up for the government’s PERMATA Child Care Course (KAP).
The KAP training course provides basic schooling for individuals interested in seeking employment or would like to operate their own childcare centers or taskas.
Minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun, explains that each KAP participant is entitled to receive an RM900 incentive payment under the government’s Covid-19 Economic Recovery Plan (PENJANA).
However, according to the Social Welfare Department’s (JKM) website, each KAP participant needs to pay RM800 for a 144-hour theory course and practical training as well as another RM100 for the PERMATA module or textbook on early childhood education.
…those who are interested can then apply to attend a KAP course through the JKM website.Rina Harun via Bernama

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

Source:
883 taska di rumah kembali beroperasi selepas PKP
PERMATA CHILD CARE COURSE


Covid-19: Govt Considering Locking Down Kota Kinabalu Says Bung Moktar

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

The federal authorities are considering implementing a movement control order (MCO) on Kota Kinabalu due to the steady increase in Covid-19 cases there.

According to Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, authorities were suggesting so because they believed the state’s capital might become a “red zone” soon if cases continued to rise.
The government is thinking about locking down KK so this Covid-19 doesn’t spread to other districts. This is coming from the Health Ministry but the federal government will have to approve it. They will look at the situation and decide if it’s under control. If not, then we have no choice, we have to protect people first.Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin
A targeted enhanced movement control order (TEMCO) has already been implemented two days ago on four districts in Sabah’s east coast, namely in Lahad Datu, Tawau, Kunak, and Semporna.
The TEMCO was imposed after the four districts recorded a total of 1,195 Covid-19 cases from 1 September.

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


GE15: Baram Resumes Voting Today In 12 Polling Stations

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

On Saturday (19 November), the Election Commission (EC) had to suspend polling at 11 of the 194 voting stations in Baram, Sarawak, due to bad weather.

Today (21 November), the EC has opened 12 polling stations in Baram to resume the polls.
Locals can start casting their vote from 7.30am to 12.30pm or 2pm depending on the respective centres.
The polling stations opened today are:
Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Long NaahSK Long LutengRh TK Matthew Belulok LaloKpg Lepo GahSK Long SaitSK Long TunganSK Long MohSK Long MekabarSK Long JekitanSK Long LameiSK Lio MatoSK Long BangaRh TK John Jau Wan in Long Semiang (additional voting station)

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


Doctor Outs Dead Patient As Gay And HIV+, Slammed For Breach Of Patient Privacy

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

There has been massive outcry on Twitter after a Malaysian doctor outed a deceased patient as gay and HIV positive in a post.

The patient, who was unable to recover after contracting Covid-19, had confessed to the doctor and asked that the doctor keep his secret.
Instead, after he has passed away, she posted pictures of his X-Ray on Twitter with his full name in view.
This essentially outed the patient posthumously and is also a severe breach of the patient’s privacy and confidentiality.
The original post was up for hours, gaining much criticism from the public and medical personnel alike, including from the Malaysian AIDS Council.
The Malaysian AIDS Council together with @KKMPutrajaya stand firm on the policy of medical officers to protect patient’s privacy and confidentiality, especially when it comes to HIV – where the stigma is still very much out there. 1/3 https://t.co/1LPgf6OVmW— Malaysian AIDS Council (@myAIDScouncil) April 25, 2022
The Malaysian AIDS Council notes that behaviour such as posting a patient’s private details online is considered a ‘clear misconduct’ among medical practitioners.
Additionally, they also warned that suitable action may be taken against such irresponsible actions.
However, at the time of writing, the original post and the doctor’s account has been deleted.

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


“No More Ceasefire”, Umno Will Not Continue MoU With PH

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

Umno announced that the political ceasefire with Pakatan Harapan (PH) will not be continued once the memorandum of understanding (MoU) inked with the opposition bloc ends on 31 July, said the party’s secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.

The decision not to prolong the MoU was reached by the party’s Supreme Council in its closed-door meeting chaired by president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said Ahmad in a statement issued yesterday.
“The position of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the federal government and Pakatan Harapan that will end on July 31, 2022 will not continue,” the statement reads.
Calls to end the truce with PH grew louder especially within Umno’s ranks following the historic defeat of the government’s motion to extend a provision under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) by a bloc voting which was called by PH lawmakers.
Umno’s hevyweights, including party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had also previously called for the government to end the MoU with PH since the sentiment among voters are favourable towards Umno as evident by BN’s performance in the Melaka and Johor state election.
Zahid had also suggested for the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is one of Umno’s vice-presidents, to dissolve the Parliament to pave way for an early general election.
Read More: Zahid Joins Bandwagon, Calls For Earlier GE-15 After Victories In Melaka And Johor
Last month, Ahmad Zahid also expressed that the party has no intention to extend the political ceasefire and suggested the government dissolve the Parliament to pave the way for a premature general election.
On 13 September 2021, the government had signed an MOU on Transformation and Political Stability with PH for the sake of the nation’s political stability, following the change of two governments since the 2018 general election.

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


“Double Standards?” Malaysians Compares Panasonic ‘Rambutan’ Video To Libresse ‘Flower’ Packaging

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

Malaysians were seen debating online over an ambiguous video advertisement published by Panasonic Malaysia that made references to the male reproductive organ.

The ad titled “Trim Your Rambut-an” was made to promote the home appliance brand’s men’s body hair trimmer and featured two local favourite fruits as a stand-in for what’s obviously testicles.
“Bro, don’t let your Rambut-ans get out of hand. Get silky smooth like a lychee with our Panasonic Men’s Body Hair Trimmer for those tough to get to spots all over your body,” note the ad’s caption.

