Why Some Health Apps We Use Feel Like They Were Designed By Aliens

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When the former Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister became the Health Minister, he brought with him the understanding that the country needs to develop more medical technologies as the country moves into the endemic phase.

And yet when we look at the technologies in our healthcare systems today, it is still a jumbled mess.
Take for example the MySejahtera app that we use every day. There seems to be a disconnect between how it is meant to be used and how it is being used.
Despite the registration process, the app would still give pregnancy options to male users and it took several updates and changes before it became the relatively more user-friendly app that it is today.
And that is just an app on a consumer level.
Peter Eckert, the Chief Experience Officer and Co-Founder of projekt202
According to Peter Eckert, the Chief Experience Officer and Co-Founder of projekt202, that is only the tip of the iceberg.
On a global scale, the healthcare artificial intelligence software, hardware, and services market is predicted to surpass $34 billion worldwide by 2025.
A healthcare system, be it the user interface of the machines in hospitals, the registration systems at a clinic, or even the system that interfaces between a healthcare provider and human resource, they should all have been designed with its user at its core, but they are not.
Most companies first build the tech then adjust it to fit business needs before finally releasing it to its consumers and finding out that they have to make changes later.
In my 25 years of experience, this is a common mistake that can be rather wasteful and expensive. User Experience (UX) is merely an afterthought for those companies. Technology should be designed to fit people’s needs and not the other way round.Peter Eckert, the Chief Experience Officer and Co-Founder of projekt202
Technology Is A Means, Not An End.
He explained that technology is the tool for getting better customer experiences and business strategies.
Most of us do not have to imagine the multiple and seemingly unnecessary steps just to make a simple money transfer to a friend or just to make a purchase on a shopping app.
Wouldn’t it be ideal if the user interface improved to make it as simple and hassle-free as possible?
Apply That Data
Companies today collect user data like dragons hoarding gold. And just like those dragons, they usually don’t know what to do with it.
These precious data sets can help businesses understand customer behaviours and use them to provide valid methods of enhancing customer experience. Not just to charge them more during peak hours.
Using aspects of Behavioural Science to understand the core needs of customers, we then use Qualitative and Quantitative Insights to strategize, innovate, design, build and deliver better experiences faster to market. In other words, empathy for people’s real needs and problems!Peter Eckert, the Chief Experience Officer and Co-Founder of projekt202
There Is No Panacea
Ravin Rou / Unsplash
Complex problems require complex solutions. We see it first hand in how Malaysia handles the pandemic. The solutions used in East Malaysia, Klang Valley, and the rest of the country are different.
When tackling problems the question is not whether to employ a high-tech or a basic solution. It is a matter of finding appropriate strategies to solve the issues that users face, by firstly uncovering the underlying root cause.
It is as simple as observing the intended user, establishing a dialogue, and getting user feedback. Studying where and how the solution would fit in their life. This step alone would reduce so many costly mistakes.
A Better User Experience Is Affordable
Effective strategies for improved UX can be tailor-made for Small & Medium Enterprises according to their business needs and budget.
Experience Transformation companies like projekt202 can help both big and small companies become more agile to evolve with the market and customer ecosystem.Many companies talk about being agile, but few walk the talk. How we make this happen is by helping companies create better customer experiences and in the process drive operational efficiency. The results are; more satisfied customers and employees, while saving time and money for the business.”Peter Eckert, the Chief Experience Officer and Co-Founder of projekt202
If you are interested in learning more about projekt202, you can visit their website, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

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Gift-Giving Is An Art – That’s Why I Hire Experts To Help Me Find The Best Presents For Friends & Family

Seth*, Ping*, and I have been friends for 10 years. Yet when Seth’s birthday was coming up, neither Ping nor I knew what to get for him.
I guess you could call us terrible friends.

Both Ping and I thought about all the past birthday gifts we got for Seth, seeing if there’s a pattern to all of it that we could get some form of ‘inspiration’ from. And we realised that…

Most of us celebrate birthdays of family and friends by buying them dinner

(Credit: Scott Warman/Unsplash)

That’s exactly what Ping and I realised – we spent the last 10 years treating each other to birthday dinners or drinks.
The same applies to birthdays of family members and special occasions like Father’s or Mother’s Day. My siblings and I would usually bring our parents out for dinner; and my parents gave us angpows for our birthdays the moment we ‘grew up’ because they didn’t know what to get us anymore.
And that’s one of the main reasons why the practice of gift-giving is in decline. We worry about getting people something they may not like or use, which will result in the gift either gathering dust on the shelves… or being regifted to someone else.
But since everyone needs money or food, those seem to be the safest bet.

It’s not easy to find the perfect gift – thankfully there are ‘specialists’ who do just that

Not wanting to settle for just another birthday dinner for Seth, Ping and I decided to get him a good old birthday gift.

That’s when I suggested that we engage a gift-giving service to do that for us. A friend of mine had just started a business called Souly that “specialises in curating gifts”, in which a team of Creative Gift Designers will curate the perfect present for anyone and any type of occasion.
I got a prompt reply from one of Souly’s Gift Designers after dropping them a message via their WhatsApp business number. The Designer sent me a list of questions to find out more about Seth’s hobbies and personality, information which can help him find a suitable gift for Seth.
It didn’t take him long to come back with suggestions, one of which was a package that included an electric shaver and chocolate cookies. Ping and I unanimously agreed that this is the most suitable gift, ever.

(Credit: Esther Chung)

But didn’t they say that it’s the thought that counts?

While we were waiting for the Designer to come back with suggestions, Ping did ask if hiring someone to help us find a gift would make the gesture seem insincere. After all, people do say that it’s the effort that you put into sourcing a gift that makes it special.
And since we didn’t actually go gift-hunting for Seth, does that make us bad friends?
For Jacqueline Yong, the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Souly, the act of entrusting a specialist with the mission to find a gift is proof that you’ve put some thought into the matter:

Getting someone to help you find a gift doesn’t make it insincere. In fact, it means that you’ve put some thought into it, because you want to make sure your recipient gets something useful and unique. And who better to entrust this mission to other than someone who specialises in this?CEO and Co-Founder of Souly Jacqueline Yong to TRP

There’s also an additional benefit in engaging a third party, who has no ties to your recipient, to do the gift-sourcing for you. We sometimes go shopping for gifts with ‘mental blocks’, which could make us second guess our choices or make us completely oblivious to an obvious option.

(Credit: Esther Chung)

The latter was what Ping and I experienced. There’s honestly nothing groundbreaking about the electric shaver + chocolate cookies gift combo that our Souly Designer suggested. And yet, despite our 10 years of friendship, we somehow overlooked that a sweet tooth who’s blessed with an abundance of facial hair like Seth may actually enjoy something as simple and practical as that.

Because it’s not just about finding a gift, but finding the right gift

So did Seth enjoy his birthday present? He told us that he was pleasantly surprised to receive it.
“It’s been a while since I got an actual present,” he said.
This was one of the feedbacks I gave Jacqueline and her Co-Founder-cum-Chief Marketing Officer Steven Cheam when they asked what I thought about their service. They were really happy to hear this as that was precisely what they set out to do when they started Souly.

We realise most Malaysians have stopped giving presents, opting to buy dinners mostly. We want to revive the culture of gift-giving as we believe it’s a meaningful and joyful experience for both the giver and the recipient. It’s also a great way to show you care. CEO and Co-Founder of Souly Jacqueline Yong to TRP

Yong also emphasised that Souly’s business model is not just about finding someone a gift, but that of finding them the right gift.

So yes, I’ll probably continue to hire a ‘specialist’ to help me source gifts

(Credit: Nynne Schrøder/Unsplash)

It’s undeniable that Souly’s “curate, wrap, deliver” service makes gift-giving more convenient, which helps with encouraging people to continue giving presents for birthdays and other occasions.
Like what Yong said, gift-giving is a rewarding experience for both parties. Personally, I really enjoy giving presents to family and friends – and since it’s the thought that counts, I’ll get the professionals to do it so I can be sure that they’ll receive The Right Present.

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If you know of any online bespoke services or unique subscription boxes you would like us to review, share them with us.
*Names changed upon request for privacy.


7 Out Of 10 M’sians: Saving The Environment Is More Important, Even If It Hurts Economic Growth & Job Creation

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A recent survey has indicated that 7 out of 10 Malaysians want more priority given to environmental protection over economic growth and job creation.

Around 73% of Malaysians say that protecting the environment is more important in an International Science Survey 2019-2020 done by Pew Research Centre, while 27% of the respondents say creating jobs should be prioritised even if it harms the environment to an extent.

The survey asked 1,650 respondents to choose either “protecting the environment (even if it causes slower economic growth and some loss of jobs)” or “creating jobs (even if the environment suffers to some extent).
It also showed that more than half or 52% of Malaysians see climate change as a serious issue.
Among the environmental problems they see are:
Pollution of rivers, lakes and oceans (81%)The amount of garbage, waste and landfills (78%)Air pollution (76%)Loss of forests (75%)Extinction of plant and animal species (65%)

The data also revealed that Malaysians care about investments in research as 76% say that government investments in scientific research aimed at advancing knowledge are usually worthwhile for society over time.
But in terms of whether they think their government is doing a good job varies as 41% say the government is doing too little while 39% say it is doing the right amount now.

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More Than 200 Covid-19 Positive Individuals Successfully Identified By MySejahtera App

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Over 200 individuals who contracted Covid-19 have been successfully traced through the government’s tracking app MySejahtera since it was launched in April 2020.
Speaking to Astro Awani in an interview, Chief Executive of the National Security Agency (NACSA) National Security Council (MKN), Ir. Md Shah Nuri Md Zain said that the bulk of positive cases identified occurred in April, but as the infection rate across the country dropped, the frequency of cases identified on the app also dwindled.
In April when the app was first launched, MySejahtera managed to identify over 200 users who were Covid-19 positive.Ir. Md Shah Nuri Md Zain via Astro Awani (Translated from BM)
He explained that at the moment, over 4.9 million users have registered with the app. Meanwhile, 180,000 business premises have started using the app to “check-in” their visitors to help ease contact tracing procedures if and when a positive Covid-19 case arises.
Md Shah told Astro Awani that initially, the app was developed at the request of the Health Ministry to identify individuals at risk of contracting Covid-19.
He said that at the time, many people went to clinics and hospitals to be examined. Therefore, the app allowed the public to be evaluated from the comfort of their own homes.
It also reduced the government’s burden of providing medical personnel to inspect the public.Ir. Md Shah Nuri Md Zain via Astro Awani (Translated from BM)
(Credit: Malaysiakini)
Now, the app’s modul has been expanded to include close contact tracing at business premises as the country went into it’s conditional movement control order (CMCO) phase, and then recovery movement control order (RMCO) which allowed for people to move around even more.
Speaking of the app’s security, Md Shah admitted that it has seen its own share of hacking attempts by malicious parties who are trying to steal the private information of its users.
However, he stressed that chances of it being hacked are thin considering the fact that the app has strong security features handled by experts.
He said that many tests are being carried out continuously in the development of the app, adding that all the data uploaded into the app is safely stored by the Health Ministry with multiple layers of security.
In the creation of the app, we have several teams handling different aspects of its production. One team for development, and another to evaluate its security. This evaluation is continuous.Ir. Md Shah Nuri Md Zain via Astro Awani (Translated from BM)
According to Md Shah a team from the Administrative, Management and Planning Unit Malaysia (MAMPU) focuses on the development, while NACSA focuses on security and the Health Ministry oversees its use.

