A Toast To The Frestigious French Cognac House, Bisquit & Dubouché

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Whether you’re a Cognac aficionado or new to this dark spirit, an exquisite sip of Bisquit & Dubouché is what you should be reaching for and drinking now.

Flawless in cocktails, with citrus, fresh herbs and other mixers, the story of B&D started  200 years ago.
Two fearless Frenchmen – Alexandre Bisquit and Adrien Dubouché – crossed paths and  created a world-renowned house of fine cognac founded on a vision considered rebellious at the time.
Bucking long-held traditions, the pair forged a new path for their unique cognac with an innovative approach to distillation.
Alexandre founded the brand in 1819 at just 20 years old, becoming one of the first in the industry to adopt bottling under his name.
Descended from a family of distillers who had been creating cognac since the 1700s, Alexandre was the innovator behind a radical distillation process.
Can you name the "big four" Cognac firms in France? Read our most recent expert guide to discover Cognac’s history, viticulture practices, distillation process, and more.https://t.co/IvtOFX03a1 pic.twitter.com/sSIqhpbuFF— GuildSomm (@guildsomm) June 30, 2022
His method relies more on emotion and intuition than conventional procedures and technical methods.
Shortly after creating his Cognac brand, Alexandre crossed paths with Adrien Dubouché, who married Alexandre’s daughter in 1849, and the two went into business together.
Adrien was passionate about all forms of travel and art, travelling to China often to collect the finest porcelains.
A creative and bohemian type, Adrien designed one of the first logotypes for the renowned cognac brand.
Award-Winning Spirit
Together, Alexandre and Adrien continued to build the brand.
By the end of the 19th century, Bisquit & Dubouché was the third most exported cognac in the world.
It was popular among global rabble-rousers and celebrities like Joséphine Baker, one of France’s most important American entertainers between the 1930s and 1960s.

To pay tribute to the iconoclastic founders, beginning in March 2020, Alexandre and Adrien will be reunited on the label of the bottle – “Bisquit & Dubouché,” as it was originally named.
A new, sleek, contemporary bottle and metallic silver and black accents adorning the label will represent the progressive spirit of its founders.
Along with a new look a feel, the brand’s symbolic griffin, part lion and part eagle and established as the “guardian” of the first cellars where the precious liquid aged – has been redesigned to properly signify its boldness.
Bisquit & Dubouché Cognac has such a rich heritage, and a true rebellious streak that goes directly back to its fearless founders.Vincent Chappe, Ambassadeur Global de la Maison on the rich heritage of Bisquit & Dubouché Cognac.
The goal of returning to the original name and reimagining the bottle and label was to capture that spirit.
Vincent explained that it is also to properly represent exactly how Avant Garde’s approach to cognac making was at the time and still is today, making this a truly unique cognac.
He said the unique art and craft of Bisquit & Dubouché cognac undergo traditional double distillation in a copper pot from November to March, producing its hallmark ‘eau de vie.’
A Cognac Unlike The Rest
But that’s where the similarity to other cognacs ends as Bisquit & Dubouché eau-de-vie relies on intuition and knowledge rather than technical methods, extending extraction during heart collection compared to traditional cognacs.
The distillers wait for the precise moment to cut, guided by deep knowledge and intuition while continuously tasting and smelling the liquid.
This guarantees that it has the signature Bisquit & Dubouché aromatic notes with strong floral and fruity concentrations.

They retain the “heart” of the cognac longer than other traditional cognac brands and only cut the “tails” by hand at the very end of the process.
This is a method that requires the highest mastery and patience and is achievable only with years of practice.
An All-New Look
The brand’s new look arrived slightly more than a year after Campari Group acquired Bisquit & Dubouché in 2017.
The acquisition expanded the company’s portfolio in the premium Cognac category amid a surge of interest in cognac as premium spirits rise globally.
Campari Group also owns world-famous cognac-based Grand Marnier® liqueur.
Bisquit & Dubouché Cognac heralded for its excellence, offers a classic range differentiated by age – V.S., V.S.O.P. and X.O.

V.S., V.S.O.P. and X.O. – What Does It Mean?
Bisquit & Dubouché generates an imitable cognac renowned for its smoothness and floral and fruity bouquet of nuanced aromas.
The taste encompasses a seductive aroma of vanilla and caramel and is broadly described as fruity with a subdued smoothness to its profile with specific notes of honey, fig and dark fruits.
La Maison Bisquit & Dubouché is an awarded cognac at the annual International Wines & Spirits Challenge.
In 2018, the V.S.O.P and the limited-edition Bisquit Interlude blend won a Gold “Outstanding” medal.
The product was recently introduced in Malaysia by Luen Heng, a leader in the import, distribution and sale of alcoholic beverages, non-alcoholic beverages and food items, as well as drinking accessories.
Guests having a good time at the Bisquit & Dubouché event hosted by Luen Heng. (Pix: LH)

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Kelantan Has A Dikir Barat Song About Observing MCO

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We’ve seen some creative ways to encourage people to stay at home but Kelantan has taken it to the next level with a ‘dikir barat‘ song.
The name of the song is Duduk Di Rumah (Stay At Home). It features two dikir barat singers and was published on the Kelantan Information Departmentâ€™s (JAPEN) Facebook page, complete with a music video to boot.
Kelantan Information Department (JAPEN) director Lim Ann Teck says lyrics were written with the collaboration of the department and the song has been aired through loudspeakers of mobile units in the state.
They’re also planning to air the song on Kelantan FM.
Lim said that the song hopefully can help the public understand about Covid-19 and added that feedback has been positive, especially from those living in more interior areas.
You can listen to the song below:

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Emergency Not A Military Coup, Says Muhyiddin

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The Emergency is not a military coup and no curfew will be enforced from now until 1 August, said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who added that the civil government will run as usual.

He said the number of cases in the country are on the rise with no signs of slowing down, which prompted the government to advise the Agong to declare the Emergency.
Although the Emergency has been announced, Muhyiddin said economic activity will continue to function throughout the period, subject to SOP compliance and Bursa Malaysia, the Securities Commission will continue to play a role as a market facilitator
READ MORE: What Is This State of Emergency/Darurat Thing Anyways?
The Agong can also decree, based on circumstances, ordinances to stop the spread of Covid-19, such as:
Use private hospitals and take over their resources to help treat Covid-19 patients (human resource, asset, utilities)The military will be given authority, the same level as the police. They will also be deployed to assist frontliners.Border security will be tightened to reduce the number of illegal immigrants from coming to the countryAmending the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 to increase the effectiveness of the enforcement of this Act in curbing the spread of Covid-19. This includes increasing penalties for anyone who violate the laws and regulations.Heavier penalties for traders who hike up prices of goodsParliament and also State Assemblies will not be allowedEither state or general elections will not be allowed
He added that the GE will be held as soon as the Independent Committee certifies that Covid-19 has subsided or fully recovered.
READ MORE: Malaysia Went Into Emergency Twice Before & It Was NOT Pretty
The Independent Committee will also advise the Agong whether to extend or shorten the Emergency.
Earlier today, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has assented to declaring a State of Emergency across Malaysia that will last till August 1 but could end earlier based on the advice of an Independent Committee of Parliamentarians and relevant health experts.
READ MORE: Agong Assents To Emergency Proclamation, Expected To Last Until August
Malaysia will again be going under lockdown for two weeks starting 12.01am on Wednesday (13 January) in order to curb the spread of Covid-19 which has reached record numbers in the past few days.

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You’ll Fall In Love With All The Adorable New Baby Animals At Taiping Zoo

https://www.facebook.com/zoo.taiping/posts/3178243998910053
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The animals at Taiping Zoo & Night Safari (ZTNS) have been pretty busy this year as the zoo announced the birth of red dhole pups, orangutan babies and tiger cubs.

Celebrating the success of their breeding and conservation programme, ZTNS shared the details and adorable pictures of all the new babies on Facebook.
Red dhole pups
Credit: Zoo Taiping/Facebook
Four new red dhole pups (cuon alpinus) – also known as Asiatic wild dog, whistling dog or mountain wolf – were born on 31 December 2019 at the zoo, bringing the total of red dholes at the zoo to 15.
According to Malay Mail, the pups were born to a pair of red dholes donated by Melaka Zoo in 2015.
The cubs are currently nestled with their mother in a hiding place within the display cage.
Orangutan babies
Credit: Taiping Zoo/Facebook
Two new Bornean orangutans (pongo pygmaeus) were born in the zoo last December and this February.
The first baby was delivered by 9-year-old Katarina while the second baby was born to 18-year-old Wasabi. Both babies are the offspring of a male orangutan named Veera who has been on loan from Singapore Zoo since March 2016.
Tiger cubs
Credit: Zoo Taiping/Facebook
In April, Malaysians were blessed by the utterly precious sight of three newborn Malayan tiger cubs.
The babies, born to 11-year-old Baby, are kept with their mother for 18 months as they grow and develop.
With the three new cubs, the Taiping Zoo now has 8 tigers in total.
Elephant calves
Credit: Zoo Taiping/Facebook
Though born earlier in December 2018 and February 2018, the zoo has finally announced the names of the young male elephants (elephas maximus hirsutus).
Following the zoo’s tradition of naming the elephants based on the place of birth or location they were found, the first calf born to mother Taiping is named ‘Laroot’ while the second calf is named ‘Boyan’, delivered by ‘Jaya’.
With the two baby elephants, the zoo now has seven cows and three bulls.

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Source:
Taiping Zoo and Night Safari announces the arrival of red dhole pups and orang utan babies


Home Sweet Home Alone – Judging The ‘Maze Of Death’ [Review]

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I love the first Home Alone movie starring Macaulay Culkin but I don’t remember much of the sequels to be honest.

