Unemployed Man Punished With 15 Years Jail And Three Lashes For Raping Friend’s Pregnant Wife

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The brutal act of a young man who raped his friend’s wife, who was seven months pregnant, was finally met with justice.

On Friday, the accused was sentenced to 15 years in prison and three lashes by the Ayer Keroh Sessions Court.
After pleading guilty before Judge Nariman Badruddin, Zul Hafiqhafizi Zakaria, 25, was sentenced.
According to the charge, the accused, who is also unemployed, raped the 26-year-old victim at a house in Taman Debunga, Merlimau, around 4.20 am on 21 January.
The accused was charged under Section 376 (2) of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of not less than 10 years and not more than 30 years and shall be subject to whipping.
When The Rapist Is Someone You Know
According to the facts of the case, the incident occurred while the victim was asleep.
Suddenly, she was approached by the accused, who covered his face with a white cloth.
At the time of the incident, the woman, who was seven months pregnant, lived alone while her husband was serving a prison sentence for drug offences.
The accused allegedly forced the victim to take off her clothes while pointing a knife, leaving the woman no choice.
The proceedings conducted by the Deputy Public Prosecutor, Anis Najwa Nazari applied for a heavy sentence to be imposed, taking into account that the offence committed by the accused is serious.
The accused is an acquaintance of the victim’s husband and is aware that the man is serving a sentence in prison.
Nariman, in the judgment, then sentenced him to 15 years imprisonment from the date the accused was arrested on January 24 and was given three lashes.
The accused, however, was not represented by counsel.
Netizens Want Heavier Punishment
In reflecting the public’s harsher attitude against rape, netizens said the offender should be punished more severely.
The move is reasonable because of the crime’s heinous nature and the psychological burden that the provision places on the victim.
Sexual crimes leave long-lasting mental scars and are often dubbed as a crime against one’s soul.
Netizens also blamed the victim’s husband for not being there to take care of his wife.
Regrettably, some blamed the victim for not locking the door.

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Tenaganita: Abuse Of Migrant Workers Widespread Problem In Malaysia

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In Malaysia, cases of migrant workers being abused is a widespread problem because our Employment Act is not enforced in incidents that involve them.
Speaking to The Sun Daily, Tenaganita executive director Glorene Das was commenting on a report by Tesco which stated that migrant workers in its stores and distribution centres in Malaysia in Thailand were facing abuse.
The British multinational grocery chain hired a human rights consultancy last year to conduct the independent assessment, and listed allegations based on interviews with 168 migrant workers in Malaysia and 187 in Thailand.
The abuse faced by these migrant workers included passport retention, unexplained and illegal wage reductions, heavy indebtedness to labour brokers and excessive overtime work.
In Malaysian Tesco stores, 68 Indonesian and 171 Nepali workers had their passports withheld, and high levels of indebtedness to service or labour providers were found.
Glorene pointed out that despite having decent employment laws, Malaysia has been on the global slavery index in a number of industries, including the plantation and electronics sector.
Image for illustration purposes only. (Credit: Malaysiakini)
When we approach employers to discuss the problem faced by their workers, we are told that all monetary claims made by the employees are paid to the agents.Glorene Das via The Sun Daily
SShe said the main issue was that the work is outsourced and the claims are paid to an agent. As far as employers are concerned, they have paid. And they leave it to the agent to pay the worker. Whether or not the workers are paid, the employers feel that it’s not their problem.
However, Tesco stated that they will be taking extensive steps to remediate the situation involving their foreign employees.
They have developed a plan to examine the issue and will be conducting detailed investigations of specific allegations, setting up support lines and grievance mechanisms for agency workers in their own languages, training managers on diversity and inclusion and shifting to recruit migrant workers directly.
All passports were returned to workers when passports were required for work permit renewal or other government purposes.Tesco via The Sun Daily

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MCO Phase 2: 8am – 8pm Curfew On All Businesses & Stores Nationwide