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Fun Events In The Klang Valley This Weekend From 20 Jan To 22 Jan

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Don’t know what to do this weekend in the Klang Valley? No worries, we got you. 👀

Head on over to art exhibits, markets and shows and more this weekend.
Note that some of these events only happen for a day or can last for a whole month so look at the dates carefully.
If you wanna skip to the specific day you want, choose your preferred day here.
FridaySaturdaySunday
Here are some of the events that are still ongoing from our previous list.
READ MORE: Fun Events In The Klang Valley This Weekend From 6 Jan To 8 Jan
READ MORE: Fun Events In The Klang Valley This Weekend From 29 Dec 2022 To 1 Jan 2023
Ongoing Events
1. Malaysia Thailand Halal Food Festival @ Lotus Bandar Puteri, Bangi (13 – 22 Jan, 11 am – 11.30 pm)
FESTIVAL MAKANAN THAILAND TERBESAR DEKAT BANGI! Sawadikappp🇹🇭Yang mana merindui masakan dan makanan thailand, boleh singgah ke sini ada Malaysia Thailand Halal Food Festival. Ada pelbagai jenis makanan-makanan Sedap2.📍 LOTUS’S BANDAR PUTERI, BANGI 🗓 13 – 22 JANUARI 2023 pic.twitter.com/ctC3BYWDsY— FoodPornMalaysia (@MalaysianFoods) January 13, 2023
At the Malaysia Thailand Halal Food Festival (MATHAF), you’ll find various Thai cuisine that you’ve been craving. Fried baby crabs, mango sticky rice, Thai teas, LokChing, Thai laksa, coconut sticky rice ice cream and many more!
For more info on the next fair, visit Mathaf’s Facebook.
 2. Poetic Spring Garden (Art Installation) @ Kwai Chai Hong (6 Jan – 12 Feb, 9 am – 12 am)
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Kwai Chai Hong (@kwaichaihong)
This CNY, Kwai Chai Hong is decorated with spring blooms and romanized Chinese calligraphy, set to be deciphered by the public. The Poetic Spring Garden is filled with oversized blossoms and foliage as well as traditional Chinese calligraphy in a bold and non-conventional way.
However, during this Chinese New Year, some of their F&B outlets and the Kwai Chai Hong alley itself will close for a few days. Head on to their Instagram to know more. Head on to their Instagram to know more.
READ MORE: There’s A Poetic Spring Garden Installation In Kwai Chai Hong Until February!
3. Masters of Disguise (Photography Exhibition) @ Darkroom Gallery, GMBB (Extended till 30 April 2023, 11 am – 6 pm)
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Chien C. Lee (@chienleephotography)
Biologist, guide and wildlife photographer Chien C. Lee’s latest photography exhibit focuses on the art of deception used by wildlife. This exhibit features more than 60 fantastic photos of various kinds of camouflage and mimicry employed by insects, reptiles, birds, and even plants; with many species hailing from Malaysia’s very own Sabah and Sarawak.
According to GMBB, this exhibition is just so mesmerizing and immersive that it’s extended until 30 April 2023.
READ MORE: Catch This Fantastic Nature Photography Exhibit For A Free Fun Time In KL
4. Hep Ka-Wot Enggang Le-Wei (Photography Exhibition) @ Gerimis Gallery, GMBB (Extended til 23 Feb 2023, 11 am – 6 pm)
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by GERIMIS (@gerimis_my)
Just an update, according to GMBB, this sought-after exhibition is also extended until 23 February 2023.
This exhibition of forests, hornbills and honey highlights how the Orang Asli of Jahai and Temiar from the Belum-Temenggor Forests in Perak protect the hornbills for their roles as farmers of the forest.
Apart from talks and photographs of nature, you can also buy Orang Asli arts and crafts there.
For more info, visit their website here.
5. Bakul – Everyday Baskets From Sabah (Exhibition & Market) @ GoDownKL (7 Jan – 23 Feb, 12 pm – 7 pm)

This 7-week-long exhibition showcases the Bakul collection of Sabahan author and collector Jennifer P. Linggi. From materials such as rattan, bamboo, bemban, mengkuang and many more sourced from the fierce jungle, indulge in Jennifer P Linggi’s breathtaking world of Bakul.
Wanna know the best part? Admission is free!
6. The World Of DC Exhibition @ Tropicana Gardens Hall Convention Centre (23 Dec – 1 Apr)

Being the first-ever DC Exhibition launch in Asia, The World Of DC Exhibition will feature interactive games, life-seized exhibits, behind-the-scene concept art, limited-edition merchandise and more at the Tropicana Gardens Mall.
Grab your tickets here. For more info, visit their Facebook page here.
7. Van Gogh Alive Exhibition @ Pavillion Bukit Jalil (17 Dec – 16 March, 10 am – 10 pm)

Witness Van Gogh’s legendary works of art displayed digitally at Pavilion Bukit Jalil. Get ready for a multi-sensory experience with a symphony of light, colour, sound and fragrance for you there.
READ MORE: Catch the Immersive ‘Van Gogh Alive’ Exhibition In KL This Dec-March
Book tickets here.
8. ParkCity Year End Light Festival @ Desa ParkCity (1 Dec – 5 Feb)

Don’t know where to go ‘lepak’ or take good pictures at night? Try going to Central Park at Desa Parkcity. Their light installations are inspired by the Nordic lights so you can experience a bit of some Aurora-Borealis-inspired views on weekends from 8 pm – 9 pm.
They also have tons of other amazing light installations from The Waterfront to around Central Park. This is a great place to bring your date out on a scenic stroll at night.
9. Red Hongyi’s ‘Once Upon A Longtang’ (Art Exhibition) @ National Art Gallery (22 Dec – 22 March, 9 am – 5 pm)

The Balai Seni Negara has a new art installation called Once Upon A Longtang which features scenes inspired by old alleyway houses – or ‘Longtang’ houses in Shanghai. The installation has a series of artworks displayed with burnt Chinese calligraphy paper and more.
For more info, visit Red Hong Yi’s Instagram.
Here are specific events to enjoy with your family and friends on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
20 January (Friday)
1. Pizza Hut Food Truck @  Lot 10, Bukit Bintang (20 January, 11 – 8 pm)
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Pizza Hut Malaysia (@pizzahutmalaysia)
Pizza Hut will be operating its food truck to promote the festive Oooooooong Party Box and Oooooooong Treasure Box!
About 3000 sample pizza slices will be given out, as well as exciting games with interesting prizes to be won!
Visit their Instagram for more info.
2. Cakra Khan A Decade (Concert) @ Plenary Hall KLCC (8.30 pm)
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by CKhan✨ (@cakra.khan)
If you love Cakra Khan’s rustic voice, you still have a chance to buy tickets for his show. Some of his popular songs are Harus Terpisah, Setelah Kau Tiada and Kekasih Bayangan. There will also be guest artists such as Aina Abdul, Ade Govinda and Khai Bahar there tonight.
You can still get your gold and platinum tickets here.
3. A Night With John Robertson (Comedy Show) @ The Joke Factory, Publika (8.30 pm, 10.30 pm)
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by By Harith Iskander™ (@thejokefactory.com.my)
Making children and adults laugh with fear since 2003, John Robertson was the winner of Chortle Legend of Lockdown in 2021 and won Best Kids Show at Leicester Comedy Festival in 2019. Besides being a mainstay of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with sell-out runs year after year, he has headlined in Melbourne, Singapore, the Philippines and Hong Kong.
Catch his jokes tonight at The Joke Factory if you’re in the mood for comedy.
You can still get the tickets here.
21 January (Saturday)
1. Pop-Up Tunes (Live Music Performances) @ The Back Ground KL (21 & 22 Jan, 1 – 4 pm)
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by  (@hellorexkl)
Head on to The Back Ground to enjoy indie tunes & smooth disco vibes from emerging local artists this weekend. While you’re there, do visit their Cahaya paper art installation in the form of the vigilant rabbit called Motif.
Visit their Instagram for more info.
2. Emiri R&B Night (Live Music) @ The Bee, Publika (8.30 pm – 11.00 pm)
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by The Bee l Venue • Bar • Kitchen (@thebeemy)
If you’re in the mood for some R&B live music, head to The Bee in Publika for an enjoyable performance by Emiri. Plus, there will be karaoke the next night at 8 pm.
Visit The Bee’s website for more info.
3. Freestyle Painting Workshop @ MTMT Studios, PJ (10 am, 2 pm)
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by MTMT Studios (@mtmtstudios)
If you don’t have plans this weekend, why not release your inner Picasso? Go on a free painting workshop at MTMT Studios. Don’t worry, they’ll guide you through the way.
Book your slots here. Visit their Instagram for more info.
22 January (Sunday)
1. Fluid Pouring Art Workshop @ EkoCheras Mall (11 am, 2 pm)

Test your artistic skills with this Fluid Pouring workshop in EkoCheras Mall. It’s best to bring a friend or a family member to enjoy this therapeutic workshop.
Book your slots here. Click here for more info on their Instagram.
Upcoming Shows
Here are some of the ticketed events for upcoming shows. Don’t miss out on the chance to secure a spot at your favourite performance or event.
MPO Goes Broadway – (28 January @ Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra)Get tickets here. Prosa Bunga – Concert (28 January @ Angkasa Event Space)Get tickets here. Tribute Greenday Malaysia – Tribute Concert (3 February @ Angkasa Event Space)Get tickets here.Ada Apa Dengan Melly? – Day 2 Concert (4 February @ Plenary Hall, KLCC)You can still get tickets here.Blue Heart And Soul Tour – Concert (10 February @ Plenary Hall, KLCC)Get tickets here.Westlife The Wild Dreams Tour – Concert (23 & 24 February @ Axiata Arena)You can still get tickets here.His Story – Monologue Performances (23 – 26 February @ KLPAC)Get tickets here.One Republic Live In Concert – Concert (1 March @ Hall 5 KL Convention Centre)You can still get free-standing tickets here.NusaFest – Concert (4 & 5 February @ Bandar Malaysia)Get Your tickets here. More info here.Joji Live In KL at Peakstrom Festival 2023 – Concert (19 February @ Surf Beach, Sunway Lagoon)Get your tickets here.Russel Peters: Act Your Age World Tour 2023 – Comedy Show (20 February @ Plenary Hall, KLCC)Get your tickets here.Simple Plan The Harder Than It Looks Tour – Concert (8 March @ Zepp KL)Get your tickets here.Bryan Adams So Happy It Hurts Tour – Concert (11 March @ Arena Of Stars, Genting)Get your tickets here.RhytmAsia Echoes From Beyond – Concert (11 March @ Sepang International Circuit)Get the tickets here.
P/S: If you have any future events you want the world to know about, submit your suggestions to melissasu@therakyatpost.com.