The innuendoes marketing campaign apparently triggered netizens to make a comparison between the ballsy ad and the vulva flower motif that was presented as a limited-time campaign promotion by the feminine hygiene brand Libresse Malaysia.
So Libresse’s vagina flower is not okay but this is fine? pic.twitter.com/Vc7ZyJykLI— i- (@lndra__) November 10, 2021
Remember? Libresse’s vulva flower design on their packaging for sanitary pads drew a lot of criticism, especially from the more religious factions of our society, for supposedly being obscene and disrespectful towards women.
Read More: This Feminine Hygiene Brand Is Trending On Malaysian Twitter And Here’s Why
While some did raise a concern that people were being biased between the two double entendre ads.
Double standard 😌 we can make dick jokes but not educating people about vaginas. https://t.co/3Beebb8D4Y— jodielynn geinod (@jodielynngee) November 11, 2021
A few commenters did agree that some Malaysian marketing moves were getting a bit lewd.
Not fine but we’ve opened the floodgates long before Libresse.Won’t stop here. Expect more innuendos and lewdness in public spaces. Boleh tunjuk kat anak-anak nanti https://t.co/rsgR6GKbVO— احمد موخرز 🇲🇾 (@ahmadmukhriz93) November 11, 2021
Others however were of the opinion that there was absolutely nothing immoral with both Panasonic’s testicle campaign and Libresse’s vulva themed creatives.
I love both ads. https://t.co/0KwP4hSKIT— Avocado 🥑 (@ezekiellovesme) November 11, 2021
While most were more interested in other things…
Why would you compare rambutan and lychee? Why not ‘without hair -tan’ vs lychee? Does the ball change identity also ah? https://t.co/gsWWdyFdhF— Paaatriciaa (@Peatricya) November 11, 2021
After reading the replies, it shows that some women doesn’t know the balls have hairs. https://t.co/6BXWhehFNH— Apilah🇲🇾✨ (@HazieqApilah) November 11, 2021
Rambutan is ruined for me… https://t.co/pc2iwzxM8q— Adam Hariz (@admhrzz) November 11, 2021
Hold up…aint no straight man asking their homies these kind of questionsA: bro, you smell nice ah..show me your ballsB: clean and shaved brother, use this brandA: bro u the best, lets balls bumpWho the hell do that? 🤣😂 https://t.co/ygcqcLTYOv— Azhim Ahmad (@AzhimAhmed) November 11, 2021
Anybody wanna feel my lychees https://t.co/u6GBgV8KXq— Eugene (@Eugeneksk) November 11, 2021

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


D-Day For Kopitiams: Can’t Sell Beers Without A License Starting 1 January

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

Lately, the prices of goods have been rising as if there is no tomorrow.

And soon, people might have to pay more for beer as well.
The reason: Kopitiams will be required to get a license to sell beer starting 1 January next year.
Petaling Jaya Coffeeshop Association president Keu Kok Meng was quoted by the Vibes as saying that coffee shops selling beer will be required to apply for a new license from 1 January.
The requirement is part of a new federal government policy, he said.
Ume, or plum wine, is among the liquors popular in Malaysia. (Credit: Fernando Fong)
A Nasty Surprise
Keu said businesses will appeal against the decision and have written to the authorities as they felt that the notice given is too short.
Accordingly, they only knew about it last month when during a briefing by the Customs Department who informed them of the decision.
Coffee shops will need to cough up between RM840 and RM1,320 for the annual license fee.
The longer the operating hour, the more they need to pay for the license.
It will be enforced nationwide. Of that I’m certain, according to the briefing session. It is understood that enforcement comes under the Excise Regulations 1977. The legislation has been there, but they are only enforcing it now.Petaling Jaya Coffeeshop Association president Keu Kok Meng on the beer license
He added that the Customs Department had informed the Finance Ministry of the decision much earlier in March.
A coffee shop in Kuala Lumpur. (Credit: Fernando Fong)
The 11th Hour
Keu said businesses will appeal against the decision and have written to the authorities.
They felt that the notice given is too short.
He also highlighted that many coffee shops have already gone bust due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Nor do they have any idea on how to go about applying for the license, despite the deadline approaches.
In other words, the new policy could not have come at the worst time.
DAP Weighs In
Meanwhile, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng blamed PAS for starting the whole thing with its so-called extremist policies.
The former Finance Minister was quoted by FMT as saying that the government is making an issue of the sale of alcoholic beverages in coffee shops and restaurants.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng. (Credit: Malay Mail)
Such rulings will bring nothing but unnecessary restrictions and interfere in the normal lifestyle and business practices of non-Muslims. DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng on the beer license
In any case, the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had taken the lead in curbing alcohol sales.
Sundry shops, convenience stores, and Chinese medicine halls in the capital are barred from selling hard liquor starting this month.
READ MORE: DBKL Bans Liquor Sales, Sets Restrictions On When Beer Can Be Sold And Malaysians Are Divided
The Best Bet For Cheap Beer
For certain, kopitiams has been a popular place for people to indulge in happy hours.
It is not hard to see why since people can buy beer for a significantly lower price than in bars, not to mention the licensing requirements that the bars require.
After all, many kopitiams do not require as many overheads compared to a bar, in terms of manpower and interior fittings.
The coffee shops would undoubtedly find it a pain to apply for a license should their pleas fall on deaf ears.
Such is life.
Jägermeister, a German digestif made with herbs and spices, has an alcohol by volume of 35%. (Credit: Fernando Fong)

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


Mâ€™sian women commonly mistake heart attacks symptoms for other ailments; here’s why

The number one killer in Malaysia is heart disease.
Data from the Department of Statistics show death from coronary heart disease (CHD) has increased since 2007. In 2017, 13,503 people died due to CAD, which basically means, CHD causes 37 deaths per day.
YET, many women have the mindset that heart attacks only occur in men.