So when I saw that there was a new one, I thought of giving it a try because I was also curious to see what new elements they are bringing into the sixth film of the franchise.
Immediately, we’re introduced to the McKenzie family. It’s a few days before Christmas and Jeff and Pam McKenzie are trying to sell their home without telling their two children.
They couldn’t afford to live there anymore since Jeff lost his job as a data migration manager.
One of the house viewers that turned up is Carol Mercer and her son, Max. During the house tour, Max discovers that Jeff owns a box of ‘ugly dolls’ which Jeff explains that these ugly dolls can fetch a high price if sold.
Once the Mercers left, Jeff came across an online bid for one of his ugly dolls. Knowing that the amount of money could save his home, he scrambled to find the doll only to realize that it was missing.
Max Mercer locked and loaded. Credit: Disney Plus
Jeff and Pam believed that Max stole the ‘ugly boy’ doll from them during the home visit. Jeff tried to talk to the extended Mercer family but didn’t manage to get a word in because the family were all rushing to the airport to fly to Tokyo, Japan.
During the whole commotion, Jeff overheard the security password of the house and the thought of breaking in just to steal back what’s his began to form in his mind.
After all, what’s the harm of entering an empty home right? Unfortunately for the McKenzies, Max was left behind by his family. Max retreated to the garage the night before because he had enough of his annoying and crazy family.
When Max misunderstood their plans to sell the ‘ugly boy in the house,’ he began setting up deadly traps around the house to defend himself.
How did the booby traps measure up?
Did the traps set by Max bring pain to his poor neighbours? Yes, it totally did.
The minute he found out the McKenzie’s plans, he got right to work fashioning traps around the large home and even used the cold weather to his advantage.
Poor Pam and Jeff. Image: Disney Plus
Without revealing too much, I definitely winced when Pam pulled out nerf darts with thumbtacks at the end from her face and chuckled a little when Jeff struggled to be a good thief.
However, I also wondered how the bullets managed to miss Pam’s eyes or any of the vital parts of the body.
Then I remembered it was a Disney film so there won’t be any Final Destination-type of goriness in the film.
Familiar cameo?
Sadly, Macaulay Culkin did not reprise his role as Kevin McCallister or make any appearances in the film.
Buzz McCallister. Image: Disney Plus
However, Devin Ratray, the actor who portrayed Kevin’s brother Buzz McCallister, returned as a clueless policeman.
To be honest, Buzz only appeared for a few minutes in the show and I didn’t remember who he was until I started googling.
The other side character I recognized immediately was Jeff and Pam McKenzie’s real estate agent played by Kenan Thompson.
Stream or skip it?
I loved the first Home Alone movie because I thought the traps were ingenious although deadly.
While Max’s ‘maze of death’ certainly made it harder for the McKenzies to steal back the doll, I can’t help but feel there was something missing there.
Battle plans. Image: Disney Plus
Maybe it’s because everything just seems cooler when I was a younger child.
At the end of it all, Home Sweet Home Alone is not a masterpiece for me personally but it still makes a good Christmas watch with the family.

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Health DG: Winter Is Coming, The Virus Could Get Harder To Contain

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Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has caused Malaysians across the country to wonder if he is a Game of Thrones fan after stating that “Winter is coming” during his daily Covid-19 press conference today.

While it is unclear if the reference was made intentionally, he was referring to the fact that he had highlighted four months ago that there would be a surge in Covid-19 cases towards the end of the year.
Secondly, winter is coming. We’re not experiencing winter yet, but we expected cases to increase during winter, particularly in the northern hemisphere.Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah
(Credit: YouTube)
Besides winter, Dr Noor Hisham also attributed the current third wave of cases to the D614G mutated strain of the Covid-19 virus, which he said has replaced the previous circulating virus in the community.
Dr Noor Hisham said this mutated virus has a higher infectivity rate compared to the one that was circulating in the community previously.
Thirdly, a few benchmark countries are also facing an exponential surge of cases like we have. We predicted that the second or third wave would be more challenging compared to the first wave.Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah
Dr Noor Hisham went on to explain that the Health Ministry has gained 10 months of experience managing the Covid-19 outbreak here, adding that every day presents a lesson to understand the virus better.
The D614G mutated strain of the Covid-19 virus is giving us major Night King vibes. (Credit: Insider)
He said that his team has adopted a public health intervention approach and have managed to contain the infection so far.
We have beaten the odds. The projection for April was that we would have 6,300 cases but on the 14 April, our cases were only slightly more than 4,000 cases. We managed to flatten the curve before using public health intervention.Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah
Meanwhile, as we were listening to the rest of his answer, we couldn’t help but draw more similarities between our current Covid-19 situation to the Game of Thrones series.
Is Dr Noor Hisham our Jon Snow? Who might be his Samwell Tarly? (Credit: YouTube)
Would this perhaps imply the Health DG is taking on the role of Jon Snow, leading the Health Ministry as the Night’s Watch to protect the realm of Malaysia against Covid-19 “white walkers”?
Is the Covid-19 D614G mutation the white walker’s Night King?
But for sure, the most obvious similarity would be the political disaster faced by the people of Westeros while the different families fought to ascend the Iron Throne. In Malaysia, the politicking also carried on while another threat lay waiting beyond the wall.
Except, we have no wall. Just masks and hand sanitiser.

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7 Ways Malaysians Can Preserve the Environment According to Dr Jane Goodall

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Did you know that Malaysia’s rainforests are actually older than the Amazon?
With the recent news of Sabahan Pygmy elephants being killed and the recent extinction of our Sumatran rhino, I’m sure many of us are wondering what can we do to play our part and help conserve and preserve what we have left of our beautiful flora and fauna, even if we are not in positions of power.
Well, last week, we had the honour of attending a question and answer event with UN Messenger of Peace and chimpanzee expert Dr Jane Goodall.

Picture credit: Roots & Shoots

We took the opportunity to ask her for ways we could work towards taking care of our environment, based on her years of professional experience travelling all over the globe.
1. Talk about the problems and discuss what we can do about it
We can’t fix anything unless we first acknowledge and identify that we have a problem.
Dr Jane Goodall recommends discussions be held and if we find that there is something that we can do to help fix the problem, we should roll up our sleeves and actually do something.
Every little thing counts, even planting trees on the weekend, raising money for a good cause or even writing letters to those in charge can help make a difference.
2. Spread awareness and share online
When Dr Jane first started studying chimpanzees, she didn’t have the internet to share her findings. But now, we have the power of social media at our fingertips.

Hasanah Managing Director, Shahira Ahmed Bazari (left), Dr Jane Goodall (center), Roots & Shoots Malaysia President, TP Lim (right). (Picture credit: Roots & Shoots Malaysia)

We can increase awareness and encourage others by posting about environmental problems and solutions and sharing pictures and stories about any efforts you’re doing to make a difference.
Slowly, people’s perception will change and you might motivate them to do something themselves as well.
3. It’s not enough to tackle just one thing
We need to tackle all the different issues.
Luckily, in Malaysia, we have a tonne of NGOs championing different causes and therefore, essentially, have a workforce out there tackling all the different issues (which we highly recommend you contact and help!)
4. Protest and go on strikes
Climate Climate Change GIF from Climate GIFs

Protesting and going on strikes can help raise a lot of awareness.
Protesting is not always about urging the government to change policies. They can also alert the public about problems that they might not be aware of.
For example, The Youth Climate Strikes which has grown slowly and steadily over the last few months helped make people aware of how “climate change” had turned into a  “climate crisis”.
5. Stop destroying forests to make space for plantations
According to Dr Jane Goodall, who was present during the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, it is very difficult to assure anybody that the practices are really sustainable.
Therefore, she urges that no more old forests are allowed to be cleared for plantations, for new plantations to be removed to allow the forest to regrow and to stop burning crops and killing the wildlife living in the areas because it is their home.

Picture credit: Roots & Shoots Malaysia

6. Help people understand that WE NEED a stable environment
We need the ecosystem. We’re a part of it. And if we destroy it, we destroy the future of our own children. So, keep trying to get that message across and help people understand what we face if we continue to destroy it.Dr Jane Goodall
We really couldn’t have said it better ourselves.
7. Keep giving hope to the youth
And maintain your hope too.
As long as you keep taking action, don’t give up and keep working on changing your parents and grandparents and friends perception of the current state of the environment, one day our combined effort will hopefully result in the protection in some of these animals and rainforests.
But, if you give up hope and stop trying, then you immediately take away any chances of us saving the planet.
Earth Planet GIF from Earth GIFs

Dr Jane Goodall admits that she’s only been to Malaysia a handful of times and points towards the countless number of local volunteers and NGOs when it comes to answering questions about the current state of the Malaysian natural environment and how to save it.
Among the organisations highlighted by Dr Jane include Roots & Shoots Malaysia, the local chapter of the international Roots and Shoots organisation set up by Dr Jane Goodall in 1991.
The organisation recently launched a campaign which saw 36 youth volunteers roll up their sleeves and do something to help the environment, animals and human communities.

Roots and Shoots Malaysia volunteers with President TP Lim and Dr Jane Goodall (Picture credit: Roots & Shoots Malaysia)

Besides Roots & Shoots Malaysia, there are many other NGOs that champion a number of environmental and community causes in Malaysia.
Fifteen of these NGOs were highlighted recently for their collaboration with Roots & Shoots Malaysia.
These are just a handful of local NGOs that are passionate about our local environment and we’d also like to highlight them in this article for our readers to look-up for possible future volunteering efforts:

President of the fifteen NGOs with Dr Jane Goodall (Picture credit: Roots & Shoots Malaysia)

Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC)EcoKnightsFree Tree Society Kuala LumpurFuze EcoteerInstitute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS)Malaysia Primatological Society (MPS)Nuvista Media Sdn BhdPerak State Park Corporation (Royal Belum)Persatuan Pelindung Harimau Malaysia (Rimau)Persatuan Rimba Komuniti Kota Damansara Selangor (KDCF Society)Project GreenSmithsRoots & Shoots Environmental, Wildlife Conservation and Humanitarian Society (Malaysia)The Habitat FoundationTropical Rainforest Conservation & Research Centre (TRCRC)Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia (TCS)

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Get Your Spook On In Penang With These Eerie Dark Tourism Spots

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Dark tourism; Sabah is embracing it, Klang Valley has a fair share of unofficial sites, and Penang is the crème of the crop for it in Malaysia.