Follow us for ideas on where to go during the weekends in the Klang Valley. Share your thoughts with us via TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


PLUS Malaysia Announces Time Travel Advisory For Aidiladha

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PLUS Malaysia has announced the travel time advisory for vehicles who travel along the North-South Expressway during the Hari Raya Aidiladha holidays.
The highway operator expects a traffic increase of 30% or around 1.7 million vehicles on the road compared to 1.2 million on a normal day.
Those travelling towards Perlis, Kedah, Penang, North Perak and Johor from Kuala Lumpur and Selangor are to enter the highway before 9am.
For the return trip to Kuala Lumpur, PLUS advises its customers to enter the expressway before 9 am from August 1 to 3.Plus Highway via Malay Mail
Plus will also remove reload lanes at the toll booths as a preventive measure and offer pre-ordering of food at selected R&Rs.

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Pulau Rawa: The Best Things Come In Small Packages

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To the south-east coast of Malaysia, you’ll find the small and remote paradise island of Pulau Rawa.

Twenty miles from Tioman Island and 16km off Mersing, Pulau Rawa is only a kilometre long and 200 meters wide.
Hues of pink colours the sky as sun sets at Pulau Rawa. (Pic by Fernando Fong/TRP)
The isle is named after the Malay word Rawa for white doves, or more specifically pied imperial pigeons, which are native to the island.
The island is named after Rawa, a Malay word for white doves. (Pic by Fernando Fong/TRP)
Despite its being a mere dot, the island is blessed with captivating and stunning panoramas.
Beaches of powdery white sand, tiny lagoons, colourful corals in knee-deep water, incredibly clear blue and turquoise water, lush tropical forests and rocky hills with dramatic cliffs make Pulau Rawa an Instagram haven.

Shallow, near-shore reef flats surround parts of Pulau Rawa. (Pic by Fernando Fong/TRP)

The island is the best place for pure relaxation of body and mind. Activities include hiking, fish feeding, canoeing, windsurfing, scuba diving and snorkeling.
Rafting is one of the activities at Pulau Rawa. (Pic by Fernando Fong/TRP)
A one-hour ferry ride from Mersing is the gateway to the island.
Watching sunrise from a hilltop on Pulau Rawa. (Pic by Fernando Fong/TRP)
A hill on Pulau Rawa overlooking the South China Sea. (Pic by Fernando Fong/TRP)

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READ MORE: The Firefly Whisperer Of Sungai Cherating, Pahang
READ MORE: Langkawi’s ‘Blue Lagoon’ Is The Hidden Gem Of Mount Mat Cincang


CNY2023: AirAsia Adds Special Extra Flights At Fixed Low Fares To Reunite Families

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AirAsia is introducing 52 special extra flights at fixed low fares between Peninsula and East Malaysia from 17 to 30 January 2023 to reunite families this Chinese New Year.

Flights from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu, and Miri, as well as from Johor Bahru to Kuching, Sibu and Miri will cost RM199* one-way.
Flights from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu and Tawau, as well as Johor Bahru to Kota Kinabalu, will cost RM249* one-way.
Travellers can book their seats starting 28 December 2022.
In addition, AirAsia is also operating 274 flights weekly at regular fares to the same destinations.
We are pleased that AirAsia is committed to supporting the government’s initiative to bring down fares during the important festive season, despite their operational constraints. While they are unable to further increase flight frequencies due to the shortage of aircraft which is affecting all airlines, we applaud their hard work to add special extra flights at fixed low fares to reconnect families, especially those travelling to and from Sabah and Sarawak. I encourage other airlines to emulate the same initiative or other initiatives which can reduce the airfares especially during the festive seasons. As we usher in the new year, we look forward to continuously working with industry players such as AirAsia to cater to the needs and welfare of the people.Transport Minister YB Anthony Loke
Undoubtedly, these last few years have been tremendously hard for everyone and even as travel is now fast rebounding this year, we are unable to put out as many extra flights as we would like, simply because of the ripple effect of the pandemic. “However, despite the rising operational costs and leaner fleet size, we are doing all we can and remain committed to reuniting Malaysians for the upcoming Chinese New Year celebration. Today, we are pleased to be able to introduce special extra late night flights at fixed low fares with a total of 25,020 extra seats to selected cities in East Malaysia for the upcoming festive period.AirAsia Aviation Group Limited Group CEO Bo Lingam
Important reminders
During the Chinese New Year period, travellers are advised to arrive at the airport 2 hours ahead of their scheduled departure time (for domestic travel) to avoid congestion.
It’s also recommended to self-check-in using the AirAsia Super App, which is available as early as 14 days before the departure date and use the e-Boarding Pass to board the flight.
Download the airasia Super App from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store or Huawei AppGallery to receive the latest travel information and updates.
The list of the special extra flights at fixed fares can be found here.
READ MORE: AirAsia Umum Penerbangan Tambahan Istimewa Sempena Tahun Baru Cina

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[Watch] Two Spider-Men Save The Day By Helping A Nenek Cross The Road

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Upon seeing a frail little old lady standing on the side of the road, people will naturally try to help her get to the other side.
This sort of behaviour is common among Boy Scouts or even superheroes.
Recently, two Spider-men helped an elderly lady who was struggling to cross the road.
Their act of kindness was captured by a netizen, @azharpenjualjalanan. He shared it on TikTok and it had been viewed on social media countless times.

  @azharpenjualjalanan Video ori ♬ bunyi asal – PENJUAL JALANAN

At the end of the video, the grandmother who was walking while pushing her bike finally managed to cross the road safely.
The act of kindness has received numerous compliments from netizens.

Slower Walking Speed
The ability to cross a road in time is one that most of us take for granted.
Being able to cross the road is extremely important, especially for older adults.
But for many older pedestrians, they are unable to cross the road in time.
If they are unable to cross a road, it may deter them from walking, reducing their access to social contacts and interactions that are all important in day to day life.

As people age, the speed at which they could walk also decreases.
As result, older pedestrians are more likely to be involved in a road traffic accident than younger people.
Older people who are hit are also more likely to die from their injuries than younger people.
Lupa pula cerita pasal hari sabtu lepas, aku & mak aku hampir kena langgar oleh kereta polis yang tiada common sense bawa kereta laju² walaupun nampak orang tua tengah melintas. pic.twitter.com/cpN5gBNMT1— AfifahTahir (@AfifahTahir) January 5, 2022

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Zuraida To Champion Child’s Citizenship After Federal Court Dismissal

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Housing and Local Government Minister, Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin, calls Section 17 of the Federal Constitution which addresses the issues regarding illegitimate child’s citizenship status, as archaic.

She said in a statement that she will address the issue regarding Section 17 to ensure that a child could be granted Malaysian citizenship following Article 15 (2) of the Federal Constitution.
On Friday (28 May), a 10-year-old boy who was born to a Malaysian father and a Filipino mother was denied citizenship by the Federal Court because he was born months before his parents were legally married.
Four of the seven judges in the apex court dismissed the boy’s appeal as he was considered an illegitimate child.
The boy was born in September 2010, but his parents registered their marriage in Malaysia in February 2011.
17. For the purposes of Part III of this Constitution references to a person’s father or to his parent, or to one of his parents, are in relation to a person who is illegitimate to be construed as references to his mother, and accordingly section 19 of this Schedule shall not apply to such a person.Constitution of Malaysia 1975 – Second Schedule – Part III
This means that the citizenship of an illegitimate child will follow that of their mother.
“While we respect decisions made by the judiciary in carrying out their constitutional duties, I have to express my disagreement in this case.
“The decision is devoid of the spirit of justice and compassion,“ said Zuraida.
Zuraida said she was committed to the repeal or amendment of the matter and would raise it with the government.

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Muftis Ask Malaysian Muslims To Show Sympathy Towards Refugees

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In the wake of rising animosity among some members of the Malaysian Muslim community towards Rohingya refugees living in the country, the nationâ€™s Islamic Clerics are asking the public to show compassion to those who are less fortunate then they are.
Penang Mufti Datuk Seri Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor says that the community must empathize with their fellow Muslim brethren.
Wan Salim encourages Malaysian Muslims to place themselves in the shoes of those who have been unjustly persecuted and forcefully driven away from their homeland.
The mufti also hopes that the Malaysian government would take appropriate humanitarian action in aiding the Rohingya.
A boat carrying some 200 Rohingya refugees heading to Malaysian shores were recently turned away by the authorities.(Credit: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency/South China Morning Post)
Meanwhile, Pahang Mufti Datuk Seri Dr. Abdul Rahman Osman asks Malaysian Muslims to stand together to help the Rohingya.
Quoting the Prophet Muhammad SAW, Dr. Abdul Rahman preached for the community to unite against the cruelty that has been imposed on their fellow Muslims and help the Rohingya in whatever way they can.
As the prophet once said, we must aid those who have been abused and prevent cruelty. Dr. Abdul Rahman Osman via Free Malaysia Today.