Picture credit: Freepik

Of course, it’s not entirely their fault. In the past, women below 55 were often not included in CHD clinical trials.
CHD is a silent killer that develops over decades and many donâ€™t notice a problem until there is a significant blockage or a heart attack and by then, the prognosis may not be good.
ARE YOU AT RISK?
Everyone knows the traditional risk factors that contribute to heart disease, such as diabetes, hypertension, physical inactivity, obesity, and smoking.
However, in women, there are other risk factors besides the traditional ones.
Crying Tears GIF from Crying GIFs

These include:

 Autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus.
Gestational diabetes
Pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy)
Pre-term delivery
Weight gain during pregnancy that isn’t shed after delivery
Breast cancer

Studies show that women who experience these conditions during their childbearing years have a higher chance of having CHD later in life.

Picture credit: Freepik

After pregnancy, women assume the conditions were just part of their pregnancy and donâ€™t follow up with their doctor.
Young women with breast cancer are also at risk of a damaged heart and coronary vessels. This is because of cancer treatment management of radiation, especially when done on the left side of their chest.
CHD SYMPTOMS IN WOMEN
Women below 55 may not exhibit typical CHD symptoms, instead, their symptoms are vague and often attributed to lack of exercise or stress.
Their symptoms for also often mistaken to be due to gastric or menopause-related.

Picture credit: Freepik

By the time they get treated for CHD, their disease is extensive and their outcomes and recovery rates are worse than men.
Common heart attack symptoms in women include:

Shortness of breath
Shoulder/neck pain
Feeling generally unwell
Easily tired
Stomach pain
Back pain

Picture credit: Freepik

WHAT TO DO NEXT
One myth is that hormone replacement therapy helps a womanâ€™s heart post-menopause. However, recent clinical trials prove that while it may help protect women from strokes and fractures, it does not have an impact on CHD.
If you exhibit any of the symptoms above and have any of the risk factors, go see a doctor.
If you are experiencing chest pains, get checked immediately.
What Part Did You Not Understand? GIF from Scrubs GIFs

The â€˜Golden Hourâ€™ is the first hour of having chest pains, and seeing the doctor during this period could make a difference in saving your life. The longer you wait, the more heart muscles become damaged.
If the symptoms fade, it is actually a warning that something is happening to your arteries, and if you wait until the next morning, you might never reach the hospital.
Take control of your health and donâ€™t procrastinate.

Picture credit: Freepik

80% of CHD-related deaths are preventable by living an active lifestyle and maintaining a healthy diet.
Have some thoughts about heart disease in women? Share them with us on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!


RM10,000 EPF Withdrawal Confusion Brilliantly Lampooned In Malay Comedy Show

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

A hilarious clip of what appears to be a spontaneous ad-lib in the middle of the live recording of Sepahtu Reunion 2020 has gone viral on Twitter.

In the 43-second clip, fellow actors and even the band can be seen unable to contain their laughter at a timely reference by comedian and radio host Jep Sepahtu, whose real name is Mohd Nadzri Zainal Abidin, 35.
If you understand Bahasa, you’ll want to watch the clip before continuing.

https://twitter.com/iamajayrahman/status/1334704997120950276

If you don’t understand Bahasa, basically Jep is admonishing a female character, being played by Maya Karin, saying that a deceased character loved her so much.
“He registered you as an heir of his Employee Provident Fund (EPF)!” exclaimed Jep, eliciting chuckles from those watching and smiles from the band.
But the next few lines really highlighted a current issue and broke the resolve of another male co-star sharing the stage.
“Now you understand how difficult it is to withdraw that RM10,000,” says Jep, causing one of the onstage actors to double over in laughter and lean against part of the set.
Pic Credit SepahtuReunionLive2020 via Twitter
Jep was referring to recent announcements by Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Aziz that people can withdraw money from their EPF funds if they had lost any income due to the Covid-19 crisis.
But as Jep points out next, it didn’t end there.
“That day they said it was okay, but then suddenly there were conditions,” he says, his voice cracking emotionally.
Both he and his fellow male co-star are then forced to turn away and hide their faces, but while Jep recovered quickly, the other guy placed both his hands on his head in defeat.
Pic Credit SepahtuReunionLive2020 via Twitter
Throughout the exchange, Maya is the only one who manages to convincingly hold on to her composure, making sobbing noises while sad piano music continues in the background, though she did cover her mouth at one point.
Pic Credit SepahtuReunionLive2020 via Twitter
The scene continues beyond the clip with him discussing how some people only have very little money in their retirement fund.
A Facebook commenter pointed out to us that EPF themselves have taken notice of Jep’s comedy and responded in kind.
While releasing graphics to help explain the situation, they even made one of him to represent artists who saw a drop in activities due to Covid-19.
They didn’t name him, but that hat looks very similar.
Sepahtu Reunion Live 2020 is aired on Thursday nights at 9pm on Astro Warna (107) but you can also catch it streamed on Astro GO and On Demand for free.
READ MORE: i-Sinar: EPF Allows Account 1 Withdrawal Up To RM60,000. Here’s How

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


This Engineering Graduate Cycles Around Brickfields Selling RM 1 Masala Chai To Earn SOMETHING

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

A young recent engineering graduate who cycles around Brickfields selling cups of masala chai has won the praise of Malaysians online for his hardworking nature.