Read More: Dark Tourism In Sabah & Why We Are Drawn To The Macabre
Read More: Klang Valley’s Most Notorious Dark Tourism Sites, And The Stories Behind Them
Since dark tourism revolves around visiting places that are historically associated with death and tragedy, Penang is no stranger due to its role as a major port during the British colonial times, and again during the tumultuous Japanese occupation.
Channel the dark tourist in you next time you visit the Pearl of the Orient and read about our top picks that are bound to intrigue you.
1. Penang War Museum
It’s garnered global attention for being one of the top 10 most haunted sites in Asia after it was featured in an episode of National Geographic’s “I Wouldn’t Go In There”.

It was first used as a military fortress built by the British in the 1930s and then during World War II, it fell to the Japanese and was used by the Japanese army to detain prisoners of war.
Acts of torture and other cruel deeds were carried out as a result of these war atrocities.
Dubbed as ‘Bukit Hantu’ (Ghost Hill) because of its history of deaths, the fortress was abandoned for decades after the Japanese surrendered.
(Credit: MyPenang)
It was then restored and opened as a war museum with some artefacts still in place, like the guillotine that was probably used to chop heads off.
Address: Jalan Batu Maung, 11960 Batu Maung, PenangOperating Hours: 9 AM – 5 PM dailyContact Number: +6016-421 3606 / +6012 636 0659Facebook/Email: https://www.facebook.com/PenangWarMuseum/ / penangwarmuseum@yahoo.com
2. Jerajak island
The former jetty near the former prison camp(Credit: Peter Ford via The Diplomat)
Off the eastern coast of Penang Island, a short ferry ride from the town of Bayan Lepas is what regular tourists would deem as a spot for Instaworthy photos, a beautiful sunset and a place to relax at their island resort.
Dark tourists on the other hand will want to know about its not-so-beautiful past.
For example, during colonial times a prison once stood where prisoners were purportedly tortured and mistreated.
Jerajak also played the role of a leprosy colony, tuberculosis (TB) hospital, and quarantine station.
Research Michael Gibby told FMT that the island was used as a screening centre and quarantine place before immigrants could enter Penang and other parts of Malaya.
How to get there:  Head to the Pulau Jerejak Jetty in Bayan Lepas. Service starts at 6:30am and its last trip to Penang Island is at 11:30 pm.
3. 99-Door Mansion
(Credit: Amy’s Crypt)
Social history researcher Clement Liang claims the mansion was once owned by one of the richest families in the United Kingdom known as the Ramsden family.
John St Maur Ramsden, the grandson of the family living there, was said to have been shot dead in the mansion by hitmen that his jealous relatives had purportedly hired. The rest of his family were later killed during the Japanese invasion.
While that story in itself is already dark, it gets darker when a bomoh (witch doctor) who visited the mansion claimed the area surrounding the house ‘wants’ back the land on which the house was built.
Apparently, his regular summoning of spirits at the home created a gateway through which evil can roam throughout the mansion. It’s sometimes dubbed an airport for ghosts.
Address: Byram Estate (The 99-door mansion) (Caledonia House), 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia
*Note* this is private property and if you plan to visit, obtain prior approval from landowners and/or relevant authorities.
4. Crag Hotel
(Credit: Marco Ferrarese via Nikkei Asia)
Although there are no significant “ghost stories”  behind this abandoned hotel, the site has been used a few times as a film set for its eerie-looking appeal.
Built in the 1880s, it functioned as a hotel until World War II when it was claimed by the Japanese and left abandoned following the war.
It was then purchased and converted into a school in 1955 up until 1977.
Address: Bukit Bendera, Penang / Google maps
5. Ghost Museum Penang
(Credit: Ghost Museum Penang / Facebook)
For a more light-hearted approach to dark tourism, which may even scare you more than the places where real and tragic deaths happened, is this quirky experience that invites you to “Come on and scare our ghosts”.
They have two branches, one of which we’ve already featured in Melaka.
Read More: 5 Things To Do In Melaka When It Opens
Much like its sister site, this museum features ghostly scenes featuring dressed up mannequins and is said to guide you through local dark culture and history.
Address: Ghost Museum Penang, 57 Lebuh Melayu, Georgetown, 10100, Penang / Facebook

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Malaysia’s Floating Villages: The Danger Of Living On The Water

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad once said that life on the water and the way of the floating villages were outdated and no longer fits the image of a progressive and modern nation that Malaysia strives to become.
However, the country is home to a vast number of these â€œfloating domicilesâ€ located in various parts of the nation, from the humble Bagan Hailam village on the banks of the Klang river, to the enduring Bajau Laut (Sea Gypsies) communities off the coast of Borneo.

The Bajau Laut community in Bodgaya Island, Semporna, Sabah.(Image Credit: MABUL)

But life on the water is not always calm and serene.
Aside from being at the mercy of the elements and of course pollutionâ€¦

The image on the left is the floating village in Lahad Datu, the right, a village in Semporna. Both littered with trash.
(Image Credit: Twitter @adelkamall/@KKCity)

Ironically, one of the biggest threats to the â€œaquaticâ€ lifestyle is the everpresent danger of fire.

A fire that destroyed more than 30 homes in Kampung Air, Sandakan.
(Image Credit: Borneo Today)

Many of these coastal communities build their respected lodgings either supported on stilts anchored to the river/lake/ocean bottom or directly floating and adrift on the waterâ€™s surface.
These structures, therefore, need to be buoyant and able to stay afloat which necessitates them to be built using lightweight and usually flammable materials such as wooden planks, bamboo and rattan (among other things).

(Image Credit: Business Insider)

The floating properties are also usually built in close proximity to each other, where each building is connected together to create a singular man-made island where a blaze can easily spread and engulf an entire village.
The fact that these buildings are homes to actual people also requires them to have basic amenities such as electricity.

(Image Credit: The Star)

Regrettably, a number of the poorer (and sometimes illegal and squatting) floating communities would attain this living essentially by illegal means, carelessly stealing and extending power lines across the village, where one faulty wiring can result in a major catastrophe.
Even the simple act of cooking a meal in one of these combustible homes comes at a risk.
In 2018, close to 200 residents living on the waters of Sabah alone were assessed to be vulnerable fire hazards
That same year, a fire ravaged more than 100 houses in a floating village in Semporna, while nearly 1,000 people lost their homes in a blaze that consumed parts of a village in Kota Kinabalu.

Arial image of the fire at Kampung Cenderamata 2, Kota Kinabalu.
(Image Credit: Berita Harian)

Malaysiaâ€™s first floating fire station
In an effort to address these high-risk, flammable villages, the district of Semporna has set up the countryâ€™s very first floating fire and rescue station.

(Image Credit: Malaysiakini)

Equipped with 3 boats to manage a range of tasks, the station will serve as the headquarters for Fire and Rescue personnel and some 20 volunteers firefighters on a mission to put out flames, conduct search and rescue operation (SAR), and Emergency Medical Rescue Service (EMRS) operations at the many floating villages across the eastern, northern and parts of the southwest coast of Sabah.
The station located on the water itself is seen as a means to greatly improve response time during emergencies.
(Image Credit: Berita Harian)
The â€œfloating fire brigadeâ€ will also serve as a point of reference for other states to follow suit and set up their own floating stations to patrol their waterways and coastal villages.

Itâ€™s great knowing that there are efforts to protect the people and preserve the unique and somewhat magical cultures and way of living that exist here in Malaysia.
Would you consider giving up dry land to settle on the high seas? Share with us your marine aspirations on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.


Here’s All The Red Zones In Malaysia (UPDATED)

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Johor Bharu and Kuching are the latest districts declared as red zones after recording an increase of Covid-19 cases.

According to stats by the Health Ministry, JB has recorded 45 Covid-19 cases, while Kuching has 76.
Red zones are classified as areas which have accumulated 41 or more cases in the span of two weeks.
Based on the latest data (16 October to 29 October) from the Health Ministry, these are the current red zones and the number of cumulative cases.
Peninsular
Kedah – 240
Kota Setar – 201
Pulau Pinang – 552
Timur Laut – 260Seberang Perai Selatan – 253
Selangor – 1482
Petaling – 490Hulu Langat – 277Gombak – 131Klang – 192Sepang – 230Kuala Langat – 131
Kuala Lumpur – 165
Titiwangsa – 77
Negeri Sembilan – 404
Seremban – 384
Johor – 59
Johor Bahru – 45
Picture Credit: MOH
Sabah & Sarawak
Sarawak – 77
Kuching – 76
Sabah – 8256
Beaufort – 42Kinabatangan – 52Kota Belud – 128Kota Kinabalu – 3017Kunak – 103Lahad Datu – 576Papar – 247Putatan – 236Sandakan – 933Semporna – 567Tawau – 1189Ranau – 63Tuaran – 398Keningau – 131Kudat – 210Penampang – 230
Picture Credit: MOH
What happens in a red zone?
While we know that a red zone is based on whether the number of cases exceeds 41, in terms of SOPs, what you can and cannot do in them has been inconsistent as announcements vary daily.
On 8 October, schools in the red zone were supposed to close but on 20 October the Education Ministry said schools in red zones will only be closed if there are infections recorded in the community.
So what happens if you’re living in a red zone and what are you supposed to do or not do?
Based on reports, if you want to know more about the restrictions in your area, have to see if it’s classified as Targeted Enhanced Movement Control Order (TEMCO) or Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO).
TEMCO areas tend to very targeted, for example the Alor Setar Prison area and the restrictions are much tighter such as all movements in and out of the area were not allowed.
A CMCO covers a larger area such as one enforced currently in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Selangor and some parts of Sabah.
In these areas, although movement is restricted, the government has given leeway for certain activities such as shops and restaurants to still open according to a strict schedule.

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MKN’s Official CMCO SOP As Of 1 April (In English)

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For your convenience, we’ve translated to English the latest Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) standard operating procedure (SOP) released by the National Security Council (MKN). This translation is provided “As Is” so please refer to the original document (linked at the bottom) where necessary.