The mufti also believes that the â€œhypeâ€ surrounding the hatred towards Rohingya refugees were fabricated by those who wish to see Malaysians at odds with each other.
Dr. Abdul Rahman asks for Malaysians to take advantage of the holy month of Ramadan to cease the senseless fighting and to not persecute an entire community based on stereotypes and the actions of the few.
Refugees in Kuala Lumpur receiving aid from the government during the nationwide lockdown.(Credit: Reuters/The Star)
Recently thereâ€™s been, more or less, a viral argument between Malaysians regarding the over 170,000 Rohingya asylum-seekers that are taking refuge in the country amid the nationwide Movement Control Order and the larger Covid-19 pandemic.

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Source:
Put yourselves in their shoes, says mufti after anti-Rohingya attacks


Landslide At Bukit Antarabangsa, Residents Forced To Evacuate

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About 40 residents of seven homes were ordered to vacate their homes following a landslide at Ukay Club Villa earlier this morning, according to a report by Malaysian Gazette.
The report stated that the incident happened around 2 am and many homes were affected but no reports of death and injuries were reported.
Picture Credit: Twitter
According to the report, some of the vehicles in the area were also damaged by the fallen trees.
To date, all residents are not allowed to remain in their homes until they are authorised to do so from the local authorities.
The area is currently being monitored by the Fire and Rescue Department and Ampang Jaya Municipal Council enforcement personnel.
The last time a landslide happened in Bukit Antarabangsa was in 2008 which killed 4 and injured 15 people.
Landslide occurs on Bukit Antarabangsa, KL early today causing 40 residents from seven double storey terrace houses at Taman Kelab Ukay to vacate. Selangor Fire and Rescue Department says cracks have appeared on the walls of the houses – public pixs pic.twitter.com/tocTDlhDsg— Kuala Lumpur Reporter (@KL_Reporter) May 30, 2020

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Flour Stocks Said To Last Until July, Traders Ration Supply

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Retail shopkeepers in several states are said to have started rationing the purchase of wheat flour to avoid panic buying or being out of stock in the market.

Traders had expressed concern that flour could be running out of stock in July as they find it difficult to procure the supply.
A businessman, 34-year-old Mohd Hilmi Aiman, was quoted by Malay news portal Kosmo saying that the measures are meant to avoid losses.
He said the supply disruption was believed to be due to the Indian government’s restrictions on the export of wheat flour, thus affecting local consumers.
Before the festive season, the supply has been disrupted apart from the monthly price increase. This time I take it from the supplier for RM2.80 per kilogram compared to RM2.28 previously.Businessman Mohd Hilmi Aiman on the price hike of flours.
World's top Wheat Producers 🌾🇨🇳 China🇮🇳 India🇷🇺 Russia🇺🇸 USA🇨🇦 Canada🇫🇷 France🇵🇰 Pakistan🇺🇦 Ukraine🇩🇪 GermanyWheat Flour (Atta) prices are at a record high🤯The prices are 9.15% higher than a year ago. 📈— Ticker by Finology (@finologyticker) May 12, 2022
Semoga hati kuat melalui ujian mendatang.Bahan Bakeri dekat Sabah lebih mahal haritue semua dah naik harga berganda nie tambah lagi tepung 🥺 https://t.co/zCyjuOZ1cU— FAsyila 💕🕊 (@asyilafrancis) May 17, 2022
In Melaka, Lim Chee Keong, 45, only sells certain flours for now, as it is challenging to get supplies for other brands.
The trader said the wholesale price for the flour is increasing, with the latest increase being RM7 or RM30 per box, compared to last year.
Now he only has supplies for Sauh and Ros brand flour.
In Kelantan, a wholesaler Mohd Zin Mat, 60, lamented that almost all the shops here have run out of government-subsidized wheat flour.
We sell wheat flour of various brands at a price between RM2.80 to RM3.40 per kilogram. I do not limit the purchase of wheat flour because the stock is large but expensive. It is up to the consumer to buy it.Mohd Zin Mat, 60, on stock availability with a higher price tag.
A quick comparison of flour prices.
A wholesale market manager in Bandar Sunway here, Nur Shafiqah Ibrahim, said it is challenging to buy wheat from suppliers, and most suppliers no longer have stocks of wheat flour.
Usually, suppliers always have stocks of wheat flour, but lately, it has been difficult for us to get supplies of raw materials.
Nur Shafiqah said the supplier also could not give certainty when the supply of raw materials would recover as usual.
Keeping A Close Eye
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) stressed that the supply of wheat flour in the country is sufficient.
Allaying fears, KPDNHEP said the shortage of the material in the market only involves non-subsidized types.
KPDNHEP Corporate Communication Unit head, Yunus Tasim, said the supply of wheat flour is sufficient throughout 2022.
The supply of wheat flour in the market is stable. Based on monitoring by 2,200 KPDNHEP Enforcement Officers nationwide, no report has been received saying that the supply of wheat flour is declining in the market.KPDNHEP officer Yunus Tasim giving assurance on the supply of wheat.
He added that the ministry did not receive any report on the sudden price increase in subsidized general purpose wheat flour.
Wheat flour sold above the control price of RM1.35 per kilogram is unsubsidized.
2,200 Penguat kuasa KPDNHEP akan sentiasa membuat pemantauan bagi memastikan bekalan tepung bersubsidi dan tidak bersubsidi stabil di pasaran#KPDNHEP pic.twitter.com/YSRYEoWP2t— KPDNHEP (@kpdnhep) May 17, 2022
Where Does Malaysia Import Wheat From?
Malaysia doesn’t produce any wheat and produces a small corn crop, leading it to import both for food and feed uses.
Rice remains its staple food and a lack of self-sufficiency makes it a big importer.
In 2020, Malaysia imported RM1.46 billion in heat, becoming the 38th largest importer of wheat in the world.
In the same year, wheat was the 109th most imported product in Malaysia.
Malaysia imports wheat primarily from Australia, United States, Ukraine, Canada and Argentina.

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Ipoh Elderly Man Is Still Missing After A Hike, Family Offers RM10k Reward To Help Find Him

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The family of a missing hiker is offering an RM10,000 reward to find him after he went missing a few days ago.

The Star reported that Lau San, an 84-year-old man, has been missing after going on an evening hike with friends at Puncak Jelapang, Ipoh, on Friday, 11 March.
He was reported missing by his friends after the hiking trip at around 6.30pm. He was last seen wearing a red hat, a green shirt, long black pants and black sneakers.
Lau San’s son, Kok Gian, 48, said the family is worried because his father has been missing for eight days now.
Before going on the hike, Lau San had lunch and watched television before leaving the house in Kampung Tawas at 3pm.
My father had a full medical check-up two days before his disappearance and the doctor gave him a clean bill of health. He has no history of dementia and he regularly goes hiking two to three times a week.Lau San’s son, Lau Kok Gian said in a press conference at the search and rescue site, as quoted by The Star.
Those with information can contact his son, Kok Gian, at 011-2127 8755.
Ipoh OCPD Asst Comm Yahaya Hassan said canine units and drones from the police and Fire and Rescue Department have been deployed but the search has not been fruitful.
The search and rescue operation also involved personnel from the Civil Defence Department and Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team.
Lau San is said to be an experienced hiker and has been to the hill many times.
Despite this, ACP Yahaya urged the public not to hike alone and to hike in a group. He added that hikers should also bring along their mobile phones and make sure the device is adequately charged.

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#RakyatGagal? 200,000 Malaysians ‘Balik Kampung’ During Hari Raya

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Senior Minister (Defence) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob revealed that an estimated 200,000 people bypassed police roadblocks – travelling across state borders to ‘balik kampung’ or return to their hometowns during the recent Hari Raya Aidilfitri holidays.

According to the minister, denizens had either misused official travel permissions given by authorities or simply lied in order to get past roadblocks.
This, he said, had caused the many Hari Raya infection clusters and deaths due to Covid-19 nationwide.
Hari Raya exodus
Inter-district and inter-state travel were only allowed for work, long-distance married couples, vaccine appointments as well as for emergencies with permission from relevant ministries or the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) as the nationwide Movement Control Order (MCO) kicked in on 12 May.
Ismail Sabri elaborated that because people were angry that the rules had gotten in the way of their Hari Raya plans, many had come up with different methods to go around the restrictions.
Read More: PDRM Is Gonna Spot-Check Houses With Many Cars To Find People Who Disobey SOP & Balik Kampung
He further explained that due to the high number of suspicious travelers on the roads, authorities ‘unfortunately’ had to turn down those who did have actual cause to travel.
Read More: Massive Traffic Jams Reported Across The Country As Malaysia Endures MCO 3.0Read More: ‘Balik KL’ Traffic Causes Concern Online
#RakyatGagal
It appears that some Malaysians are placing the blame for the continued Covid-19 outbreaks on one another.
A quick look on social media reveals the hashtag #RakyatGagal, meaning the people had failed, trending for the past couple of days.
Many had accused each other of stubbornness and ignorance towards standard operating procedures (SOP) as well as what’s happening overall in the country in relation to the pandemic.
Not surprised that those are also the same people who blames kerajaan gagal and golongan kayangan. Not saying they're good but rakyat pun sama je contributing to the numbers #RakyatGagal pic.twitter.com/Me5lZ645LO— 🍫 Choco | Alisya 🍫 (@itsChocoleta) May 29, 2021
Got total lockdown, complain. No total lockdown, complain. SOP tak masuk akal, complain. Proper SOP, complain.#KerajaanGagal tapi the main is #RakyatGagal take note— M.S.M.R🇲🇾🇵🇸 (@MohdSuhelll) May 29, 2021
Finally #RakyatGagal is trending but only apply to the ppl who don't learn from lesson and no awareness at all. I got no words to say about it. 🤦♂— Henry Law JunWei (@heckerioXD) May 29, 2021
Meanwhile, political pundits like Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) Information Bureau Secretary Datuk Hishamuddin Abdul Karim also came to the opinion that it was not the government who had failed to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic, but the rakyat’s failure to comply with SOP that had cause outbreaks to spread.
In a report by Utusan Malaysia, he explained that no one had thanked the government when numbers came down, but still blamed it when cases skyrocketed.
Actually, the government has not failed to break the chain of Covid-19 infections, but it is the attitude of certain members of the public that disobey MCO and SOP. Because of this attitude, Covid-19 cases have increased exponentially in just two weeks, because of some who don’t discipline themselves.Bersatu Information Bureau Secretary Datuk Hishamuddin Abdul Karim via Utusan Malaysia

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Source:
200,000 defied travel ban to 'balik kampung' for Hari Raya
PDRM Is Gonna Spot-Check Houses With Many Cars To Find People Who Disobey SOP & Balik Kampung
Massive Traffic Jams Reported Across The Country As Malaysia Endures MCO 3.0
‘Balik KL’ Traffic Causes Concern Online
Nationwide MCO 3.0 from May 12


[WATCH] ‘Spooky’ Video By Local Content Creators Is Scary, Funny, And TRUE

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In most parts of the world in the world, there is always some fear women have walking alone at night.