The young Kavievanan Subramaniam (aka Kavie)’s story caught attention when a post shared on the Facebook group UnderMYPayung highlighted his mobile tea-selling business while praising the graduate’s diligence.
This fit, handsome person, Mr. Kavie is very inspirational and motivating to me. Graduated from Uniten with mechanical engineering last year but unable to get an engineering job due to this unprecedented year. How many other people would just sit and lie and wait for jobs to come to them with no results….UnderMYPayung, Facebook.
Credit: UnderMYPayung/Facebook
It turns out that the 23-year-old recently graduated from Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) with a mechanical engineering degree but could not successfully land a job with the pandemic-addled economy.
Kavie – himself an avid tea drinker – got the idea to start this chai-on-wheels business from the traditional chaiwalas (tea sellers) in India who also peddle their brews on bicycles.
He told Malay Mail that it has always been his dream to start his own business, and the sluggish job market became just the push he needed to make it a reality.
The masala chai Kavie sells is his own recipe with some input from his mother, for RM1 per cup between 3 -5pm as “that’s what time people like to have tea.”
Credit: UnderMYPayung/Facebook
Kavie said that he cycles an average of 5 kilometres a day around Brickfields with the filled-up 40-litre dispenser attached to the back of his bicycle along with some cakes and buns to go with the tea.
He sells the Masala Tea at RM1 per cup, and also sells an assortment of cakes and buns to go with his tea as well.
While Kavie’s story is inspiring, it’s also a sobering reminder of the hardship faced by thousands of Malaysians in securing a job.
Bad news for all
A recent study by the World Bank titled “The Vulnerability of Jobs to COVID-19: The Case of Malaysia” highlights that many workers and businesses have been impacted by the movement restrictions put in place to stop the spread of Covid-19.
Several months of mobility restrictions and business closures have severely impacted Malaysia’s economy, resulting in a 17.1 percent year-on-year drop in GDP in the second quarter of 2020.The Vulnerability of Jobs to COVID-19: The Case of Malaysia, World Bank.
Credit: Freepik
The study also points out that the economic slowdown has led to a sharp increase in unemployment with 7.35 million outside Malaysia’s labour force in August 2020.
Data from the Employment Insurance System (EIS) also show job losses increased by 42% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2020, and is expected to continueincreasing between 50% – 200% year-on-year for each subsequent quarter in 2020.
Against this backdrop, the study argues that proactive social protection and jobs policies are needed to mitigate the employment impacts of Covid-19 in Malaysia.The Vulnerability of Jobs to COVID-19: The Case of Malaysia, World Bank.

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

Source:
Unable to get a job, KL graduate cycles around Brickfields selling RM1 Masala Tea
The Vulnerability of Jobs to COVID-19: The Case of Malaysia


Agong Won’t Meet Anyone For A Week Due To Health Concerns

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

Palace officials have confirmed that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah will not be granting an audience to anyone for a week as he’s currently under observation.

According to reports by MalaysiaKini, the King was advised by his doctors to stay at the hospital.
His Majesty was admitted to Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) earlier this week but Istana Negara’s Comptroller of the Royal Household, Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin assured the rakyat that they shouldn’t be alarmed.
Meanwhile, PKR President Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said to the media that he was granted an audience but was postponed due to the Agong’s health concerns.
Anwar mentions that he has a “strong, formidable and majority” support during the press conference, but he didn’t mention who or how many Members of Parliament have jumped ship.

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


“It’s From Pasar Malam” Uncle Kentang Explains Why RM1 Car Sold To Woman With ‘Luxury’ Bag And iPhone

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

Why does it always happen that a person doing good for others is criticised?

Social activist Kuan Chee Heng aka Uncle Kentang was recently criticised for selling a used car at RM1 to a woman.
Everything seemed fine until netizens pointed out that the woman was using an expensive iPhone and a luxury bag.

They suspect that the woman may not be deserving of the car after all.
As a result, Kuan had to step forward to clarify things.
In a Facebook posting, Kuan explained that his team had known the woman, who is a single mom, for a long time.
Her husband has passed away and we covered the funeral expenses. She is a single mother of nine children, four of them are still studying. Most of her possesions are in fact donated by others. Her branded bag is a fake one from the night market. The family stay in PPR flats and she certainly can’t afford expensive phonesUncle Kentang on the actual background of the woman.

Not What It Seems To Be
Kuan went on to explain why the woman should get the car.
Her Proton Saga had broken down and she needed a vehicle to fetch her kids and do her business.
Kuan added that there is an agreement whereby the woman can only sell the car to others also for RM1.
The previous owner of the car bought it for RM18,000 before donating it to Kuan and his team for the token sum of RM1.
The previous owner had insisted we sell it for the same price if someone needs the car.Uncle Kentang on the how the RM1 car came about.
As You Help People More The Expectation Goes Higher
Kuan, a former police officer, had been lending a hand to the poor and needy in many ways.
From donating mattresses to opening a 10 cents shop, he is always ready to help people.
In his line of duty, Kuan has been associated with controversial figures such as Muslim preacher Ebit Lew and fugitive businessman Datuk Seri Nicky Liow Soon Hee.
These might have contributed to the assumptions that Kuan and his team were not transparent in giving away the car for RM1.

Uncle Kentang BFF Nicky Liow Soon Hee ke? pic.twitter.com/yaYP5xhPX1— MyWatch (@My_CrimeWatch) July 5, 2021

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


Here’s How The KL Tower Is A Symbol Of Malaysian Support

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

The seventh tallest telecommunication tower in the world does more than just act as an antenna for broadcast transmissions, it also provides gorgeous views from 276 meters high and has a revolving restaurant with food that will make you make you spin.