Areas involved
KelantanPenangSelangorWP Kuala LumpurJohorNegeri Sembilan (Seremban District) Kedah (Kuala Muda District)Sarawak *For Sarawak, please refer to the Sarawak State PKPB SOP
Duration
April 1, 2021 (from 12.01 am) to April 14, 2021 (11.59 pm). For Sarawak starting on 30 March 2021 (from 12.01 am) until 12 April 2021 (11.59 pm).
Activities ALLOWED
Activities in the economic and industrial chain.Conducting Official Government Responsibilities.Obtaining medical treatment, emergency and death matters.
Activities NOT ALLOWED
List Of Activities That Are Not Allowed
Fixed Instructions
Regulation 18 of PU(A) 97/2021, Prevention And Control Of Infectious Diseases (Measures Within Infected Local Areas) (Conditional Movement Control) Regulations 2021 which states “The Director General may issue any directions in any manner, whether generally or specifically, to any person or group of persons to take such measures for the purpose of preventing and controlling any infectious diseases within any infected local area.”Emergency (Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021.Subject to the ruling issued by the National Security Council (MKN) and the Ministry of Health (KKM).Instructions, rules and SOPs under the respective Ministry / Department / Agency.CMCO SOP For All Of Sabah.Other instructions issued from time to time by the Health Director-General.
Movement Control
Credit: Malay mail
Movement within a CMCO area is ALLOWED. The Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor are considered one zone and cross movement is allowed.Movement to other CMCO areas, MCO, RMCO and EMCO areas is NOT PERMITTED except with Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) PERMISSION.The number of passengers in a private vehicle is according to the capacity of the vehicle. However, high-risk individuals and children are discouraged from going out into public, open and crowded areas.The number of people allowed in vehicles carrying essential goods and services as well as economic / industrial activity chains depends on the commercial vehicle registration license.The movement of private vehicles, Government departments or private companies for the purpose of going to and from work or carrying out official Government business depends on the seating capacity of the vehicle.Activities and services at all airports and ports are ALLOWED to operate.Public transport services such as buses, express buses, LRT/ MRT/ ERL/ Monorails, ferries, airplanes, taxis/ e-hailing and other public transport are ALLOWED to operate (operating hours according to license conditions) based on vehicle capacity.Food delivery service is ALLOWED to operate from 6.00 am to 12.00 midnight during the CMCO period.Permission to cross states is allowed for long-distance married couples by obtaining permission from PDRM.
Activities Within CMCO Areas
Credit: Malay Mail
Business / economy / industry is ALLOWED to operate as determined by the Government.Supermarkets, Shopping Malls and Retail Stores are ALLOWED to operate in accordance with the SOP set between 6.00 am to 12.00 midnight.Restaurants, shops / food stalls, food trucks, roadside hawkers, circulating hawkers, food court / hawker center, roadside stalls / kiosks, grocery stores and convenience stores are ALLOWED to operate between 6.00 am to 12.00 midnight with compliance of Food Sector SOPs.Restaurants and eateries are ALLOWED to operate on a dine-in basis (WITH 1 METER DISTANCE BETWEEN CUSTOMERS according to table size), take away, delivery or drive-through in compliance with Food Sector SOPs (Premises Business, Non-Premises Hawker , Indoor Markets and Retail/Miscellaneous Food & Beverage). Hours of operation are allowed from 6.00 am to 12.00 midnight (subject to license conditions).The operation of the daily market, wholesale market, farmers market, night market and Late Night Bazaar (uptown, downtown and the like) is according to the start time of operation according to the license/permit until 12.00 midnight with compliance of SOP and supervision of authorities and People’s Volunteer Corps (RELA)/local authority personnel.Ramadan Bazaars are ALLOWED to operate between 3.00 pm to 8.00 pm with compliance to SOP and supervision of authorities and RELA/PBT members.Aidilfitri Bazaars are ALLOWED to operate between 10.00 am to 12.00 midnight with compliance with the Ramadan Bazaar and Aidilfitri Bazaar SOPs.Operating hours at petrol stations are between 6.00 am to 12.00 midnight (unless the operation of petrol stations on the highway is allowed to operate 24 hours).Laundry operations are ALLOWED from 6.00 am to 12.00 midnight.SPA, reflexology, massage, wellness including pedicure and manicure services are ALLOWED from 6.00 am to 12.00 midnight or according to the conditions of the local authority license, whichever is earlier.Operation of other PERMITTED businesses for daily needs from 6.00 am to 12.00 midnight (subject to license conditions).
Medical / Health Services
Credit: Malay Mail
Government and private clinics and hospitals are ALLOWED to operate on a 24 -hour basis or according to the time set by the Government.Pharmacies and shops selling medicines operate from 8.00 am to 12.00 midnight.
Health Protocols
Credit: Malay Mail
The owner of the premise ensures control of the entry and exit of customers to the premises with a physical distancing of 1 meter.Hand sanitizer is provided at the entry and must be used before entering.The licensee and the owner of the premises are required to provide MySejahtera QR code facilities and provide customer attendance registration books.The use of the MySejahtera application is mandatory in areas of wide internet access. Exceptions are given for areas that do not have internet access, especially in rural and inland areas.The licensee and the owner of the premises ensure that customers check in at the premises using MySejahtera or by manually writing the name and phone number if there is no internet coverage.Customers / visitors are required to check in with MySejahtera or manually write their name and phone number in a legible manner before entering the premises.For shopping complexes / supermarkets / department stores, customers only need to perform a body temperature scan once at the entrance of the complex and not at every business premise under one complex.A body with temperature above 37.5 degrees Celsius is NOT ALLOWED to enter the complex and premises.The owner of the complex and premises must ensure that only customers with “Low Risk” status in MySejahtera are allowed to enter their respective premises.The licensee and the owner of the premises limit the number of customers in the premises with a physical distancing of 1 meter radius at a time and must display the maximum number of customers in the premises.Employees, suppliers and customers are required to wear face masks properly according to MOH recommendations while on premises.Ensure good ventilation and ventilation system on the premises.It is mandatory to wear face mask, especially when in a crowded public place EXCEPT for the following activities and places:Own residence and involving members of the same household;Private Hotel / Accommodation Room and includes members of the same household;Solitary workspace;Indoor and Outdoor sports and recreational activities;Own vehicle and involving members of the same household;Public areas and places both indoor and outdoor without any other individuals; andWhen eating and drinking in public places without any other individuals.
Work Activities
Credit: Malay Mail
Movement in/out of MCO, CMCO and RMCO areas is ALLOWED. Employee movement is subject to registration / operating approval letter and employee pass / employer confirmation letter.Movement to EMCO areas is NOT ALLOWED.The capacity of attendance of employees for the public service is based on the Circular/ Instruction of the Public Service Department (JPA). Meanwhile, the private sector can fill the capacity up to 100% for the management group and operations/support.Vehicles carrying employees including private vehicles are PERMITTED to operate in compliance with SOPs.
Economic and Industrial Sector Activities
Credit: Malay Mail
The activities of the economic and industrial sectors in the CMCO areas are carried out as prescribed by the Government in compliance with the SOPs that have been set.All industrial, business and manufacturing related vehicles are ALLOWED to operate including across district and state lines.
Fishery, Plantation and Agriculture Sector Activities
Credit: Malay Mail
The fishery, plantation, agriculture, livestock and everything related to the food chain are ALLOWED to operate.
Religious activities
Credit: Malay Mail
Activities in mosques and suraus are PERMITTED with attendance limits set by the State Religious Authorities.Activities in non-Muslim houses of worship are PERMITTED with attendance limits set by Ministry of National Unity and the Ministry of Federal Territories for houses of worship in Federal Territory.
Sports and Recreational Activities
Credit: Malay Mail
All individual and team sports and recreational activities for health, fitness, training and games/matches are SUBJECT to the Sports and Recreation Sector SOPs including the movement control instructions in force and the permission of the relevant Authority.Organizing tournaments/competitions at the state/district/community level WITH the permission of Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS).Organizing tournaments/competitions at the international level using the Sports Bubble model with permission from KBS. The entry of players/participants/officials/technicians SUBJECT to KBS support and permission from the Immigration Department (JIM).Participation of Malaysian players/participants/officials/technicians to tournaments/competitions overseas is WITH support of KBS and permission of JIM.Attendance of spectators / supporters to sports and recreation venues is subject to 10% seating capacity or 2,000 people or whichever is lower. However, the organizers may set the capacity limit of spectator attendance (not exceeding the specified capacity) taking into account the ability of supervisory control (EFFECTIVE 1 APRIL 2021).Local and controlled group activities such as aerobics, zumba, taichi, and the like by complying with the Sports and Recreation Sector SOP. Participation is LIMITED to 50% of the area’s capacity or not exceeding 250 people only, whichever is lower, at the any one time.Operation of sports and recreation premises / facilities / facilities in accordance with the Sports and Recreation Sector SOP.
Creative Industries
Credit: Malay Mail
All types of events/shows/live performances consisting of official Government programs/music arts/dance arts/theater arts/musical arts/comedy/cultural and heritage performances/ livestreaming ARE PERMITTED WITH AUDIENCE limited to 50% of the event space capacity subject to physical distancing.Restricted to designated locations and licensed event spaces only such as convention centers, exhibition galleries, trade centers, art premises and other licensed Meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions (MICE) premises.Performances in hotel lounges are PERMITTED WITH AN AUDIENCE limited to 50% of the event space capacity subject to physical distancing.Total management, artists and crew is limited to 70% of normal capacity.Creative Content Development activities including music production, animation and filming of films, dramas and documentaries made indoors and outside the studio are PERMITTED. However, television programs made live or recorded inside and outside the studio ARE PERMITTED WITH AUDIENCE limited to 50% of the space capacity with physical distancing.‘Busking’ activities in building premises such as cafeterias, food courts, eateries and shopping malls are PERMITTED.Cinema and drive-in cinema activities are PERMITTED in CMCO areas.
Day Care And Child Care Centers, Nurseries, And Kindergartens
Credit: Malay Mail
Childcare centres, nurseries, tabika, and kindergartens are ALLOWED to operate with the approval of relevant Ministry / Agency.Parents and guardians sending their children to childcare centres in vehicles are allowed to transport the number of child passengers according to the vehicle’s capacity.Day care centres for the Disabled (OKU), the Elderly, Women, and Miscellaneous Care Centers are allowed to operate during the CMCO period.
Education
Credit: Malay Mail
Schools, Public & Private Institutes of Higher Learning (IPT), Skills Training Institutes, tahfiz centers, private educational institutions in the category of private kindergartens, schools and centers (such as tuition centers, Language centers, skills centers, mind development centers and guidance centers) and other educational institutions are ALLOWED in compliance with the Guidelines set by the respective Ministries / Agencies.All educational institutions and private educational institutions registered with the Education Ministry (KPM) to operate based on the decisions and announcements by KPM made from time-to-time. Other institutions are encouraged to start operations based on the KPM’s announcement.Students and candidates sitting for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) Examinations in 2020 and 2021, Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), Sijil Vokasional Malaysia (SVM), Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM), Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM), Diploma Vokasional Malaysia (DVM), Pentaksiran Kemasukan Sekolah Khusus for Form 1 and Form 4 and equivalent international examinations are allowed to attend schools across MCO or CMCO or RMCO areas according to the school calendar set by the KPM with confirmation documents from KPM.The movement of lecturers / teachers / instructors for the purpose of Teaching and Learning in respective classes is allowed with confirmation from KPM and Higher Education Ministry (KPT).Movement for admission of students to hostels set by KPM and KPT is allowed with confirmation from KPM and KPT.Students in need must obtain a movement permission letter from the relevant IPT to cross the state to return to campus.
MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions)
Credit: Malay Mail
Business events related to meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) are allowed to operate at 50% of the capacity of the premises by complying with physical distancing, mandatory wearing of face masks and based on MICE CMCO SOP.
The following activities are allowed to operate at 50% of the capacity of the premises by complying with physical distancing, mandating the wearing of face masks and based on the relevant CMCO SOPs:-Public tourist attraction products such as zoos, farms, aquariums, edutainment centers, recreational parks, extreme / adventure / nature parks and others;Premises of art, culture and heritage such as museums, libraries, art galleries, cultural heritage art centers / villages, cultural performance stages and others;Theme Parks and Family Entertainment Centers.Other tourism and cultural activities OTHER THAN those under the Negative List are subject to the existing Tourism and Culture Sector CMCO SOP which is currently in force.
Meetings
Credit: Malay Mail
Face-to-face meetings for official business / work held in offices, hotels and other institutions are allowed by adherence to physical distancing, mandatory use of face masks and only 50% of meeting room capacity.Meetings are encouraged to be held via video conferencing.
Seminars / Conferences / Workshops / Courses / Training / Talks / Exhibitions
Credit: Malay Mail
All Seminars / Conferences / Workshops / Courses / Training / Talks / Exhibitions are allowed to operate at 50% capacity of the premises by complying with physical distancing, mandatory wearing of face masks and based on the General SOP for Holding of Official Government and Private Events.
Organizing Social Events
Credit: Malay Mail
Official and Informal Government and Private Ceremonies, Social Events such as feasts, wedding ceremonies (akad nikah), wedding and engagement ceremonies, receptions, aqiqah ceremonies, prayers, tahlil, anniversary celebrations, birthday celebrations, reunions, retreats and other social events are allowed to operate at 50% of the capacity of the premises by complying with physical distancing, mandatory wearing of face masks and based on the General SOP for Holding Social Events.
Other Permitted Activities
Other activities that are not included in the Negative List are ALLOWED based on the existing SOPs that have been set.