In Malaysia, it was recently revealed that a majority of women generally don’t feel safe wherever they go.
Read More: Nowhere Is Safe: Malaysian Women Reveal How They’re Regularly Harassed & Abused
A recent tweet by comedian Harith Iskander has brought to light a rather brilliant short film documenting this plight women have – and just in time for Halloween.

Truth is scarier than fiction
The short one-minute 21-second video titled “Benda Paling Cuak” (The scariest thing) was produced by local video content creators Kualitea Productions.
Since it first debuted on Twitter on 10 October, it’s received over 100,000 views and over 3,000 retweets.
Although netizens were generally quite amused by the video, there were still some who didn’t quite understand.
Did not understand— kumar (@kumar35387405) October 15, 2021
And for a change, instead of being mansplained, a woman had to explain the underlying message:
She meant that it’s better to meet a ghost than to meet a male stranger in the dark night.— Nur Yazmin (@nur_yazmin) October 15, 2021
Not all netizens were left in the dark with the video’s intent.
Not gonna lie. When i first saw the ghost passed, “kalau laki lagi takut” is what crossed my mind. 😂— tunnnn (@atunauni) October 11, 2021

Some even said they would rather be disturbed by a ghost than a man.

This netizen joked about how receiving nine missed calls and a stern message from his mum is scarier.
If you think ni benda paling cuak, surely tak pernah kena 9 missed calls + 1 mesej keras dari mak.— Arief Guzman (@iArieff) October 13, 2021
In general though, the video has received much praise not only for its poignant message, but its acting and cinematography as well.
Well done and “KualiTea” indeed!

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Want To Get Or Give #BenderaPutih Aid? Check Here

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The #BenderaPutih white flag movement, aimed to provide essential food aid to those who need it the most, has taken the country by storm.

Restaurants, shops, charities, and even politicians have jumped at the opportunity to set up unofficial food banks, food pantries, free packaged meals, and more. Regular citizens have shown their generosity by restocking such pantries as well.
READ MORE: “Bendera Putih” Movement Going Viral As Malaysians Try To Reach To Those In Need
Yet as more places offer their aid, it becomes a lot harder for people to keep track of the community help and where to find it, which is why some have stepped up to plot aid on interactive maps.
Bendera Putih App
Despite the name, the Bendera Putih App is not an app, but is instead an interactive map you can open on your browser. All you will need to do is log in with your Google account to access the map.
The map layout is simple, clean, and intuitive.(Credit: Bendera Putih App)
On the map, you can raise a white flag to ask for help or report a flag if you see one in your vicinity. You can also find and add food banks in the area.
The simple map consolidates all this information into one place and makes use of community reporting to stay updated.
WEBSITE: https://www.benderaputih.app/home
Kita Jaga Kita
The people behind the #KitaJagaKita movement when the MCO was first announced have consistently kept the community movement alive.
They, too, have released a Google Maps list of known food banks on their website HERE.
I populated the location of food banks that popped up in Malaysia over the past few days on Google Maps.Please share it out to those who need help in these trying times.Reference threads in subsequent tweets below.https://t.co/s4jmP9Epi2— ༺ ρєηαηgιтє ༻ (@penangstrays) July 2, 2021
However, this list only includes food banks and does not track individuals who have put up white flags for aid.
Those who need help can try to find the closest food bank to them, or request aid directly through their website.
The #KitaJagaKita website allows you to search food banks, offer help, or request help.(Credit: KitaJagaKita)
WEBSITE: https://kitajagakita.com/pages/food-bank-list
How You Can Help
These are only a few of the community-led aid provided by Malaysians, for Malaysians. Companies are also doing their part to help the country.
Lotus’s Malaysia
The hypermarket chain has Charity Food Bins in 10 different Lotus’s stores in the country set up since 2016, namely Lotus’s Kepong, Cheras, Shah Alam, Station 18, Penang Sungai Dua, Alor Setar, Kota Bharu, Seremban Jaya, Melaka Sentral, and Seri Alam.
You can easily top up their donation boxes with groceries.(Credit: Lotus’s)
Shoppers can donate groceries and other essentials via these bins, which will be funneled to various charities, which can be seen on their website HERE.
Gamuda Land
The GL Cares Donation Drive is accepting cash donations that will be channeled to three different areas: a Gamuda Land Food Bank, schools, or charity homes.
Check out the link here: https://bit.ly/GLCaresBP
Watsons
For the month of July, Watsons will be distributing 5,000 Care Package boxes including necessities such as personal care items, face masks, and bath products.
You can register for a box here: https://bit.ly/369cpu4
Kenal sesiapa yg memerlukan bantuan? Sama-sama berganding bahu bantu mereka yg amat terkesan dgn wabak ini. Sempena kempen #BenderaPutih, pihak kami bersedia menghantar Pakej Bantuan yg mengandungi barangan keperluan & penjagaan diri termasuklah pelitup muka & produk mandian. ❤ pic.twitter.com/K8Qzc7Q5cN— Watsons Malaysia (@watsonsmy) July 2, 2021
READ MORE: The White Flag Movement Is Gaining Momentum, Partially Because Of These People

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Hadi Blames Non-Muslims And Non-Bumiputeras For Corruption That Is Destroying Malaysia

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Corruption is bad for society, but is it defined based on race, ethnicity and religion?

PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said that non-Muslims and non-Bumiputeras are the majority that embrace corruption.
As a result, they are destroying the country’s politics and economy, said the Marang MP.
He also compared fighting corruption with efforts to prevent dengue disease.
HAPUSKAN PEMBERI RASUAHAmalan rasuah ialah kemungkaran yang menjadikan seseorang itu berdosa besar, sama ada pemberi, penerima dan orang tengah yang terlibat dengan amalan rasuah. Baca selanjutnya:https://t.co/iPGU6ZagAe— Abdul Hadi Awang (@abdulhadiawang) August 20, 2022
He said preventing dengue is not just treating patients and killing mosquitoes.
It also requires action against water pools that breed mosquitoes and people who do not maintain hygiene.
It is the same with efforts to deal with the disease of corruption, it must be done holistically. In particular, against those who cause corruption in pursuing illegal wealth.PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang on rooting on corruption.
He said the same group of people also control the country’s economy and use it to destroy politics, administrative affairs and the judiciary.
Corruption From An Islamic Viewpoint
Abdul Hadi added that specific individuals were “punished by the media” before being proven in court.
He also criticized certain parties who were made scapegoats after acting as proxies for particular “crooks”.
It is not the first time that Hadi has spoken about corruption.
In 2021, he said the definition of corruption needs to be studied from a valid Islamic point of view.
He said donations to those in need, not for personal purposes, individuals or the general public, should not be seen as corruption.
dah baca belum tulisan latest minda presiden pas. Rasuah ni non-bumi je yang buat, kalau Najib ni kira sebagai derma.— Amin Salihoudin (@aminsalihoudin) August 21, 2022
Public Backlash
Hadi’s remark had drawn the ire of many who rebuked him for using race and religion to gain support.
They said corruption is a widespread problem that knows no bounds, regardless of race and religion.
hadi got it right halflah, yang melayu islam menerima rasuah dan bersubahat tu yang separuh lagi,dia tak sebutlah sebab dia politisen yang tak berprinsip dengan kebenaran— srzain ▶ (@SSRzain) August 21, 2022
Netizens said his remarks are baffling as Muslim Malays are the most significant corruption offenders facing the law in the country.
They told Hadi to instead give practical ideas, guidelines, and frameworks for a serious solution. They believe he should perform some severe soul-searching and self-introspection for himself.
Najib is a Muslim & have been found guilty of corruption ,Zahid is a Muslim & am facing charges of corruption,.the lists goes on,..the facts speaks for itself. Hadi is in denial blaming others while the biggest crooks his mates. https://t.co/CqXWzVbeMV— Ronald Michael James (@Romija54) August 20, 2022
Some pointed out that corruption perception had worsened since PAS became part of the federal government.
PAS leaders are also criticised as being too arrogant and often issue statements that insult Malaysians from different ethnicities and religions.
6. Daripada menyalahkan sesuatu kaum, lebih baiklah Hadi jawab dahulu; mengapakah kedudukan indeks persepsi rasuah Malaysia menjadi lebih buruk sedangkan PAS sendiri telah berada dalam Kerajaan sejak 2020? TAMAT— Sheikh Omar Ali (@broSHAKE) August 21, 2022

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These Pictures Promoting Malaysia’s Iconic Sites Seem Wrong, But…

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A Facebook page called Visit Malaysia 2022 Goals has surfaced, quickly garnering attention with some of their post promoting Malaysian Tourism.

At first glance, it looks like an impressive photo of a skyscraper, claiming to be “Merdeka 118”, the tallest building in Southeast Asia.

However, a closer look will show that the entire photo is just a big joke.
Visit Malaysia 2022 Goals is a satire/joke page that make it a point to mislabel iconic sites for a laugh.

Why did it start?
It is likely that the Facebook page popped up in response to a Facebook post from Travel  Scotland Goals that went viral. They used a picture of Changi Airport’s iconic Jewel Changi indoor fountain but credited the place to ‘Almondvale Shopping Centre, Livingston’.

Naturally, the only logical response was to respond in kind with memes of our own.

Of course, the admins of the Visit Scotland page found the humour in the situation as well.

Now this is the kind of international diplomacy we like to see!

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Hishamuddin Confirms Wisma Putra Staff Is Covid-19 Positive

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Foreign Minister Datuk Hishamuddin Hussein has confirmed that a Wisma Putra staff member is positive for Covid-19.
He said that the staff had tested positive after health screenings were done at the Ministry but the person did not show any symptoms such as fever, flu, cough or sore throat.
The staff member is currently being treated at Sungai Buloh Hospital and Hishamuddin also said close contacts to the person have been identified.
They have have been directed to undergo health screenings and a mandatory 14-day quarantine at home.
As a response to the case, the Ministry of Health and the Fire and Rescue Department will carry out disinfection works at Wisma Putra’s headquarters.
NST also reported that the Minister and the Minister’s Office have also been advised to undergo a 14-day home quarantine.