Aside from its practical function and appeal to tourists, the Kuala Lumpur Tower (Menara KL) is also a symbol of harmony using its façade to light up the whole tower with colours of solidarity.
Today (12 June), from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm, the KL Tower will light up with the colours of Russia’s national flag to commemorate Russia Day. The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Malaysia in a statement said that seeing the tower embellished in white, blue, and red lights will be a wonderful gift for the entire Russian-speaking community in Malaysia and the simple action is a reminder to them that they are surrounded by a hospitable and supporting Malaysian community.
Russia Day is a date in the modern history of their country which symbolises its historic, democratic and economic transformations. It is also a time when Russian diplomatic missions abroad would usually hold official receptions and gatherings to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) on June 12, 1990.
Other times the KL Tower has gone above and beyond
Just last month on Europe Day (9 May), our iconic tower lit up in the European Union (EU) colour of blue with the yellow circle of stars – the EU’s symbol of unity, solidarity and peace. Not only was it to celebrate the longstanding partnership between EU and Malaysia but in pandemic times, our link has been even stronger with EU exports of Covid-19 vaccines to Malaysia and Malaysia’s exports of personal protective equipment (PPE) to the EU.
On 18 May, KL Tower donned the colours of the Palestine flag to show support for Palestinians.
         View this post on Instagram            A post shared by KL Tower Official IG 🇲🇾 (@menarakl)
The lighting of the KL Tower isn’t only in recognition of diplomatic relationships between nations.
On 8 May, our iconic tower celebrated women everywhere by lighting the tower purple for International Women’s Day 2021.
         View this post on Instagram            A post shared by KL Tower Official IG 🇲🇾 (@menarakl)
KL Tower has also brought to light issues we may have not even known about, like how it lit up to recognise World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day (NTD) – something that has been plaguing Malaysia for some time.
Read More: KL Tower To Be Lit Up As M’sia Joins Fight Against Neglected Tropical Diseases
What goes into the tower façade lighting?
According to Menara KL’s website, the lighting exercise involves lighting up the whole tower from the ground floor to the top of the antenna mast with LED lights. The lighting exercise enables them to save 60% of power consumption as compared to the conventional façade lighting.
There are 80 LED lights for the tower shaft, 160 lights for the tower head and 12 LED lights for the antenna mast. These lights when lit can be seen as far as 10 km away while the lights at the tower head can even be seen from Genting Highland.
So next time you see the KL Tower lit in special colours, find out what the colours could represent. It’s a unique way to learn about the issues, relationships and celebrations in Malaysia.

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


University Staff Undergo Covid-19 Tests After Minister’s Visit

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

Students, staff and anyone who had contact with Religious Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri is advised to undergo Covid-19 testing immediately.

It is understood that the minister had attended several events, including at three separate universities and seen in close proximity with students, before being tested positive for the coronavirus.
Reportedly, the minister attended a meeting with Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia’s (USIM) board of directors as well as Friday prayers at the Tuanku Muhriz Islamic Complex on October 2.

On October 4, the minister was present to provide donations for underprivileged students at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Shah Alam and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Bangi.

As a precautionary measure towards the close-contact exposure, USIM had ordered its staff to be screened and quarantined from home for a period of 14-days as well as conducting disinfection works at its facilities.
Meanwhile, UiTM also requests that anyone who had been exposed to the minister to screen themselves immediately.
UiTM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Emeritus Datuk Mohd Azraai Kassim said in a statement that he along with staff involved with the event had been tested and are undergoing 14-days of self-quarantine.
It remains unclear whether the students that had been involved with the function had also been tested.
According to reports, Dr. Zulkifli had travelled to five different states between September 24 and October 4 (Sabah, Selangor, Kelantan, Terengganu, and Negeri Sembilan), including Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya prior to being confirmed positive for Covid-19.

Share your thoughts with us on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Source:
5 states, 3 mosques, 3 varsities - where minister went before testing positive
Covid-19: Usim orders staff to quarantine, work from home after Zulkifli’s visit
USIM lancar portal Jom Infaq
5 OKT 2020 –BERITA PAGI-BANTUAN MUSA ADAH KHAS SISWA
Bantuan Musa'adah Khas Siswa disalur kepada pelajar IPT B40
KENYATAAN MEDIA UiTM BERTINDAK SUSULAN MENTERI POSITIF COVID-19


GE15: BN Loses Perlis, PN Wins Big In Pahang And Perak But Not Enough For Simple Majority

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

The 15th General Election (GE15) saw many surprises once the results began rolling in.

Barisan Nasional (BN) suffered a major defeat in Perlis, losing the state assembly to Perikatan Nasional (PN).
With 15 state seats in Perlis, BN was not able to win a single seat. PN emerged victorious with 14 seats, losing Indera Kayangan to Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) Gan Ay Ling.
Over in Pahang, the BN stronghold which survived the tsunami of the last general election (GE14) to remain in BN where the coalition formed a state government after securing 25 out of 42 seats, saw the coalition winning only 16 seats.
There are 41 seats for now as the Tioman election was postponed to 7 December due to the death of a candidate.

PN is leading with 17 seats while PH won eight. As it stands, there is no coalition that can form a state government on its own in Pahang.
It is the same in Perak where BN only managed to lock down nine seats in the 59-seat state assembly.
PN is also leading in Perak with 26 seats but is unable to reach a simple majority as PH has 24 seats.
While PN has been declared the clear winner in Perlis, there is yet to be an announcement on who will form the state governments of Perak and Pahang.

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


George Town Festival Is Back For Two Weeks In Penang From 9-24 July!

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

So, what’s in store for July? Feeling like you’re going to be bored next month? Don’t worry, Penang has a lot to offer you!

Head on over to Georgetown, Penang and experience the 16-day fest called George Town Festival while you’re at it!
What Is It?
George Town Festival (GFT) is an annual cultural festival combining various artistic performances such as dance, music, theatre, film, photography and more in Georgetown, Penang.
This year marks the 13th year this fest is held, which initially started in 2010 in honour of the city’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The main aim behind this fest is to make art accessible to everyone, regardless of age, ethnicity or background. Arts from creative talents are showcased in multiple venues across Georgetown and beyond, from indoor performing spaces to hidden spots and unique settings.
(Credit: George Town Festival)
The George Town Festival’s continuous efforts to promote the arts are one of thereasons Penang has made significant strides in the global arts scene; CNN Travel dubbed GTF as ‘Best of Penang rolled up in one big festival’ while The New York Times reviewed it as a ‘festival growing into a major Asian arts event’.Chow Kon Yeow, Penang Chief Minister
Programmes They’re Having
From 9 to 24 July, there will be a plethora of programmes being held in multiple places across Goerge Town and beyond.