List of PROHIBITED Activities (Negative List)
Entertainment Activities
Activities at nightclubs or pubs.
Sports and Recreation Activities
Organising tournament/competition at community/district/state/national/international levels WITHOUT the permission of KBS.Participation of Malaysia players/participants/officials/technicians to tournaments/competitions outside the country WITHOUT support of KBS and permission from JIM.Foreign players/participants/officials/technicians entering Malaysia with the objective of organising a sports or recreational tournament/competition WITHOUT KBS support and JIM permission.Presence of spectators/supporters to a sports or recreational venue of OVER 10% capacity or 2,000 people or whichever is higher (BEFORE 1 APRIL 2021).Mass activities that involve movement and gathering of people that make it difficult to physically distance at the same time such as a fun run, fun ride, marathon, triathlon and so on.
Tourism Activities
Tourism activities leaving CMCO areas, in MCO and EMCO areas.Overseas tourism activities by citizens and domestic tourism activities involving foreign tourists entering Malaysia except foreign tourists from countries specified by the Minister.
Others Not Allowed
Other interstate travel without PDRM permission.Any activity that may cause many people to be present in a place that makes it difficult for physical distancing and compliance with the instructions of the Director General of Health.Other matters decided by the Government from time-to-time.

For more information, you can take a look at the official SOPs in Bahasa Malaysia, or check out the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within Infected Local Areas) (Movement Control) Regulations 2021.

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Chrissie Mayr’s ‘Apology Tour’ With Jocelyn Chia Is Likely Fake

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American comedian Chrissie Mayr was previously criticised for supporting American-based comedian Jocelyn Chia after the latter made a joke about the missing MH370 flight.

READ MORE: [Watch] “Some Jokes Don’t Land” SG Comedian Criticised For Joking About Malaysia’s MH370
READ MORE: American Comedian Chrissie Mayr Baits Malaysians On Twitter, Makes MAS “Joke”
However, the backlash did not stop either of them and Mayr took it another step further to announce their joint comedy show in Kuala Lumpur.
Mayr posted an Instagram post about their alleged joint Apology Tour around Malaysia that would be held at Live House Kuala Lumpur in August.
Screenshot of Chrissie Mayr’s Instagram post.
Before anyone sharpens their machetes, the announcement is likely fake to rile up more Malaysians and fuel the women’s current notoriety.
One of the signs that it’s probably a fake show is there’s no way to purchase tickets. Mayr did not provide any links to a ticket site.
The second sign is the defunct venue. Live House Kuala Lumpur has been permanently shuttered since 2019, based on the venue’s lack of social media activity.
In addition, the Malaysian police have requested Interpol for help to track Chia. There would be no way Chia would choose to be in an area close to our local authorities.
READ MORE: Cops To Get Interpol’s Help To “Determine Identity And Whereabouts” of Jocelyn Chia
Then again, maybe the two women will take the challenge and really cement themselves in the hall of infamy.
Nevertheless, Mayr’s post baited angered netizens hook, line, and sinker. Some of them called for a boycott and for the authorities to ban the show.

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Are Solar Panels The Solution To High Electricity Bills?

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Sitting on the equator with sunny days most of the time, it is only natural to assume that Malaysians would benefit immensely if solar panels are adopted widely.

Sharing his story with Bernama, petrol station manager Peter Wong said his electricity bill used to be around RM280 a month, but he has been smiling since installing 10 solar panels in his house last year as he enjoys almost free electricity.
Wong, 37, started worrying about his rather steep power bills three years ago after the movement control order (MCO) was enforced.
According to Wong, his home has three air conditioners, and throughout the MCO as well as the heatwave, the air conditioners would be left on for long periods of time.
“As I couldn’t bear the higher electricity bills, I decided to invest in 10 solar panels with a capacity of 4.7 kWp (kilowatt peak), with eight facing east and two facing west on the roof of my double-storey terrace house in Georgetown (Penang),” he said.
The installation of the solar panels only cost him RM20,000 as he was one of the people who benefitted from the Net Energy Metering (NEM) programme.
Wong saw the immediate effect of the solar panels as he was able to save about RM280 per month on electricity bills and even obtain a negative balance if his household’s monthly energy use is less than RM280.
Net Energy Metering (NEM) programme
According to Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), NEM is one of the ways to use solar photovoltaic panels (PV) to generate electricity and offset or lower your electricity costs.
The surplus solar energy production will be credited to you under this arrangement. You then use it to reduce your subsequent electricity bill. By doing this, you can reduce your electricity usage and guard against future increases in the price of electricity. Even better, you will join the push for renewable energy to lessen the impact of climate change.
For these kinds of connections, a bi-directional metre will be installed, and since metre reading will be done remotely, you must make sure that there is a strong enough communication signal.
In order to input extra electricity produced by solar panels into the power grid, TNB and the NEM programme have a 10-year contract.
To ensure safe operation and network dependability, TNB will carry out a technical audit prior to the solar PV system being connected.
For more info you can click here.
Is It Worth It?
According to an article from Property Guru, the Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change (MESTECC), said there are over 4.12 million buildings with solar rooftop potential in Peninsular Malaysia alone. If every one of those rooftops had rooftop solar installed, Malaysia could generate more than its current total electricity generation every year.
As many would know, solar panels produce electricity by turning solar light into electricity in photovoltaic cells, which absorb the light from the sun. Because of this, solar electricity is frequently referred to as “solar PV”.
Photovoltaic is what the initials PV stand for.
Only 10% of the energy captured from the sun by solar panels throughout the 1950s and 1960s was turned into electricity. However, currently it can convert 20% of the energy to electricity.
As you generate and use your own electricity rather than purchasing it from the grid, solar power generated at home can reduce your electricity costs. The prime example is as Wong mentioned above.
It does not stop there as you can even apply to SELL that energy back to TNB or Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB).
By reselling any unused renewable energy to the electrical grid, the NEM programme rewards both residential and commercial solar power generators.
For more info on this you can click here.
One might think that installing a solar panel may be too expensive or too much of a hassle. However, keep in mind that this would be an investment for a greater and greener future.

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20YO Sabahan Alesyah Asa Is Top 50 Finalist In 2022 Global Student Prize

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An undergraduate from Keningau Vocational College in Sabah, Alesyah Asa, has made the country proud by earning a spot as one of the 50 finalists for the Chegg.org Global Student Prize 2022.