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PM: RMCO Needs To Be Examined Again – Especially In Several Red Zone States

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The Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) needs to be relooked, said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin after expressing concerns about the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in Negeri Sembilan, Selangor Perak and Johor despite increased mitigation measures.

In a lengthy Facebook post yesterday, Muhyiddin explained that the implementation of the RMCO was discussed at that morning’s National Security Council Special Meeting on Covid-19.
With many green zones turning into red zones, as well as the need to reinstate the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) in several areas, he said that it seems that the pandemic situation hasn’t shown much improvement.
READ MORE: Latest CMCO Rules Updated (AGAIN): Only 4 Pax For Klang Valley Dine-In; No Dine-In For Sabah
I think there is a need for this RMCO to be re-examined for areas that are facing the recurrence of Covid-19 infections, especially in states such as Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor and Perak.Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin via Facebook.
Growing Covid-19 concerns among MPs in Parliament
(Credit: Shafwan Zaidon/Malay Mail)
As Parliament faced Covid-19 scares earlier this week involving staff at the Parliament building, Muhyiddin acknowledged the concerns of members of parliament (MPs) with the building also in a red zone.
A media staffer and an aide to a senator were found Covid-19 positive during tests conducted in Parliament last week before Dewan Rakyat reconvened for a new session.
I believe the Dewan Rakyat Speaker will use his wisdom to manage this matter.Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin via Facebook.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun has since announced a new set of SOPs for Parliamentarians at this morning’s session.
The new measures include advising MPs to avoid crowded places and events, as well as to undergo Covid-19 swab tests every two weeks while Parliament is in session.

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Source:
Avoid crowds, undergo Covid-19 swab tests every two weeks, Dewan Rakyat Speaker tells MPs


Covid-19: 5 New Clusters Discovered Yesterday, Here’s What You Need To Know

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Five more new clusters were identified in Malaysia yesterday (11 October). Out of the five, three clusters were detected by the Health Ministry in Sabah, one in Labuan, and one in Selangor.

The three new clusters in Sabah have been named the Kasih Cluster, the Surat Cluster and the Khazanah Cluster.
(Credit: Twitter/KKMPutrajaya)
Kasih Cluster
Discovered in Lahad Datu, the index patient (Case 12, 509) tested positive during a screening by health authorities on 27 September. The patient has since been admitted to the Lahad Datu Hospital for treatment.
Screenings conducted on close contacts have detected 33 more positive cases, while 1,804 individuals are still awaiting results.Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah
Surat Cluster
Discovered in Sandakan, the index patient (Case 15, 097) tested positive after being screened for exhibiting Covid-19 symptoms. The patient has since been admitted to the Lahad Datu Hospital for treatment.
Through close contact tracing, 24 individuals tested positive while another 49 individuals are still waiting for their results.
Kluster aktif dengan kluster baharuSecara keseluruhan, terdapat 21 kluster aktif yang melaporkan kes baharu pada hari ini. Ini termasuklah 5 kluster baharu iaitu, Surat, Kasih, Khazanah (Sabah), Bah Bundle (Labuan) dan Sungei Way (Selangor & KL). pic.twitter.com/gd0NW4HV6k— KKMalaysia🇲🇾 (@KKMPutrajaya) October 11, 2020
Khazanah Cluster
Also discovered in Lahad Datu, the index patient (Case 14, 842) tested positive on 9 October and has since been admitted to the Lahad Datu Hospital as well.
Close contact tracing resulted in the detection of 13 more positive cases. Another 638 individuals connected to this cluster are still waiting for their results.
Meanwhile, in Labuan and Selangor, the clusters detected have been named the Bah Bundle Cluster and the Sungei Way Cluster, respectively.
Sungei Way Cluster
This cluster involves the Petaling and Gombak districts in Selangor and Titiwangsa in Kuala Lumpur. The index patient (Case 14, 307) tested positive on 7 October and has since been admitted to Sungai Buloh Hospital.
Close contact tracing found 17 more positive individuals, while another seven are still waiting for their results.
Bah Bundle Cluster
Discovered in the Federal Territory of Labuan, the index patient (Case 11, 771) tested positive on 2 October after returning from Sabah. The patient is currently in Labuan Hospital receiving treatment.
Close contact tracing found two more positive individuals. At the same time, 296 individuals connected to the cluster are still waiting for their results.

You can watch Dr Noor Hisham’s full press conference yesterday below:

Sidang Media: Perkembangan Terkini COVID-19 Di MalaysiaSidang media oleh YBhg. Tan Sri Dato' Seri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, Ketua Pengarah Kesihatan Malaysia berkenaan perkembangan terkini COVID-19 di MalaysiaPosted by KEMENTERIAN KESIHATAN MALAYSIA on Sunday, 11 October 2020

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Anwar Thanks Agong For Granting Him An Audience, Will Meet Next Tuesday

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Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced that he will be meeting with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong next Tuesday.

In a short statement, Anwar thanked Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah for granting him an audience, adding that he will show evidence of his “strong, and convincing” majority support from MPs that will allow him to form a new government.
The PKR president also expressed his gratitude to Allah for the Agong’s quick recovery.
I would like to express my gratitude to His Majesty for granting me an audience to meet on Tuesday, October 13, 2020, Insha’Allah.Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim via Malay Mail

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Another Two Fatalities Push Malaysiaâ€™s Death Toll For COVID-19 To Eight

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Just as we were processing the fourth, fifth, and sixth deaths today, the Health Ministry now announces that two more have passed away due to COVID-19, bringing the total death toll to eight.
According to a statement posted in their Telegram channel, the Health Ministry said the seventh victim was a 57-year-old man with travel history to Vietnam and close contact with a positive case from the cluster of tabligh event attendees.
The patient was admitted to Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) on 18 March after developing symptoms. His health then deteriorated and he passed away at 3.22pm today (21 March 2020).
Meanwhile, the eighth victim is a 69-year-old man from the cluster of the tabligh event attendees. He started developing symptom on 12 March and was admitted to Hospital Tumpat on 16 March.Â
He was later transferred to Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II, Kota Bahru Kelantan on 18 March when his health started to deteriorate as well. He passed away at 4pm today (21 March 2020).
TRP sends our condolences to the families of the victims.

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Cop Bust Heroin Lab Drug Run By Husband & Wife In Penang

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A heroin lab that can cater to 24,197 addicts was uncovered by the police following the arrest of a husband and wife in Penang last Tuesday.

According to New Straits Times, the 43-year-old local man and his 30-year-old foreign wife were detained by the police while they were riding on a motorcycle in Gelugor at about 8.30pm, together with 1,810gm of heroin, worth RM24,250.
The arrest led to the uncovering of the lab which the duo operated on their rented kampong house in Kampung Bukit in Bayan Lepas.
Another 2,720gm of heroin worth RM36,500, Yaba pills (309.54gm) worth RM15,480 and caffeine powder (14,880gm) worth RM5,100 were found at the makeshift heroin lab.
The police also seized several pieces of equipment and chemicals used to process the heroin and a car, bringing the total seizure to RM108,330.
“We are still investigating where they learned to cook the heroin and whether they obtained the formula from another syndicate.
“We are also probing where they had obtained the raw materials to process the heroin.
“What we know is that they have added Yaba pills to make the heroin stronger (more kick),” Northeast district police chief Assistant Commissioner Soffian Santong was quoted as saying.
Soffian said that based on preliminary investigation, the couple is believed to have been actively processing the heroin themselves since January this year before selling them to the local market.
He added that the male suspect’s urine test came back positive for drugs and he also possessed previous drug-related records.
Both suspects are under remand for six days until 17 October and the case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drug Act 1952.

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M’sian Telco XOX Partners With Alibaba’s AntChain To Develop Blockchain Solution For Pharmaceutical Sector

XOX Bhd recently announced their strategic partnership with AntChain, and is planning to develop customised blockchain solutions for the pharmaceutical sector.
This will be developed on the local telco’s TraX platform, which is powered by AntChain’s Traceability-as-a-Service (TaaS) solution that is combined with the Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. AntChain is a blockchain solution created by Ant Group, an affiliate company of Alibaba.

XOX Chief Operating Officer Ng Kok Heng explained that the blockchain solution developed on TraX will be able to provide scalable and cost-efficient solutions to companies, at the same time preventing fraud and ensuring product authentication.

What is blockchain?

Blockchain is a series of time-stamped, immutable data that is managed by different computers. These computers are not owned by anyone, having no “central authority”, thus blockchain is being described as a “democratised system”.
The reason why blockchain is lauded as a great solution in the past few years is due to its ability to help businesses become more cost-efficient.

Blockchain and the IoT provide an immutable, shared platform for all actors in the supply chain to track and trace assets; saving time, resources and reducing fraud.Research author Morgane Kimmich to CNBC

(Credit: Pixabay/Pexels)

Its ability to track and trace assets will also greatly benefit the current food and pharmaceutical sectors, as more consumers are aware about food source, production methods, as well as product authenticity.

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[Watch] Teenage “Catfight” In KL Has Netizens Amusingly Concerned

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A youthful commotion that took place in the streets of Kuala Lumpur recently has Malaysians a little concerned.

So there’s this video of a fight between a group of young ladies believed to have been captured in Bukit Bintang. At just 24-seconds long the clip titled “Ela Ampang Vs. Ika Puchong” is gaining viral views on a few online platforms.
The footage features what’s best described as a large gathering of teenage boys and girls that were just standing and shouting around at night.
During the commotion, the camera focuses on two girls, similarly dressed in grey, at the centre of the group who appeared to be sizing each other up.
But between the inaudible sounds of teenage angst, and a girl shouting “Who touched me? B*bi!”, we couldn’t really find any more information about what was going on.

What we did find was that netizens thought that the video was both amusing and concerning.
A number of commenters simply laughed at the scene of “children” being wild.
“Kids these days have so much energy,” one user wrote.
Others criticised the kids for their reckless behaviour.
“Pity, What are they trying to prove? If I were their parents I’d chain them to a poll and release kerengga (weaver ants) on them,” another commenter noted.
But what’s most concerning by our observation, especially with Covid-19 cases sharply on the rise, is the fact that most of the youths seen in the video were not wearing their face masks or physically distancing themselves.
(Credit: The Star)
Let’s just take this video as a lesson for all to always abide by new normal rules, stay Covid-safe and not be too reckless.