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Starting April 1, all business premises and stores nationwide will be limited to only operate between 8 am to 8 pm daily, following a new standard operating procedure (SOP) set by the authorities.
This includes grocery stores, supermarkets, petrol stations, and even your friendly neighborhood kedai runcit Cik Kiah.
Furthermore, all e-hailing, ride-sharing, and taxi services would also be made to operate during the imposed 12-hours, however other public transportation services, such as rail and busses, will still be operational from 6am to 10 pm daily
The new SOP is part of the second phase of the Movement Control Order (MCO) in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to Senior Minister (Defence), Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, the imposed curfew is totally different from the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) placed in a number of areas in the country.
 Ismail Sabri during a live television broadcast to the nation.(Credit: The Star/Bernama)
This means that unlike citizens in the EMCO zones, Malaysians are still free to move about for important matters during the quarantine period.
Meanwhile, another EMCO was implemented at Batu 21 to Batu 24, Sungai Lui in Hulu Langat, Selangor following an increase in COVID-19 infection cases there.
The police have also detained 828 individuals in defiance of the MCO and, along with the army, have made 1,520 roadblocks and inspected over 257,287 vehicles.
Roadblocks at toll plazas across the country, have been increased from 23 to 65 and will be increased to 114 toll plazas.
A total of 67,774 personnel are involved in the implementation of the MCO.
Some leeway is being given for people with autism & disabilities to receive therapy as advised by experts but they are not allowed in groups
Additionally, the government has set the ceiling price for face masks at RM1.50.

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COVID-19: Operasi premis perniagaan 8 pagi hingga 8 malam


MOH Prepares To Return Non-Ministry Facilities When Emergency Ordinance Ends

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Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba said that a Greater Klang Valley special task force has been set up to address the desperate need for beds and manpower in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

He said to Bernama that the Ministry of Health (MOH) had taken over the management and facilities of various agencies and ministries under the Emergency Ordinance. However, when the emergency ends, non-ministry (MOH) facilities must be returned to their respective agencies and ministries.
Although it is called the Greater Klang Valley special task force, Dr Adham said that it includes south Perak, west Pahang, and the northern part of Negri Sembilan.
The task force started operations on 8 July and is led by Public Health deputy director-general Datuk Dr Chong Chee Kheong.
Dr Chong also said the task force was set up to focus on Covid-19 transmission in the Klang Valley and its border areas because of the movement of people.
The spike was caused by testing
Meanwhile, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah told Bernama that the country’s daily COVID-19 cases can be expected to stabilise and show a decline in the next one to two weeks.
He added that the spike in new cases over the last few days was due to more targeted screenings being implemented, especially in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, which are currently under the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO).
In Selangor, 19,614 screenings were done on 5 July and it was increased to 25,005 screenings on 6 July. The number of tests was further increased in the following days.
From the increased testing, Selangor detected 4,152 new cases on 8 July and 4,400 more cases on 9 July.
“I am confident that with better movement control methods, we will see a more stable total number of cases as well as a drop within a week or two. At the same time, the vaccination process must be expedited,” said Dr Noor Hisham.
The issue
Dr Noor Hisham went on to explain that the challenge that the healthcare providers face is that the Category Four and Category Five patients take between two to five weeks to be treated in the ICU.
Because the number of patients in Category Four and Category Five is also increasing, the MOH is doing its best to increase the hospitals’ capacity.
There are five categories of the COVID-19 disease.
Category One – asymptomaticCategory Two – mild diseaseCategory Three – moderate disease (pneumonia, not requiring oxygen)Category Four – severe disease (pneumonia and requiring oxygen)Category Five – critical disease (multiple organ impairment, possibly requiring assisted ventilation).

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Star Wars: Visions – A Return To Form [Review]

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I’m just going to put my recommendation upfront: Go watch Star Wars: Visions. It is that good.