NST reported that Alesyah, a construction technology student, is the sole Malaysian finalist for the prestigious annual award for students who make a huge impact on learning, their peers and society.
I am so excited. I did not expect to get into the top 50 out of almost 7,000 nominations and applications from 150 countries. The result was announced yesterday on the competition website.Alesyah Asa
Alesyah Asa. Image: Global Teacher Prize
She told NST that she hoped to make it to the top 10 and win the highly coveted Global Student Prize 2022.
If she wins, she’ll receive the US$100,000 award and plans to use the monetary award to invest in Eureka Hub.
Eureka Hub is her science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) project, which trains peers and teachers on robotics, drones, 3D printing and entrepreneurship to improve school infrastructure.
She also intends to further develop her project on tackling Covid-19 misinformation.
Her other achivements
On the Prize’s official website, Alesyah is said to have risen above various stigmas, stereotypes and economic hurdles associated with her life as a woman who lived in a rural area of Malaysia.
She successfully promoted innovation, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and inclusivity in her school and community.
Her mission to inspire women to excel in male-dominated fields also spurred her to lead school initiatives in STEM-related activities, focusing on vocational students and special needs learners.
Image: Alesyah Asa
As one of the few female students in her course, she has represented her department in vocational competitions and mentored female students to do the same.
Due to her tenacity, Alesyah has opened up a swathe of opportunities for underprivileged students in areas they previously had limited access to.
Her achievements include successfully getting more female students to represent the school in innovation contests.
Some of her school’s special needs learners were also nationally recognized as pioneers in using sign language to present their projects in national and international competitions.
In 2020, she led her team to win an information literacy hackathon organised by Unesco. The team later received a STEAM grant from the Awesome Foundation (Boston) for its technology-based workshop series.
The top 10 finalists of the Global Student Prize will be announced in late August this year. The winner will then be chosen from the Top 10 finalist pool by the Global Student Prize Academy.
Previously, Samuel Isaiah, a Malaysian teacher known for his incredible work in educating Orang Asli children, was a top 10 finalist for the prestigious Global Teacher Prize.
READ MORE: Malaysian Teacher Dedicated To Teaching Orang Asli Children Recognised As Top 10 Finalist For Global Teacher Prize

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‘Rat Out’ People Who Violate Covid-19 Guidelines, Says Government

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The Malaysian government wants the public to ‘rat out’ their fellow Malaysians who violate protocols and guidelines set under the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) period.
Seeing as many Malaysian are still blatantly ignoring Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOP) and guidelines, authorities are now asking members of the public to be their eyes and ears on the ground and report any RMCO transgressions they witness.
According to Senior Minister (Defense) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob over 60 individuals were recently arrested by police for RMCO violations with some 50 others fined for breaking the rules.
Violations include partying at bars and nightclubs as well as partaking in activities en mass, where social distancing is difficult, if not impossible to maintain.
Though the minister neglected to reveal exactly where Malaysians can call in to make their reports, the government had previously set up a direct hotline to the Home Ministry for the public to call in and notify authorities regarding violations during the recent nationwide Movement Control Order (MCO) period.
Contact the hotline or your local police station to report in RMCO violations.(Twitter/NST)
Additionally, the public could also phone their local police station to complain about any Covid-19 guideline violations.
The government reminds Malaysians that despite the current freedoms that they are enjoying, the Covid-19 pandemic was still very much a real threat and that each and every member of the society would need to be responsible in protecting themselves, their loved ones and the community from the deadly disease.

Here Are Actual Things You Can And Cannot Do During RMCO

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Source:
As RMCO violations persist, Ismail Sabri tells public to be authorities’ ‘eyes and ears’
Here's how you can report those who are not complying with the movement control order


[WATCH] “Mouthy” Policewoman Back In Yet Another Caught-On-Camera Rant

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A policewoman, who is currently under investigation for criminal intimidation, has been captured on camera once again.

This time, she was seen berating a lower-ranking officer at the Seri Petaling police station.
In the recently viral 40 second video, the policewoman virally known as Inspector Sheila, was seated at a desk, disregarding the uniformed officer’s request and shouting at him.

You hold the rank of lance corporal, so don’t try to give me orders. I am an inspector, know your place.
Inspector Sheila
When the lance corporal attempts to explain his presence, she abruptly responds, asking him to have his superior speak to her.
The video which was uploaded on TikTok, quickly gained popularity, accumulating 59,000 likes and 1.9 million views within just 23 hours of being uploaded on the social media platform.
  @shahaza96 Ada masalah racist dia ni. “Menghina pangkat rendah L/Kpl”    “Pangkat lagi tinggi drpd aku,boleh pergi”#inssheila#fyp #fypage ♬ bunyi asal  – MAT SILAU                 🪳
Not stopping at a single incident, previous subsequent videos reveal the same Inspector engaging in heated altercations with members of the public as well.
These viral clips have further fueled the public’s outrage and intensified scrutiny on the officer’s behaviour.

Inspektor Shila berjaya tular sekali lagi 😂🤣 untuk kali ini kejadian berlaku di parking pula pic.twitter.com/SUQQz6iz4Z— SITISM ERA (@IniAlalalannn) June 17, 2023

However, the consequences of her actions have not gone unnoticed.
Law enforcement authorities swiftly took action, arresting the 35-year-old woman on June 18 for multiple charges, including criminal intimidation and employing offensive language.
She was being investigated under Section 506 of the Penal Code, Section 186 of the Penal Code, as well as Section 14 of the Minor Offenses Act and her mobile phone was confiscated.
According to Selangor Police Chief, Datuk Hussein Omar, the suspect will be granted bail once the investigation is complete.
This is because there are several other reports that have also been received against the same suspect.

Berlagak nak mampus perempuan ni. Kalau betul dia pegawai polis naya la anak buah nak kena hadap dengan perangai sial dia. pic.twitter.com/UcPIuurAxk— MALAYSIA MOST VIRAL (@MALAYSIAVIRALLL) June 15, 2023

As the videos continue to circulate, social media platforms have become a hotbed of debate, with users expressing their strong condemnation of the Inspector’s behaviour.
The incidents serve as a stark reminder of the need for accountability and professionalism within the police force, while raising questions about the overall culture and training of law enforcement personnel.

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PN Supports Ismail Sabri As Long As MPs With Court Cases Aren’t Made Ministers

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Perikatan Nasional (PN) has unanimously agreed to nominate former Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, as the new Prime Minister.

Former Prime Minister Tan Sri Mahiaddin Md Yasin said that this bloc consists of 50 Dewan Rakyat Members from PN coalition parties, including:
31 BERSATU18 PAS 1 STAR
He also said that 4 Pro-PN Independent Dewan Rakyat members have done the same.
I have also consulted with the leaders of the GPS and PBS parties that formed the previous National Alliance Government to take a similar resolution.Former Prime Minister Tan Sri Mahiaddin Md Yasin
This decision, he said, was made to ensure the continuity of Perikatan Nasional policies, which focuses on efforts to combat Covid-19 and restore the country until the time is right for General Elections to be held to restore the mandate to the people.
This decision also means that the Perikatan Nasional prioritises political stability and the well-being of the people over the politics of revenge in the competition for power.Former Prime Minister Tan Sri Mahiaddin Md Yasin
When faced with a crisis situation, Malaysia’s 8th Prime Minister said that politicians must be magnanimous for the sake of the people and the country.
In line with the principles of the Perikatan Nasional to defend a government with integrity, I would like to emphasize that the PN’s support for YB Dato ‘Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob who is also the Vice President of UMNO is conditional.Former Prime Minister Tan Sri Mahiaddin Md Yasin
Mahiaddin also said that the next PM must ensure that the Cabinet Members who will be appointed later are those with integrity, trustworthy and free from any criminal charges in court.
He added that the government under the new Prime Minster’s leadership must also continue the practice of respecting the principle of separation of powers, protecting the independence of the judiciary and upholding the concept of a Constitutional Monarch.
I hope the process of appointing the new Prime Minister can run smoothly and be finalized in the near future in accordance with the requirements of the Federal Constitution. As the Chairman of the National Alliance, I will continue to serve the people and prepare the party to face the 15th General Election when the time comes.Former Prime Minister Tan Sri Mahiaddin Md Yasin

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Maybe, Just Maybe, Those Annoying CNY Questions Come From A Place Of Care

Thereâ€™s a scene in this yearâ€™s Chinese New Year video by Sunway that I kept coming back to: The one where the guy was playing mobile games when his grandfather was trying to talk to him (as featured above).
Itâ€™s a scene that I found super relevant not just because itâ€™s something that I see my younger cousins do, but also because itâ€™s something that Iâ€™m guilty of doing too. You can check out the video here:

There is, however, one major difference between how my cousins and I â€œplayâ€ with our phones during Chinese New Year.
I have no doubt that they are glued to their phones because they are genuinely preoccupied with the worlds of PUBG and TikTok. For me, I assume that â€˜emergency positionâ€™ of being busy on my phone to avoid the annoying interrogation sessions that happen every Chinese New Year.

The questions we get asked during Chinese New Year change as we grow older

In school
During this phase, we usually get questions about our studies, eg. â€œHow many Aâ€™s did you get for UPSR/PMR/SPM?â€ For those in college and university, it’s always about our career choice or – for kepoh uncles and aunties – if we’ve started dating.

After entering the workforce
Memories of these questions are probably fresher for most of us – because we just heard them last year.â€œGot boyfriend or not?â€â€œWhy till now no boyfriend?â€â€œYour jobâ€¦ can earn money one ah?â€

After marriage
Not that I’ve personally experienced this, but I’ve seen it happen to my married cousins. â€œWhen are you guys going to have kids?â€â€œ[To the girl] Put on weight already. Second kid on the way ah?â€â€œWhen are you going to give your parents grandkids?â€

Then thereâ€™s the unsolicited advice, too

via GIPHY
Sometimes, answers to unwelcomed questions are followed by equally unwelcomed advice or opinions. I was once told that I wouldnâ€™t be single had I smiled more and stopped working so hard.
I’m pretty sure there are many out there who have had worse said to them. As a result, some of us resort to pretending to be busy; while others even opt out of family gatherings.