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Apple Watch In Malaysia Can Now Tell You If You Have An Irregular Heartbeat

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The ECG app and the irregular rhythm notification feature on the Apple Watch has received regulatory approval from the Medical Device Authority (MDA) in Malaysia as Class B software medical devices.

Both features help users identify signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib), the most common form of irregular heart rhythm. When left untreated, AFib can lead to stroke, the second most common cause of death around the world.
Is it available on my Apple Watch?
ECG app will be available on Apple Watch Series 4, 5, and 6 with the updated watchOS 7.5 paired with an iPhone running the newly released iOS 14.6.The irregular rhythm notification feature on Apple Watch Series 3 and later will also occasionally check heart rhythms in the background and send a notification if an irregular heart rhythm that appears to be AFib is identified.
What does it mean?
It means that if you have an Apple Watch, it can tell you if you have a heart problem before it could become serious, and you can have it treated early. Now imagine if your loved one, like an elderly parent has one.
To enable these new heart features, just proceed through the onscreen setup that includes details about who can use these features, what the features can and cannot do, what results users may get, how to interpret those results, and clear instructions for what to do if users are feeling symptoms that require immediate medical attention.
Has it saved lives before?
Yes. In early 2020, theSun Daily reported the case of Muhammad Farhat Haniff, a 30-year old who was diagnosed with Ectopic Rhythm, an irregular heart rhythm due to a premature heartbeat.
He was able to get the heart disease diagnosed early thanks to his Apple Watch which alerted him of his uncommonly elevated heart rate despite his inactivity.
This high and low heart rate notifications feature is available on all Apple Watch Series 1 or later. It alerts you when you have an elevated heart rate when you are resting and low heart rate when you are active.
Check with your doctor.
Remember, whatever the ECG app and the irregular rhythm notification tells you, check with a doctor first. The Apple Watch and the new features cannot diagnose. It is also not meant to to detect heart attacks.
Source: Apple Newsroom

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Fast And Reliable, Grandma Fuels Household Cooking In Ipoh Homes

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A 57-year-old grandmother with 16 grandchildren is living proof that age is just a number.

Saparisah Abdul Rahman is able to lift and deliver cooking gas from house to house just by riding a motorcycle.
The heavy work is something that she has been doing for the past 15 years, bringing families and friends together through home-cooked meals.
Saparisah, who lives in Kampung Datuk Ahmad Said Tambahan II in Ipoh, told Bernama she started the business after seeing her younger brother doing it.
Wanita gagah…Peniaga gas memasak, Saparisah Abdul Rahman, 57, masih mampu mengangkat & menghantar tong gas itu dari rumah ke rumah menaiki motosikal. pic.twitter.com/sDww2umcV3— BERNAMA (@bernamadotcom) March 8, 2023
My job is not just to sell, but to lift, deliver and install cooking gas cylinders at customers’ homes.Saparisah Abdul Rahman on keeping the people’s stovetops sizzling.
If There’s A Will, There’s A Way
When she started doing business in 2004, Saparisah did not feel confident lifting gas cylinders which weigh 12 and 14 kilograms.
But over time she got used to it even though she had back pain.
The grandmother, popularly known as Kak Zah, said that by using a motorcycle, she was able to carry three gas cylinders at a time.
By doing so, she effectively fulfils customer orders around Taman Meru to Silibin from her residence which is located about 15 minutes from the city centre.
Although many said it’s a man’s job, she chooses to turn a deaf ear and keep looking ahead to help her family.
In this day and age we can’t be choosy with a job, what matters is it’s halal and we are passionate in doing it.Saparisah Abdul Rahman on ignoring her naysayers.
Finding Fortitude
She used to work as a pot maker at a factory in Jalan Kuala Kangsar, but after the factory closed she felt bored and wanted to earn a living to help her husband.
The mother of six said that she chose to do the cooking gas cylinder business because she could enjoy a daily salary.
One day I can sell 30 to 40 barrels of gas, at most 50 barrels. I enjoy getting cash every day to use as working capital. If I work in a factory, I have to wait a month to get money.Saparisah Abdul Rahman on getting a steady income for her family.
On the challenges faced in the business, Saparisah said one of the saddest was when her storage store was often broken into and many gas cylinders barrels were stolen.
One cylinder of cooking gas is worth RM128.
She said maybe for other people the value is not much but for a small trader like her it is expensive and she has to bear the loss.
Saparisah also thanked Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia for helping her to grow the business.

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[Watch] Malaysian Man Praised For Folding Shirt Before Passing It To Driving Exam Student

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Driving exams can be nerve-wracking for some. Even if you drive well, you might not even pass.

To add to the stress, a boy was stopped from sitting for his driving exam because he wasn’t wearing a collared shirt.
Luckily for him, the stranger he approached for help willingly took off his orange collared shirt and passed it to him so he could take his exam.
The stranger even gave the shirt a light shake and pat before folding it up neatly to be passed to the boy.
  @eeqramazizi ceritanya,  seorang lelaki  tidak dibenarkan menjawab exam memandu disebab baju tak berkolar apa apa pon terbaik malaysiaku #semangatmalaysia #f ♬ Saya Anak Malaysia (Mandarin Version) – Thomas & Jack & FS (Fuying & Sam) & Daniel Cheah & Haoren & Priscilla Abby & Pink & Ribbon Ooi & Michiyo Ho & Jeryl Lee
Netizens who saw the video praised the man for helping out the boy. They even noticed that the man took the time to fold the shirt neatly and it showed his respect for the other person.
Some netizens said politics tried to separate the community but everyone is actually nice to each other.
For those who are curious about the man’s identity, a netizen shared that he’s her father and her mother enjoyed watching the video.
She added that he usually wears two shirts to work because it’s always cold in the morning.
Another netizen said society should teach children to value and respect everyone regardless of race.

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Meet The Old Malay Speaking Community of Sri Lanka

When we talk about traditional Malay communities, we would assume that they’re strictly confined to Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore with the odd community or two scattered throughout Southeast Asia.
But did you know there’s an old community of Malays in Sri Lanka, too? And they’re not like expats or recent immigrants, but a proper minority group who’ve been in the island nation since the 17th century!
A street sign in Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka.(Credit: Berita Harian)
How they wound up in Sri Lanka
The Malay community of Sri Lanka are
descendents of settlers from present day Indonesia and Malaysia.
But their origins in Sri Lanka is somewhat unclear due to the ancient ties between the Sri Lankan Kingdom and Srivijaya kingdom in the 8th century.
 There’s also the added confusion that Sri Lanka was once called Malaya or Malaya-rata (meaning mountainous in Malayalam) in the medieval period due to its rugged hills – a name remarkably similar to pre-1963 Peninsular Malaysia.
But the most concrete evidence Sri Lanka Malay origins is with (say it with us now) colonisation.
Unedited image via Dutch Review
The Dutch, to be exact, colonised Sri Lanka (renamed to Ceylon) in the mid-16th to 19th century, and brought over people from the Malay Archipelago as exiles, convicts or soldiers.
When the British took over in 1796, they noticed this community spoke a language based on the lingua franca Malay language, so they called this community Malays.
However, in Sinhalese (official language), Sri Lanka Malays are called Ja– alluding to their origins from Java, Indonesia. Some in the Sri Lanka Malay community even call themselves “Orang Java”.
But these”Malays” come from all over the Malay Archipelago including Blai, Java, Riau, Ambon and Peninsular Malaysia. Among the early exiles were kings and princes from south Sulawesi, Madura and Java. The early 19th century brought in soldiers recruited mostly from villages on the Peninsula.
Sri Lanka Malays in a picture dated 1890.(Credit: @GambarKlasik/Twitter)
They were actually pretty badass fighters
In the early days, Malay soldiers formed part of the armed forces of Sri Lankan kings. There’s evidence that from 10th century AD that a Sri Lankan King called Mahinda V had a troop of Malay soldiers in his army.
During colonisation, the Dutch held a generally favourable view of the Malays for their steadfast loyalty and unflinching bravery. The Malay soldiers played a big part in capturing Portuguese controlled areas of Ceylon and as a result, were given lands by the Dutch as a token of gratitude.
The Ceylon Malay Regiment of the 18th & 19th century.(Credit: Conference of Sri Lankan Malays/Facebook)
When the British took over Ceylon from the Dutch, their fighting skills did not go unnoticed and they were mostly employed in the Malay Regiment of Sri Lanka in the 1800s. They were actually the first ever Malay Regiment formed and were so skilled that they received the British Queen’s colours in 1802.
Sri Lankan Malays went on to work in security forces, police, fire brigade, plantations and civil service.
What Sri Lankan Malays look like now
Sri Lanka Malays in recent times.(Credit: Global Press Journal)
When the British took over the island and made arrangements for the repatriation of all the Malay soldiers in 1799, the Malays as a united community refused to leave because they had settled with their families and made Ceylon their home.
Today, the Malay community in Sri Lanka is less than 50,000 (approximately 0.3% of the population) in numbers but they’re a vibrant ethnic group who also identify as Muslims.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the community is their language, a dialect called Sri Lanka Malay (SLM) that’s a mixture of Sinhala, Shonam (Sri Lanka Muslim Tamil) and Malay.
Examples of sentences in Sri Lanka Malay and their English translation.(Credit: The Life Cycle of Sri Lanka Malay)
It’s believed that their language is evolved from the Malay lingua franca (Bazaar Malay) that existed since the 1st millennium AD that mixed with modern forms of Malay brought in by settlers from colonial times.
The Sri Lanka Malay language is also mutually unintelligible with any known colloquial Malay variety, so experts argue that it can be considered as a different language.
But if you listen to the language, it actually sounds super familiar! Check out this video of a Sri Lankan Malay woman talking about her life:

The universal love for good food is also evident in the Sri Lankan Malay community who enjoy dishes such as Nasi Kooning (yellow rice), Sathay Daging (beef satay), Daging Chuka (beef marinated in vinegar, spiced and cooked with sliced onions), dodol and sambhal.
Despite their small numbers, there are a large number of social and cultural groups such as the Sri Lanka Malay Confederation (SLAMAC), Sri Lanka Malay Rupee Fund, the Conference of Sri Lanka Malays (COSLAM), and Malay Associations of the communities located around the island. These organisations are extremely active in holding regular social, cultural, commemorative and fund-raising activities and initiatives.
The Sri Lanka Malay community take part in various activities and initiatives.(Credit: Sri Lanka Malay Association/Facebook)
But the language is in trouble
Although Sri Lanka Malay came to be formed in the island, its use has been diminishing over the years.
As a consequence of various national language policies and
world orders over the centuries, Sri Lanka Malays have responded with shifts in
their language use, leading to different degrees of loss of their vernacular in
favour of other more dominant languages.
Many of the Sri Lankan Malays speak Sinhala (the official language), Sri Lankan Tamil and English over SLM language. There’s also a recent shift in the community to the Standard Malay of Malaysia to gain stronger ethnic recognition and increase their economic capital in a larger linguistic market.
The special relationship with Malaysia
This relationship with Malaysia is not new, though. What many may not have known is that Sri Lankan Malays have regularly kept in touch with Malaysia since colonial times.
Sri Lankan Malay soldiers used to visit the Straits Settlements as part of the army recruiting team and brought back Malay Manuscripts from the Peninsula to Sri Lanka after serving a short stint of a year or two.
Sri Lanka Malay soldiers serving during British colonisation.(Credit: Sri Lanka Guardian)
A delegation from the All Ceylon Malay Association also attended the 1962 Merdeka celebrations in Kuala Lumpur on special invitation by then prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman.
In recent times, the Malaysian High Commission in Sri Lanka is taking an active role in promoting Standard Malay to the Sri Lankan Malay community to foster ties between the two nations.
Malaysia’s former Deputy Prime Minister at a Sri Lanka Malay event in 2016.(Credit: Conference of Sri Lankan Malays/Facebook)

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Local Brand Slammed For Turning Bukit Bintang Street Into ‘Fashion Runway’

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As the festive season of Eid is approaching, local brands are racing to promote their wares with a plethora of marketing techniques.

To make yourself well known, you have to be bold and to be bold calls for all kinds of fashion statements, including the good or bad reps too.
Recently, a local fashion brand known for its eccentric traditional meets futuristic creation has made the headlines again.
A Raya photoshoot
They made a fashion statement by doing a quick runway show at the famous crossroads of Bukit Bintang last week on Monday (Feb 13).
🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡 pic.twitter.com/ty2XropQ6i— Abudi Alsagoff (@AbudiAlsagoff) February 18, 2023
The video saw the models and influencers dressed in their colourfully flamboyant Baju Melayu clothes clutching oversized shopping bags while walking on an imaginary runway on the yellow zebra crossing in front of Pavilion KL.
As it turns out the runway was a photoshoot session for the brand’s upcoming Raya 2023 collection. They used the iconic area in front of Pavilion KL to shoot for their upcoming new designs.
For your information, this local brand is known to take traditional Malaysian clothes and give them a modern and futuristic touch. However, not everyone is a fan of the designer’s eccentric take on traditional wear and finds it disrespectful.
They’ve previously created unconventional Baju Kebayas, Cheongsams, Samfoos and many more. A huge fan of this brand’s designer is our bold fashion icons, Aina Abdul and Dato Seri Vida.
Netizens were not too happy with it
Not only did they go viral for the neon oversized designs but netizens were quick to slam their so-called runway.
Time org nak lintas pi pavilion depa pi buat runway pic.twitter.com/xhPEHv1Ybi— Syarol Kyle (@iSyarolKyle) February 18, 2023
Because of it, other pedestrians were seen confused and distracted during the quick runway crossing. Some say that their path has been obstructed by them.

Some just made fun of their rainbow designs and compared them to well-known characters.

Many found the designs insulting as they crossed the thin line between modern fashion and traditional wear.

However they plan on promoting their collection, it sure got the public’s attention. One way or another.
READ MORE: Did You Know Each Malaysian State Has Its Own Special Traditional Baju Designs?

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Duty-Free Chocolates Running Out In Langkawi, Shortages Due To Lack Of Supply

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Bad news for those who want to travel to Langkawi and get their supply of duty-free chocolates as the shops on the island are reportedly running out of stock.

Based on reports from Kosmo, it’s been like this since November last year.
Several duty-free business premises which used to have shelves filled with imported chocolate from well-known brands were left empty while other shopowners decided to replenish the shelves with other types of chocolate.
Among the imported chocolate brands that are in high demand are Daim and Hershey’s Kisses.
Tourists are a bit disappointed
Several tourists who were interviewed said that the lack of chocolates on the shelves has made their holidays a little less sweet.
One of the tourists, Saludin Endol, 60, from Kuala Lipis, Pahang said that his holiday became less than perfect when he found that the imported chocolate that his family wanted him to bring back was out of stock.
Langkawi is synonymous with cheap imported chocolate, but some of the shops I go to are mostly out of supply. It feels like a holiday this time is not complete because we can’t buy imported chocolate to bring back.Saludin Endol
It’s a supply issue
Based on reports, the insufficient supply of chocolate in the duty-free island is mainly due to supply problems from suppliers in Singapore.
One worker mentioned that the supply of imported chocolate received is limited despite the high number of previous orders, causing a shortage on the island.
Domestic travel resumed in Langkawi in September last year for fully vaccinated tourists in conjunction with Malaysia Day.

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CNY Rules: Is It OK Not To Give Ang Pow To Single Adults?

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Married couples traditionally give out ang pows to their parents, single adults and children during the Chinese New Year celebrations.

The ang pows, also known as lai see in Cantonese, are given out as tokens of good fortune and blessing.
Equally important, the giving of ang pows should be within the couple’s means and not become a source of financial burden.
Such considerations have given rise to the idea that ang pows need not be given to single adults.
Yes, giving money to someone already considered an adult can sometimes feel unfair.
Comedian Jason Leong gave his point of view, saying it doesn’t make sense if single adults are rich.
In a Facebook post, Leong indicated he would stop giving ang pows to all his friends who are single and rich.

When Age Matters
Married adults are not required to give them to older, unmarried relatives.
Ang pow should be given to unmarried, younger siblings or cousins, and on rare occasions, to older unmarried nephews.
For newlyweds, they can be exempted from giving ang pow in their first year of marriage.
However, the tradition differs depending on the Chinese subgroup, such as Hakka, Hokkien and Cantonese.
In some instances, the newlyweds are expected to give double the amount in their ang pow during the first year.
As for your spouse, it isn’t compulsory to gift them Chinese New Year red packets.
Still, you can always do it out of love and appreciation for one another.

The only time everyone is expected to give ang pows – regardless of marital status – is during wedding dinners.
The rule is a must, so much so that people invited to a wedding are said to receive a red bomb due to financial damage to the wallet.
READ MORE: RM2,200 Per Table: Facebook User Slams Wedding Guests For Giving Out Less Than RM300 In Ang Pows

A parody on the giving of ang pow during Chinese wedding dinner.

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How Netflix Series Sex Education Is More About Life Lessons Than Sex

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We live in a time where sex education is crucial for our younger ones (and let’s face it, the older ones too).

Read More: 9 Out Of 10 Teenage Girls “Addicted To Sex” PDRM Survey Finds, BUT… [Opinion]
Although Malaysia is not quite there yet due to the general stigma surrounding sex-related topics, we do have technology to thank for giving us an outlet to educate ourselves.
Cue Netflix – Tudum!
Those who subscribe to the popular streaming service Netflix may have come across an original series of theirs called Sex Education.
For those of us not ‘woke’ enough, it’s a British teen comedy-drama series that follows the lives of the students, staff at school and parents of Moordale Secondary School who are faced with various personal matters related to the shows’ title.
The series, which just released season 3 in mid-September, is an overall heartening and somewhat quirky show which is not afraid to tap into taboo topics that will tug at your heartstrings.
Important Life Lessons Sex Education Teaches Us
Sex Education’s main characters Otis (Asa Butterfield) and Maeve (Emma Mackey) in a scene from season 3(Credit: Netflix)
Without giving too much away to those of you who plan to watch the show, here are a few which we think were quite relevant and relatable.
1. Self-discovery takes times
From the series’ get-go, a few characters have questioned their sexuality and while one of the shows’ supporting actors plays an outwardly gay character, a few have taken the gradual steps through the show’s three seasons on a journey of self-discovery that’s both heart-wrenching to watch, but relatable as well.
Season three further lives out the theory that relationships in general, are complicated no matter what your sexual orientation is.
We also learn that sometimes the relationship you have with yourself may be the most complex.
2. Bullying and shaming can create irreparable trauma
Actor Connor Swindells plays Adam Groff(Credit: Netflix)
Although bullying and shaming is a major problem in schools everywhere, it is also very prominent in places outside of school (*cough* social media *cough*) in which grown-ups often participate.
Series creator Laurie Nunn spoke of exploring the theme of shame and how damaging it can be to individuals.
Everybody has been made to feel different or feel like they don’t fit in, particularly in their teenage years, and how that shame can then affect you throughout your adult life.Laurie Nunn, Creator of Sex Education on Netflix
3. It’s important to have a support system
In season two of the show, another supporting character on the show gets sexually assaulted on the bus ride.
Season three delves more into the repercussions of the assault and touches on topics that resonate with those who’ve had to deal with that kind of trauma.
The lesson here is that the first step to recovery is to seek support and that although the event is in the past, it’s the trauma that is in the present and needs to be addressed.

There is a whole slew of other “lessons” you can learn from this series, which goes to demonstrate that even though it’s a show mainly about teenagers on the road to sexual discovery, it benefits more for ‘mature audiences’ for its poignant messages.
Coincidentally, it is also rated TV MA.
Sex Education seasons 1, 2 and 3 are streaming now on Netflix.

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From FT Ministry to FT Department: Federal Territories Now Under PMD

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When Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced his Cabinet line-up last month, what was glaringly missing was the Federal Territories Ministry.

Many have been asking about the FT Ministry and who would be its minister.
However, an announcement by Chief Secretary To The Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali puts an end to the mystery as the FT Ministry has now been restructured as a department under the purview of the Prime Minister’s Department (PMD).
The head of the FT Department is a director-general and the position goes to Datuk Seri Rosida Jaafar.
Zuki, on Facebook, said he attended a briefing of the FT Department and agencies this morning with the prime minister at Menara DBKL (KL City Hall).
Pic credit: Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali’s Facebook page
After the briefing, there was a meeting of the Federal Territories Interaction Council involving FT members of Parliament and the top management of the newly-restructured FT Department.
The council, according to Zuki, was a platform to discuss critical issues as well as proposals and implementation of development and policies for the wellbeing of the people, particularly those in the Federal Territories.
For the record, there are three FTs in Malaysia; Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan.

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