If you love good stories that are masterfully told, this is a must-watch.
There are nine episodes in all, savour them one by one. Watch it on the biggest screen you got and don’t binge if you can help it.
Although the dubbing is very good, I’d recommend watching the show with the original Japanese audio and English subtitles instead.
Now, if you still need convincing, let’s continue with the review.
This Is Star Wars

Disney’s Star Wars Trilogy not only turned the Skywalker Saga into Palpatine’s Long Game but introduced Star Wars fatigue to its once-loyal fan base.
However, The Mandalorian series showed many that there was still hope.
Despite its detractors, it proved to many that Star Wars is still a fertile ground for telling new stories and adventures as long as its creators understood the tone and spirit of Star Wars.
This point is honed further in Star Wars: Visions where the reigns were given to the East, to Japan, to the culture that inspired Star Wars in the first place.
Unhindered by Western contemporary culture and politics, seven acclaimed anime studios (Kamikaze Douga, Geno Studio, Studio Colorido, TRIGGER, Kinema Citrus, Science SARU, and Production I.G) tell 9 nine unique sci-fi stories with Japanese mythology interwoven into it.
I don’t think that they are canonical to the rest of Star Wars, but each short brings to the table a new idea that I wish could be a part of the main story.
Do not expect to love all of them. Each is different enough that you might like some more than others and that is ok.
The Nine Episodes
The Duel

Star Wars Visions stars with its best foot forward. This 3D anime short is done in black and white, meant to look like a painting, and evokes the feel of an Akira Kurosawa film.
It is a masterclass in pacing and introduces the concept of an umbrella sabre, the ability to catch a lightsaber blade, and a kyber crystal collector.
I would have liked this short more if it was done with hand-drawn animation instead. I’m Just not a fan of 3D anime.
Tatooine Rhapsody
This is a story of two souls who want to escape their destiny and play music instead. One is a youngling fugitive who escaped the massacre, the other a Hutt who has no interest in being a mob boss.
I’m not a fan of the stylised, almost chibi (childish) look, but this is a fun story that revolves around music and you just don’t see that in Star Wars.
The Twins

This short is full of surprises. It disarmed my expectations when it opened with the classic Star Wars giant ship reveal, a new superweapon, and two Sith lords.
It was its design and style that won me over at first. It was this and the excellent story that let me excuse the extreme anime exposition dump.
Extra points for using some of the ideas from the Disney Star Wars Trilogy in a smart way.
The Village Bride
I could not believe how much lore and world-building they manage to cram into this 17-minute episode. And yet it still fits neatly into the Star Wars universe.
This heroic drama is set somewhere after the Clone Wars and it introduces so many new concepts with Shinto and tribal influences.
Its contemporary anime style is beautiful and the story, intriguing.
The Ninth Jedi

That title alone is titillating. But, above the story set in a world where people have forgotten how to build lightsabers, the makers of this short introduces the concept of a force-sensitive Lightsaber.
It has a contemporary Sci-Fi anime look, which is fine.
By the end of it, I was left wanting to know more.
T0-B1
This was not one of my favourites. It is a homage to Astroboy and was done in that style.
The dark theme and the deadly consequences of the action of the protagonist is a stark contrast to the hero’s curious and happy attitude and delusions.
So much so that I think the kid is a psychopath worse than the Sith.
The Elder

Speaking of crazy people, this short lulled my expectations by starting slow with a conversation between a Jedi and his padawan on the way to a planet.
The art is reminiscent of the ’90s with high detail but inconsistent quality.
That said, the story is wonderfully done and addresses the idea of balance in the force. It has an excellent Lightsaber duel as well.
Lop & Ocho
This has to be the heaviest short of the bunch. The theme is ‘balance’ and it is set in a world where feudal Japan meets Star Wars Sci-Fi via steampunk.
The duality in this short is enthralling. Themes like development versus nature, new versus old, politics versus family, are all expressed in the story. It is also very Japanese and is steeped in its traditions. But not so much that it is alienating.
Akakiri
The last short in Star Wars: Visions to me, is not star wars at all. It is so generic that almost any theme can be slapped onto it.
The production value is high, and I’m not saying that the story is bad. But if this was not a part of this anthology, I could not say it is a part of Star Wars.
Other Recommendations
Handing over Western entertainment franchises to Japanese Anime studios to make an anthology is not a new idea.
If you like Star Wars: Visions, give The Animatrix or Batman: Gotham Knight. Both are anthologies, just like Star Wars: Visions.

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New MRT Line Is Coming To Klang Valley This Year, Promises To Connect  Exchange Stations Outside KL

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MRT3, the next and final of the three planned rail lines under the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit Project by MRT Corp, has announced that it is now in the final stages of seeking approval from the government.