But what if all these questions and advice come from a place of care?

It doesnâ€™t sound believable, and Iâ€™d probably share the disbelief if anyone used this reasoning to explain why our elders do what they do.
Until I caught myself asking similar questions, that is.
(Credit: Sunway Group/Facebook)
Thereâ€™s an age gap of 10 years and more between my younger cousins and I. We donâ€™t see each other often – maybe four times a year – and when we do, I struggle to continue our conversations after the first â€œHi, how are youâ€.
Naturally, I used things related to them as conversation starters, like â€œhowâ€™s school?â€ And upon realising that two of them had just received their SPM results, I continued with â€œhow was it?â€ Of course I had to end the conversation with the usual â€œmust study hard and study smart, ok?â€
The point is that perhaps our elders are trying to connect with us by asking about whatâ€™s happening in our lives – and what can be a more universal topic than studies for those who are students; or work for young adults?
(Credit: Sunway Group/Facebook)
Admittedly, some of the ways our older relatives use to show they care may come off the wrong way. Some questions may be too personal; and some advice arenâ€™t tactful. But we can all agree that our elders are not purposely asking or saying things to hurt us – they are merely expressing their care and love for us through questions and advice.

All the questions and advice you get during CNY come from a good place

(Credit: Sunway Group/Facebook)
And you probably won’t realise this until you become one of those uncle or auntie (like me), because you’re the one asking questions now.
Our elders have good intentions, just that these questions and advice arenâ€™t always conveyed in an ideal manner. The least we could do as youngsters is to show them respect, as advised in the Sunway video.
For this Chinese New Year, maybe donâ€™t go into panic mode the moment you see these uncles and aunties. Stow away all unhappy thoughts for a while and put your electronic devices on silent mode. Should an overly personal question or unpleasant advice pop up, we advise that you gently deflect it by commenting on how good the food is.
Happy Chinese New Year from us all!

This article is sponsored by Sunway Group, who would like to encourage everyone to soar to greater heights together.
Let us know what you think about the annoying CNY questions you get on TRPâ€™s Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.


Gov’t To Table Sexual Harassment Bill In December

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The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) will table a bill on sexual harassment before the end of the Dewan Rakyat sitting this December.

Bernama quoted Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff saying it would be presented to the Dewan after obtaining approval from relevant agencies and Cabinet meetings.
In terms of legislation, Siti Zailah mentioned that there are current Acts to protect women from sexual harassment such as the Penal Code (ACT 574) and the Employment Act 1955 (ACT 265).
She also hopes that female sexual harassment victims would lodge complaints with the Ministry or the police so that the information could be recorded and stern action can be taken against the perpetrators.
Earlier, KPWKM Minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun said that the Bill will be tabled to improve the existing justice system through the establishment of special tribunals to handle sexual harassment complaints quickly.
Sexual harassment has been actively talked about on social media recently, due to the indecent sexual jokes made by a Malaysian personality that didn’t sit well with many.
Even national diver Datuk Pandalela Rinong has come out and criticised the culture of folks making rape jokes, saying that there are a substantial amount of people who still think that it’s acceptable to do so.
READ MORE: Pandelela Speaks Out About Rapist Coach After Local Actor Makes Rape Joke On Live TV
Dulu saya ada seorang coach ni suka buat lawak lucah, saya buat diam je tak pun fake laugh sebab takut dia. Pernah sekali tak tahan saya tegur dia, tapi kena buli balik. 7 tahun kemudian dia buat kes rogol. #rapejokeisnotfunny— Pandelela Rinong (@Pandelela_R) October 21, 2021

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‘Yau Char Kuai’ Aunty Reunites With Sibling From Kuala Lumpur After Her Video Went Viral

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A Cantonese-speaking Malay woman separated from her elder brother for more than 10 years reunited for the first time when he gave her a call.

Senior citizen Maznah Abdul Aziz received the surprise from her elder brother not long after her Cantonese linguistic skill went viral.
Maznah, who sells yau char kuai or Chinese cruellers (also known as cakoi in Malay), said they had been estranged for years due to differences in the family.
Cakoi :A evolution of the Cantonese word ‘yau char kuai’ that found its way into the Malay vernacular— Cthulhu (@cThuLlhuu) June 12, 2017
For context, Maznah comes from a huge family of 16 siblings. She is 10th in the family, while her elder brother, who lives in Kuala Lumpur, is 7th.
We are so happy that we’ve been able to talk to each other again in our lifetime.Senior citizen Maznah Abdul Aziz to TRP on her reunion with her elder brother.
Maznah said the brother had not ben in touch with the family since their mother passed away more than 10 years ago.
  @shinichikeesoon #karak #multiracial #1Malaysia #KeluargaMalaysia #foodie ♬ original sound  – Shinichi Kee Soon
READ MORE: [Watch] Malay Aunty Selling Yau Char Kwai Speaks Fluent Cantonese, Netizens Praise Her For Being A True Malaysian
New Found Popularity
Meanwhile, Maznah said her business had improved tremendously ever since her Cantonese went viral.
Netizens praised and thanked Maznah for evoking nostalgia of Malaysia in yesteryears, when people were really close to each other regardless of race and religion.
She said many new customers straightaway speak Cantonese within they arrived at her stall at Karak’s main street.
Her customers said Maznah reminds them of Mui, a baker with severe acne who uses tai chi to bake mantou in Stephen Chow’s 2001 blockbuster Shaolin Soccer.
The character was played by mainland star Vicki Zhao Wei.
Vicki Zhao Wei plays Mui, a baker who is skilled at manipulating objects with tai chi. (Pix: Shaolin Soccer/Universe Entertainment Ltd)
The Golden Years Of Cantopop
On another note, Maznah said she and her siblings grew up listening to Cantonese songs.
She recalled listening to classics 80s songs including those by Hong Kong singer and actor Alan Tam Wing-lun and Anita Mui, who was Hong Kong’s biggest female Canto-pop star.
Maznah added that their learning of Cantonese were also defined by TVB, Hong Kong’s free television broadcaster.
Beside day to day interaction with kids from neighbouring families, our early experience with Cantonese came from TVB theme songs. TVB dramas and its memorable theme songs like The Bund were a main source of entertainment back then.Senior citizen Maznah Abdul Aziz to TRP on how her family picked up Cantonese.
At the same time, Maznah said she is starting to listen to Mandarin songs.
When asked which is the more beautiful language, Maznah said as long as one grew up in a normal, loving family, whatever they spoke is most beautiful.

The Bund is a Hong Kong period drama television series broadcasted on TVB in 1980.

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Budget 2021: What Is There For The B40?

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Budget 2021 was presented on 6 November targeting many income groups including the Below 40 group or B40.

We’ve listed down all of the benefits that you can get if you’re under that income group for both families and individuals.
Just in case you’re not sure if you’re a B40 or an M40, check out this article.
For families
Community centres
Community centres for B40 families with working parents, are being touted as a place of care for children after they end their daily school session.
The centres will be run in collaboration with NGOs and will be equipped with personal care facilities, tuition classes, mini libraries and provide mentoring programs.
Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat
Households with monthly income of less than RM2,500 with one child will receive assistance of RM1,200.Households with two children or more will receive assistance as much as RM1,800.
Kadar Bantuan Kanak-Kanak Keluarga Miskin
Aid to help children in poor families is raised from RM100 per child with a maximum RM450 per family to: RM150 for a child aged seven to 18 yearsRM200 for a child aged six and belowThe maximum now is RM1,000 per family.
Improving the Supplementary Meal Plan by giving out milk every day instead of twice a week.
For individuals
Bantuan Prihatin Nasional
Individuals who earn RM2,500 and below, will receive assistance of RM350 and the age limit has been lowered to 21 years, compared to 40 years old previously.
Temporary Measures Act For Reducing the Effects of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
This Act provides exemption or relief to the people who are unable to meet contractual obligations such as rental payments due to the spread of this epidemic.
COVID-19 Mediation Center was also established specifically to assist the B40 and M40 groups as well micro companies in contractual disputes.
PRIHATIN Network Programme
Starting the first quarter 2021, about 8 million recipients from the B40 group will receive assistance of RM180 per person in the form of telecommunications credit. This assistance can be used for expenses such as internet subscriptions or to cover part of the purchase cost for new cell phones.Free data worth RM1.5 billion will be given out by telecommunications companies.
Program Baucar Perlindungan Tenang
RM50 voucher as financial assistance to purchase insurance products including life takaful and personal accidents. The stamp duty exemption period on all products with annual contributions not exceeding RM100 will be extended for another 5 years until the year of assessment 2025.
Targeted Payment Assistance
Improved Targeted Payment Assistance for B40 borrowers with the loan amount of up to RM150,000 starting December.
Postpone monthly instalments for 3 months50% monthly instalment reduction for 6 months.
Eligible borrowers only need to contact the bank to complete the documentation process.
MyPass is extended
The implementation of the My30 unlimited travel pass initiative will continue and extended to Penang and the city of Kuantan.

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Are Nasal Swab Covid-19 Tests Better Than Saliva At-Home Test Kits?

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Currently, with rising cases of Covid-19, we ourselves are worried if we may or may not be having Covid-19.

Asymptomatic cases which are positive cases but without any symptoms (category 1) are possible and quite a lot. Nowadays, categories 1 and category 2 make up around 99% of the daily Covid-19 cases and categories 3,4,5 (those with serious conditions) make up around less than 1% of the total cases. Check out if you have category 1 or 2 symptoms here.
Hence, if you’re feeling a little bit under the weather, you’re a close contact or you just wanted reassurance just as a precaution, self-test kits (RTK-Ag) are important to detect Covid-19. The PCR tests are done by professionals. Do note that you don’t have to get the PCR test if you’re positive and below 60 years old without comorbidities in categories 1 and 2A.
READ MORE: Covid-19: What Makes You A Close Contact And How To Declare In MySejahtera
(Credit: @KKMPutrajaya / Twitter)
But the issue here lies in which Covid-19 self-test kits should you rely on? As of 11 February 2022, there are 123 products made by companies that are approved for Conditional Approval by the Medical Device Authority (MDA).
READ MORE: Covid-19 Test Kits & Vaccinations Are Tax-Deductable For Year 2021
The RTK-Ag self-test kits are either saliva or nasal swab sample type. There’s also an option for both sample types to be tested in one test tube to increase the detection rate.