Around 70% of the festival’s programmes are free to attend while a few are ticketed. Here are some of the programmes for you to check out.
Free To Attend Activities
Angin OMbulan – Contemporary version of Malay traditional healing performances inspired by Main Puteri and Mak Yong (creepily interesting stuff here).SERENITY – A Glimpse Through the Traditional Lenses – A screening session, performance and brief workshop combining traditional art forms with present-day dance. G-Short 2022 Finalists Film Screening – Screening 90-second films (short films) from finalists selected from 69 countriesCahaya XR: First Edition – Art exhibition on Penang’s traditional stories and heritage through virtual, augmented and mixed realityArt Masterclasses – 2-hour summer school classes on music, being a voiceover artist and writing about photography, taught by experts in their fields
(Credit: George Town Festival)
Ticketed Shows
The Senses – A rainforest concert starring Alena Murang, FAZZ and Jumero at Penang Hill’s Curtis CrestMozart at the Mansion – Mozart masterpieces performed by talented opera singers at the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (The Blue Mansion)Ibu – Teochew puppet theatre performance telling a Southeast Asian folkloreTeater Tradisional Makyung ‘Dewa Indera Indera Dewa’ – Almost extinct Malay traditional performance telling the story of sibling rivalry between princes for the hand of a beautiful princess
READ MORE: Malaysia’s Traditional Dances Were Once Really Controversial, Some Were Even Banned
(Credit: George Town Festival)
These are just some of the activities. There are tons more!
For more information on the types, dates, times, and venues of these programmes, check out their website or Facebook.
Tickets for these programmes are available now here. Ticketed performances are approximately 30% to 50% less expensive than comparable titles elsewhere, so you get to witness exclusive artistic shows at affordable rates. Book your tickets now for a FUNtastic art experience in July!
For you travellers, while you’re in Penang, drop by some durian places, especially in Balik Pulau, where some of the most sought-after durians in the country are grown.
Georgetown itself is a fantastic place to visit, full of attractions, so don’t worry, we guarantee your weekend won’t be bored if you visit Penang for the George Town Fest.  Additionally, here are a few articles for you to browse while in Penang.
READ MORE: Get Your Spook On In Penang With These Eerie Dark Tourism Spots
READ MORE: Komtar Penang Skywalk & 4 Tarikan Menarik Pelancong Di Pulau Pinang Anda Wajib Pergi!
READ MORE: 7 Starbucks Di Pulau Penang Dengan Konsep Unik & ‘Extraordinary’
READ MORE: Abandoned Phone Booths In Penang Transformed Into Cosy Library Cubicles

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


Did You Know There’s A Malay Community On This Australian Island?

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

Who would’ve thought a tiny island on the Indian Ocean, about 1600 kilometers off Australia, would house a sizeable population of Malays?

(Credit: Encyclopedia Britannica)
The tropical rocky speck known as Christmas Island is unlike most of Australia.
Of the 1692 people on Christmas Island, 16.1% of the population are of Malay descent. Malay is the second most spoken language on the island after English.
It’s the only place in Australia where Hari Raya Haji and Hari Raya Aidilfitri are public holidays. The island also has a heritage-listed Malay precinct known as the Malay Kampong, at Jalan Pantai.
While Jalan Pantai might sound like the name of a street you’ll find at the taman next to yours, the Malay Kampong at Jalan Pantai, Christmas Island comprises of a mosque, a Malay school, a Malay club, a Muslim-owned mart and an Islamic cemetery.
Masjid At-Taqwa on Christmas Island. (Credit: Dinieland/Tom Joyner via Twitter)
How they wound up on Christmas Island
The desolate island was given the name Christmas Island in 1643, but settlement didn’t start until British surveyors found phosphate resources in 1886.
After colonising the island in 1888, Britain granted a 99-year lease to the Christmas Island Phosphate Company.
Phosphate mining began in 1899, using indentured Malay, Chinese and Sikh labourers.
Living through abject inequality for years, it was not until the 1980s that a concerted effort to organise and demand fairer wages led to change.
(Credit: Tom Joyner via Twitter)
The British Phosphate Commissioners (BPC) only paid Asian workers a fifth of what white workers received and had the power to terminate employees without cause or a hearing.
Within twenty-four hours, the authorities deported sacked employees, stamping their passports with NTR – “Never to Return.”
Housing, transportation, and the educational system on the island were all heavily segregated.
Christmas Island High School, in 2021. (Credit: AISWA Languages via Twitter)
Asian families lived in flats with little to no fittings, whereas White families resided in homes constructed to Australian standards.
Single Asian men shared bathrooms-sized dorm rooms without mattresses.
The Union of Christmas Island Workers, headed by a Malaysian president, finally won all industrial demands including wage parity in 1981.
(Unedited image from 911metallurgist.com)
What the future holds
Today, the younger generation of Malays who reside on the island have big goals and aspirations for a brighter future.