This MRT Circle Line is expected to form a loop line circling the perimeter of KL City and linking other metro lines as exchange stations.
This way, commuters will not need to travel though the city center to exchange to another metro line.Mohd Zarif Mohd Hashim, CEO of MRT Corp
Currently, all metro lines converge through KL City, making it unavoidable if you want to exchange a train line or if your destination is not within the city at all. This funnels traffic through KL City and makes riding our current public transportation a rather stressful affair.
With the Circle Line, MRT Corp aims to disperse commuters who do not want to cut through KL City. For example, commuters in the Sentul area would be able to travel to the Cheras area without going through KL City Center.
A few possible iterations of the MRT3 Circle Lines, but it will mainly circle around the greater KL area.(Credit: TRP)
More accessibility
A survey conducted by MRT Corp found that 60% of Malaysians were willing to walk to public transportation stations, but only around 400 meters.
As such, MRT Corp will ensure that their train stations will encourage Malaysians to take public transportation, such has having plenty of paved and covered walkways with short walking distances.
There will also be plenty of park & ride structures for commuters to leave their car and take the train into the city. That way, there will be less cars and congestion in the city itself as well.
No more parking your car on the side of the road to use the train!
A destination of its own
MRT Corp has grand plans for its Circle Line, claiming that each station wil be a destination of its own, which would allow local businesses and innovations to flourish.
What this means is that the train station won’t only be a train station– it will be a place to hangout that is super convieniently attached to a train station, with restaurants, cafes, and offices.
The idea isn’t too far-fetched, since other countries do build whole shopping centers around their train stations, such as Japan. In Japan, they are known as ekinaka— and they are big businesses in prime locations, offering everything from food stalls to bakeries to bookstores.
 For example, certain train stations like KLCC or KL Sentral are attached to shopping districts that connects seamlessly to train stations.(Credit: TRP)
When can we expect it?
The project is in its very final stages pending approval from the government, and is expected to kickoff in August 2021.
While the whole project will take 10 years to complete, it will be developed in phases which will open to the public once finished to minimize the social impact of construction.
The MRT3 Circle Line is roughly estimated to be 50km long with around 40% of it being underground. It is also expected to have around 30 stations to maximize accessibility.

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New SOP For Non-Muslim Places Of Worship

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The government has released a new standard operating procedure (SOP) for non-Muslims places of worship to allow religious activities to continue as usual during the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) period.
With mosques and suraus across the Federal Territories now permitted to operate according to a safe capacity to allow for social distancing practices to take place, the National Unity Ministry has updated its allowances of other non-Muslim institutions to do the same.
From June 15 onwards, all non-Muslim places of worship are open to the public at all times, except for those in Covid-19 red zones.
Entrance and attendance to religious places and activities are limited to one-third of each facility’s maximum capacity with social distancing and hygiene measures being mandatory, and the wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as face masks are encouraged.
Religious activities are also limited to those that follow the government SOP, of which religious processions, mass gatherings, and banquets are not allowed.
And as usual, each state government would have its own set of SOPs for their respective territories, so we recommend checking in with your community’s local churches, temples, gurdwaras, monasteries, and shrines for more details.
(Credit: National Unity Ministry)

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Mosques & Suraus In Federal Territories Allowed To Operate As Usual


Hari Raya Is CANCELLED?! Watch This Kisah Raya P.E.R.I.T To Know More

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Hari Raya Aidilfitri is a wonderful time filled with festive traditions, sweet moments with loved ones, and the opportunity to take a break from the routines of daily life.