The Rakyat Finds Inaccuracies
However, there have been issues regarding the accuracy of these RTK-Ag self-test kits as the public found out that some of them might give you false negatives. Some did the saliva test and was found negative but when tested with a nasal test, they were found positive. Some had the other way around.
According to a Twitter user, he had a friend that tried the saliva test 4 times and it turned out to be negative. However, it tested positive when his friend tried the nasal swab sample test.
Kawan aku buat 4 saliva test semua negatif dia buat nasal poff terus positif. Better buat nasal nep pic.twitter.com/G46CVXiid8— SEKETUL HILMIE ⁷ (@HilmieHafizx) February 10, 2022
A medical doctor who’s also a Twitter user replied to the thread saying that according to research, the accuracy for both types of sample products are almost the same. He thinks the results might be that way because of the way people collect the sample. He also thinks that it could be negative because they might be in the early phase of the disease and it’s too early to be detected.

Another person also reminded us that for an accurate reading of a saliva test, we need to cough deeply a few times to ensure the samples come from within the throat. Most people skip this part and that could lead to a negative test result.

One person said that he got the other way around. But, at the end of the day, if either the nasal swab or saliva test, tests positive, then it should be considered positive.

Furthermore, recently,  Alliance for Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye also calls the MDA to take quick action to reassure the public by giving a list of accurate test kits and banning the ones proven to give false negatives.
What KKM Suggests
The MDA doesn’t specifically recommend which one are the best or most accurate as both methods have a step-by-step tutorial on the Health Ministry (KKM) website. And there’s also a National Covid-19 Testing Strategy module to guide you with Covid-19 testing.
Following the request from Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, the MDA said that all of the approved self-test kits have undergone strict evaluation processes and have been tested at accredited laboratories.
(Credit: @KKMPutrajaya / Twitter)
They further urged the public to only buy the products that are approved by them (check the list here) and follow the instructions of the self-test closely. They also warned not to buy self-test kits with unusually cheap prices because they may be counterfeit ones or even expired.
What To Do After The Test?
Effective 7 February 2022, the government asks you to do your own Covid-19 self-test kit at home. If you’re positive and asymptomatic or in category 2A with no comorbidities, you don’t need to go to the nearby Covid-19 Assessment Centre (CAC). Instead, self-quarantine at home (follow the recommended time) and update your MySejahtera.
(Credit: @KKMPutrajaya / Twitter)
However, if you’re positive and the symptoms persist, (you’re in the 2B category or in categories 1 and 2A with existing comorbidities and aged 60 above), you should go to the nearby CAC for an RT-PCR (professional nose and throat swab) test or further action.
Whether you’re positive or negative, you should update your MySejahtera status. If the RTK-Ag test is invalid, there might be other external factors that affected the test and it should be done again.
READ MORE: Are You Showing Symptoms Of Long Covid? Here’s Where You Can Seek Help

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GERAK Says Public University System In Crisis, Made Worse By Covid-19, But Have Suggestions To Fix It

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It took 16 months, from March 2020, when the MCO was implemented, to July 2021 for the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) to make the decision to reduce university fees by 35%.

This, said the Malaysian Academics Movement (GERAK), is just one example of how the MOHE and university management dropped the ball when it comes to addressing the crisis facing the private university system during the pandemic.
GERAK adds that ad-hoc, confusing and inconsistent decisions by the MOHE and by university management, sub-standard online facilities; and lack of preparedness to take classes online are just some of the other issues faced by the teachers and students.
The movement, which consists of academicians from universities across Malaysia, claims that the current university education system is largely designed to meet political agendas and the questionable requirements of the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) and Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN).
At the same time, various equally questionable university and publication ranking systems are forced upon academics to ensure “quality”.
The Suggestions
In response to the issues, GERAK proposed short-term health and safety measures that would allow all students and staff to return to campuses and to resume their studies, and live safely and with as little mental stress as possible while doing so.
To Return To Class
Here are some of the basic measures they say are needed before institutions announce the dates of when classes will resume:
Provide full publicly-funded vaccination of all academic, administrative and support staff on campus.Provide full publicly-funded vaccination of all registered university/tertiary-level students.Set up active and efficient COVID-19 Test and Trace systems in all campuses;Provide proper and efficient ICT support for students and staff. This would include hardware, software, and internet support.Prepare SOPs for in-class lectures/tutorials, library, study rooms, hostel life, food courts, sports facilities, and other campus activities.Provide the option for students to defer a semester/year.Allow a choice of both in-class and virtual attendance at lectures/tutorials.Set up a lecture and resource database via university server or cloud services that allow students to access lectures, assignments and learning resources at their convenience.Prepare SOPs for revised methods of assessment to replace in-person exams;Set up in-campus quarantine hostels for students to allow them to follow classes using university facilities in case they contract COVID-19.Provide competent and accessible mental health services for students and staff via in-campus and online consultations.Set up a COVID-19 fund to assist students and staff with COVID-related emergencies.Prepare transparent disclosure and mitigation measures of COVID cases on campus.
To Alleviate Stress
Specifically for private sector universities and university colleges, and MOHE, GERAK suggests the following:
Provide already registered students from the M40 and B40 economic cohorts with a tuition fee subsidy until they complete their studies.Grant income tax exemption for private colleges engaged in genuine educational efforts and link those tax exemptions to the number of merit-based scholarships granted to registered students.Impose a ceiling cap on tuition fees for all courses in private sector universities and university colleges for the next three years.Grant income tax incentives to all private sector universities and university colleges to upgrade their educational technology and staff wages and welfare.Facilitate fee waivers and seamless visa applications for all foreign students who would like to study in Malaysia.Transfer students from dubious private higher education institutions to public vocational colleges.

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Veveonah Quits Social Media After False Accusations From Minister

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Veveonah Mosibin has gone off the grid in the past few days after receiving a slew of negative comments when Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin carelessly accused her of lying about sitting for an examination, instead saying that she was merely a YouTuber who wanted to gain fame.

Although Zahidi has since issued a public apology to Veveonah, the damage has been done.
Her last YouTube video was 6 days ago, while her latest Instagram post was 3 days ago. In an IGTV video, she showed proof of her examination schedule during those days.
         View this post on Instagram           All clear, but we need to be fair. A post shared by  Veveonah Mosibin (@vevemacho) on Sep 3, 2020 at 9:20am PDT
She noted that she was particularly hurt over the accusation which denies the hardships that not only she, but her batch mates as well, went through as the first ever students to take their exams online with poor internet connectivity.
She stated that she could not handle the negativity and appears to have taken a break from her online social media platforms. However, an outpouring of support from her fans continue.

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Child Abuse At Special Childcare Centre Sparks Outrage Among Netizens

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Society used to be less aware of child abuse and neglect but the era of social media has changed everything.

Igniting a recent outroar on child abuse is the case of an autistic child who was apparently abused at a centre for children with special needs in Bandar Baru Ampang, suffering bruise marks on his body.
His teacher, who is also the principal and owner of the centre, remains unapologetic and insisted she did nothing wrong in handling the boy.
But the child’s father, Tengku Aminudin Shafiq, says his son was the victim of abuse after watching the CCTV footage at the centre.
Tengku Aminudin has shared his experience on social media as a warning to other parents against the centre.
In a Facebook posting on Sunday, Tengku Aminudin shared how his hopes of them caring for his son were dashed.

He had expected the centre – which charges a premium fee – to be very capable and knowledgeable with specialises skills and techniques in managing special children.
Tengku Aminudin was also aghast that he was not allowed to take CCTV recordings, although he managed to record a bit of it using his phone.
In a short video recording of the CCTV footage, the teacher tried to force his son, who is a picky eater, to eat.
Refusing to eat, the boy spat out the food from his mouth and tried to run away.
At this point, the teacher forcefully grabbed Tengku Noah by his arm and forced him to sit down.
The teacher could be heard in the background defending her action in the video recording by Tengku Aminudin, which lasted less than one minute.
Tengku Aminudin is taking the matter to the police and is taking his son for a medical check-up.
Legal action had also been initiated against the centre.
“I could not accept their actions and had to take appropriate action against the centre.
“These children are special and if they are treated in this way, I wonder what is the value of compassion in themselves and their souls.
“What about the fate of the other children?” he wrote.
To add salt to the wound, he later found out from the Welfare Department that the centre was not registered as a child care centre, nor are the teachers qualified to teach autistic children.
His sharing has attracted significant backlash from netizens against the teacher and the centre.
In giving them an earful of comments, netizens shared the posting more than 21,000 times at the time of writing.
The teacher was subsequently detained by the police today (Monday, 4 October 2021).
The arrest was confirmed by Ampang Jaya district police chief ACP Mohamad Farouk Eshak.
According to a media report, the suspect is a foreigner.
It is found that her visa documents had expired for more than a year.
It was also revealed that the centre, which had been operating for seven years, had let its license expire two months ago.

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McD Implements No Cash, No Touch Policy For Food Delivery

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To ensure the safety of the public and its staff, McDonaldâ€™s Malaysia will be operating under strict social distancing guidelines in efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19.
The company says that its restaurants and outlets will only be receiving cashless payments for its delivery services during the nationwide Movement Control Order (MCO).
Customers may only pay for their McDelivery meals through online transactions, and delivery riders would implement a strict â€œno-touchâ€ policy while out on their rounds.
After a completed transaction, riders would then contact the customer to set an appropriate place at the customer’s home or residence to leave the order to be collected.
(Credit: Hype)
McD also says that delivery personnel (whether its own staff or third-party delivery services like Grab and FoodPanda) are also required to abide by firm hygiene rules by having to wear masks and gloves, and have their temperatures taken before they are allowed to enter an outlet.

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Source:
McD utamakan keselamatan, kesihatan pelanggan