Malay girls, in particular, are leading the charge. A lot of them are academically-driven and go on to pursue higher education in universities on the mainland.
Due to the rich history of migration from Malaysia and Singapore, Christmas Island is known as one of the most multicultural places in Australia.
Malaysian favourites found on Christmas Island. (Credit: Gina G via Twitter/Malay Club via Facebook)
The gotong-royong spirit is still going strong on Christmas Island. Everybody in the community comes together to help out for weddings or funerals.
Traditional Malay wedding on Christmas Island. (Credit: Tom Joyner via Twitter)
At the height of the pandemic, most of them tuned in to TV3 to stay updated. However, Christmas Island has had zero reported cases of Covid-19 until today!
Solid rock, shaky ground
However, Christmas Islanders are still confronted with injustices.
The Australian government shut down the phosphate mine in 1987. The mine was bought and reopened by union workers in 1990, but other attempts at economic diversification have ended in failure.
Additionally, the fight against the legacy of colonialism is far from over. According to UN Charter Article 73, Christmas Island has many traits of a non-self-governing territory.
However, Australian governments continue to treat it as a distant possession.
(Credit: Tom Joyner via Twitter)
The Malay community on Christmas Island works hard to preserve the Malay culture. They remember their roots and strive to pass down these values to the younger generations.
So, while the future of the island remains uncertain, we hope they can continue to call this island their home.

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


Mamak In KL Closed Down For Cleaning, 2 Workers Infected With Covid-19

Subscribe to our new Telegram channel for the latest updates.

A local mamak restaurant in Kuala Lumpur has been ordered to temporarily shut down its operations for 2 weeks after 2 of their employees were suspected to contract Covid-19.

This was after a random screening exercise was done involving the 2 foreign workers, who are Indian nationals, on 15 August.
Health Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said that sanitation and cleaning works will be done at the restaurant under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.
It’s reported that both of them have been transferred to Hospital Sungai Buloh on 15 August.
PERINCIAN KES BAHARU (25)KL – 132 kes BWN saringan rawak kedai makan11 kes import (10 WN, 1 BWN)SELANGOR – 55 kes import (4 WN, 1 BWN)SABAH – 11 kes WN saringan pra pembedahanKEDAH – 55 kes WN kluster TawarPULAU PINANG – 1 1 kes WN kluster Tawar pic.twitter.com/3eLCAFCqih— KKMPutrajaya (@KKMPutrajaya) August 16, 2020

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


Pahang, Johor And Sarawak Have The Most Expensive Basic Meal

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

Do you know which state in Malaysia sells the most expensive dish and mixed rice?

Not Kuala Lumpur or Selangor, but Pahang’s Lipis, Johor’s Kota Tinggi and Sarawak’s Asajaya.
According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) data, the price for one portion of vegetable, chicken and white rice in the areas above is RM10.
Rice, chicken and vegetables are priced at RM8.24 per plate in Kuala Lumpur and RM7.80 in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
According to the latest data released by DOSM as of 31 December 2022, the lowest price is in Kelantan’s Gua Musang, Pahang’s Lojing and Terengganu’s Setiu, which only cost RM5.
In addition, according to the website’s data, the price of roti canai and teh tarik in Sarawak is the highest in the country.
Inflasi bagi kumpulan restoran & hotel naik sehingga 7.4% pada Disember 2022 berbanding tempoh yang sama tahun sebelumnyaRekod DOSM menunjukkan harga nasi lemak naik 19% dari RM2.91 kepada RM3.45 manakala harga roti canai naik 24% kepada RM1.44 sekeping pic.twitter.com/GFy7kh9fVw— Ekonomi Rakyat (@EkonomiRakyatMY) January 22, 2023
The most expensive roti canai is in Sarawak, which is RM2.
Districts like Matu, Tatau, Song and Lawas, and also in Sabah, namely Tambunan, Kota Marudu and Pitas, have among the most pricey roti canai at RM2 per piece.
The most expensive roti canai in the Peninsula are priced at RM1.80 in Pahang’s Jerantut and Putrajaya.
The cheapest roti canai is priced at RM1 in Pahang’s Rompin and Terengganu’s Dungun.
READ MORE: Family Regrets Eating At Penang Roti Canai Stall Recommended By Google
As for teh tarik, the most expensive sip is in Sarawak’s Beluru and Pakan, priced at RM3.50.
The most expensive teh tarik in West Malaysia is in Selangor’s Klang, priced at RM2.30, while the cheapest is in Kedah’s Kuala Muda at RM1.20.
Recently, the government introduced a “Menu Rahmah” at participating restaurants nationwide with vegetables and meat priced at only RM5 to help low-income groups.
Mydin’s Menu Rahmah. (Pix: Mydin)
Many are sceptical that the Menu Rahmah can sustain due to its low price.
However, some said the price is only for basic dishes and the restaurants can recoup when customers order additional food.
Exactly.“Menu Rahmah” is a vol. strategy and a promotional tool offered by the Gov.Restaurants only need to offer a basic dish to qualify for this and receive the accompanying publicity.Do we believe tht customers will only purchase basic dish w/out ordering anything else? https://t.co/YWU2q7eLFK— Afiq Azni (@afiqazni) February 11, 2023

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


Malaysian PhD Student In Oxford Team Helps Develop Potentially Life-Saving Rapid  COVID-19 Test

As scientists ramp up their efforts in the global battle against Covid-19, a few of Malaysiaâ€™s brightest and brilliant have begun making quite the impact.
Meet Lim Boon Chuan, a Malaysian PhD student in the University of Oxford who had a hand in developing the universityâ€™s new rapid testing technology for COVID-19.
The 26 year old Public Service Department (PSD) scholar whoâ€™s pursuing his postgraduate in synthetic biology at the prestigious university joined the project led by Prof Zhanfeng Cui and Prof Wei Huang last month when the novel coronavirus was wreaking havoc in China.
He told New Straits Times that he was brought onto the project by Prof Wei Huang, his supervisor, with the role of designing and running all the experiments.
Lim Boon Chuan in the lab.(Credit: New Straits Times)
As a result, the team successfully created a new viral RNA test capable of giving results in just 30 minutes! Thatâ€™s over three times faster than the current RNA testing method in use to detect the virus.
According to the university, this technology is pretty uncomplicated. It requires only a simple heat-block which maintains a constant temperature for RNA reverse transcription and DNA amplification, and the results can be read by the naked eye.
We can use a single temperature, which is 65Â°C for half an hour to see the results.Lim Boon Chuan to New Straits Times.
The test uses a simple colour change to identity presence of the virus. A positive a sample changes from pink to yellow. Each test uses three vials, each with different primers. A positive test would turn two vials yellow and leave one pink. This acts as a negative control to confirm the test is working.(Credit: University of Oxford)
The diagnostic kit has also been validated with real clinical samples at Shenzhen Luohou Peopleâ€™s Hospital in China. The results were confirmed with Real-Time Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR) – which is the current testing method for COVID-19 in Malaysia where the results take a few days.
Not only that, the scientists have also stated that the technology is also far more sensitive than COVID-19 test kits currently available in the market. It specifically recognises the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) RNA and RNA fragments, NOT antibodies in the blood that only appears 5 to 8 days after infection.
This means that patients in the early stages of infection can be identified faster, healthcare officials can test more people in a shorter time frame, isolate the infected and treat them sooner, thereby greatly reducing the spread of the virus and potentially saving millions of lives.
 So whatâ€™s next?
Home testing is the next goal, Boon Chuan told New Straits Times, something that can be sent to households instead of possibly infected people coming out to testing facilities and hospitals.
In the United Kingdom, if you go for tests, it takes three days to come back (to retrieve the results). But if we are able to produce or design something that people can use to test at home, they can get the result within half an hour without a cycle of temperatures.Lim Boon Chuan to New Straits Times.
 The Oxford scientists are now working to develop an integrated device so that the test can be used at clinics and airports as well. While theyâ€™re planning to run clinical validations within the UK, the team is exploring options for production of the test kits and planning further collaborations with universities and hospitals there.
Screenshot from Boon Chuan Lim/LinkedIn

 Stay updated on more good news like this on TRPâ€™s Facebook, Twitter, and Telegram.

Source:
Malaysian part of Oxford team developing fast Covid-19 test kit
Oxford scientists develop rapid testing technology for COVID-19
Health D-G cautions against Covid-19 rapid testing for public


[Watch] TikToker Stops Car In Middle Of Jalan Tun Razak For Nonsense Content

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

A local influencer was recently called out for causing a minor traffic jam in Kuala Lumpur city centre just for making content.

In the video shared by a netizen, the male influencer could be seen standing next to a yellow Ford Mustang with a bottle of petrol in hand at Jalan Tun Razak.
Menyusahkan org https://t.co/SoOffU3CLt— Vee (@iamafrodo) February 25, 2022
Behind his car were two other similar looking cars holding up the traffic too. Apparently, he stopped his car in the middle of the busy road because he wanted to fill up petrol.
At the same time, he jokingly complained that he was broke for the month because he had to pay the RM20,000 road tax.
However, netizens could see that the whole ‘stunt’ was done for content only because he did not pour any petrol into the car. He immediately closed the bottle instead.
1. Orang tuang pakai corong2. Minyak petrol letak dalam botol minyak hitam?3. Kompem content. Cakap nak tuang minyak pastu tutup balik botol4. Benak dah bodoh pic.twitter.com/DQtctULBUp— ben (@esenarx) February 25, 2022
Netizens criticised him for being selfish and thought that his ‘stunt’ was silly.
They couldn’t believe the audacity of the man and his friend still conversing casually while holding up traffic for nonsense content. Luckily for them, they didn’t cause a road accident while endangering the other road users.
Boleh lagi buat lembap eh diorang tengah jalan jammed cam tu. Bodoh yang tak main main— أميرلأشراف (@asyraffbuya97) February 25, 2022
They pointed out that only a poor person would buy an expensive car and whine about expensive road tax.
Since paying the road tax was such an issue for the driver, netizens think maybe he should have bought a more affordable car that was within his means.
Orang miskin je beli kereta lepas tu merungut roadtax mahal.— joe (@joehannn_) February 25, 2022
Sembang bawa mustang pokai sebab bayar roadtax. Kalau ya pun, ukur dulu di badan sendiri sebelum nak pakai mustang tu. Boleh je pakai kereta mampu maintain tanpa mengeluh kan? 😌— the mechanic (@FaiziqOhYeye) February 25, 2022
A few netizens also tagged the police and the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to take action on the men.
They tagged the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) to check whether the men paid their taxes too.
@JPJ_Malaysia @PDRMsia tolonglah saman puak² bebal ni— M.F (@eyedfarid) February 25, 2022
mohon ambil tindakan @PDRMsia_Trafik . org kaya mengada keje nak menyusahkan orang je.— Nur Mukhlis Noordin (@qis_mukhlis) February 25, 2022
@LHDNMofficial @LHDN_Assist @LHDNM cuba check ashaari usamah tu bayar tax tak? 🤗— Watashiwa Rina Desu 🥰 (@Kessmaess) February 25, 2022

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


[Watch] Police Are Looking For Snatch Thief Who Stole Necklace In Setapak Jaya

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

A motorcyclist who stopped by a roadside stall to buy food in Setapak Jaya was a victim of a snatch thief on Tuesday, 20 September.

In the CCTV recording that went viral on Whatsapp, the snatch thief could be seen following behind the victim on a motorcycle before making a U-turn.
The snatch thief slowly rode past the victim and then quickly yanked the necklace when the victim wasn’t looking.
The victim and the people from the roadside stall could only look in shock as the snatch thief rode away.

Wangsa Maju OCPD Superintendent Ashari Abu Samah said the police are looking for the suspect and the case is being investigated under Section 392 of the Penal Code.
In the police report, it’s stated the suspect rode a blue-black Yamaha 135LC motorcycle and wore a red helmet and a long-sleeved dark shirt.
Anyone with information is urged to come forward as soon as possible to help with the investigation.

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