But let’s not sugarcoat it, for some people, Hari Raya might be a sour occasion they’d rather avoid than celebrate.
This Aidilfitri, Julie’s Biscuits brings us a colorful video titled Kisah Raya P.ER.I.T which follows the sweet and sour story of Farah and her single mother, Timah. On their way balik kampung for Hari Raya, Farah tells her mom that they seem to arrive late every year, and the reasons almost always don’t make sense. Little did Farah know, the real reason behind their tardiness is something much more personal to her mom.
Hari Raya Cancelled?
(Credit: Julie’s Biscuits)
As we all (hopefully) know by now, the date for Hari Raya is determined by the appearance of the crescent moon or the anak bulan. On the 29th of each Islamic calendar month, Muslims will look to see if the crescent moon is visible in the sky after sunset.
If they can see the moon, then the new month will begin the next day, and they celebrate Hari Raya. But what if the moon phase cycle suddenly comes to a halt? And there’s no crescent moon sighting to determine when we’re gonna celebrate Hari Raya?
In Kisah Raya P.E.R.I.T, Timah goes to great lengths to make the moon ‘disappear’ and stop Hari Raya. But will her plans come to pass?
(Credit: Julie’s Biscuits)
Watch Julie’s Kisah Raya P.E.R.I.T below to find out what Farah’s mom (with help from a few accomplices) has planned for Hari Raya this year, or if they get to celebrate Hari Raya at all!

Just because we don’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not there
(Credit: Julie’s Biscuits)
The ad explores the hidden struggles single mothers face during the festive season. Hari Raya is a time for families to get together and celebrate. But for some single mothers, Hari Raya isn’t a joyous occasion at all. The loneliness, the sneers from relatives, and the inconsiderate questions from people who know better than to ask is a painful reminder of the experiences they’ve been through.
Kisah Raya P.E.R.I.T is an eye-opener to the reality of single parents everywhere. Their role is not only to be a mother or father. They take up all the mantles necessary to provide the best for their children, and most of the time their sacrifices go unnoticed. During Hari Raya, extended families only pass their judgements based on what they see on the surface and rarely take the effort to understand what these parents are going through.
Instead of picking at their wounds, Hari Raya is a time to embrace our family, regardless of who they’ve been or what they’re going through. It’s a time to share joy and spread kindness instead of harbouring bitterness. Rather than bringing up tragedies that are best left in the past, the festive season is a time to show love to the ones who need it the most.
Spread love this Hari Raya
(Credit: Julie’s Biscuits)
Some things should be forgotten, but tasty snacks are meant to be revisited!
This year, Julie’s Biscuits brings back their limited-edition Julie’s Love Letters Lemon for Hari Raya. Its refreshing, sweet, and tangy taste makes it the perfect treat for post makan-makan sesh with your friends and family during Hari Raya.
You’ll also get green packets or sampul Raya with every purchase of Julie’s Love Letters Lemon tub!
(Credit: Julie’s Biscuits)
Julie’s Love Letters tubs are great to have in the house this festive season. It’s perfect to pass around for everyone to share and have a bite. If Lemon is not up your alley, you have 3 other flavours to choose from: Strawberry, Chocolate, or Vanilla.
If you’re going to an open house this year and you don’t wanna go empty-handed, bring along a tub of Julie’s Love Letters. With a selection of flavours to choose from, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. And that’s what this season is about!
Julie’s Love Letters are available for purchase at your nearest stores or at Julie’s Biscuits official stores on Shopee and Lazada. For more information on Julie’s Biscuits Hari Raya promotions, follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
#KisahRayaPERIT #JuliesBiscuits #JuliesLoveLetters #RiangRiaRaya #RayaCaraKita

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You Can Cycle To Work, But Only Jog Around The Neighborhood

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As Malaysia continues to adapt with the total lockdowns, enforcement authorities have come out to clarify some critical standard operating procedures (SOP) concerning our nation’s cyclists and runners.

Reportedly, police have made it clear that denizens are only allowed to cycle as a means of transportation in order to work and not for leisure or exercise.
Subang Jaya Police Chief Abd Khalid Othman was quoted as saying that only the people who are caught cycling for recreation will be saman – as dictated in the Full Movement Control Order (FMCO) SOP.
(By our understanding, this means that you are only allowed to travel on a bicycle as a form of personal transportation like to go out and buy groceries and stuff, and not to exercise or for recreation).
Meanwhile, for those who think that running is a fun form of exercise, guidelines say people are only allowed to jog within the confines of their own neighbourhood.
         View this post on Instagram            A post shared by jake likes onions (@jakelikesonions)
According to Ampang Police Chief Mohamad Farouk Eshak, people who jog outside their neighbourhoods or residential areas are committing an offence under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act (Act 342) and will be punished accordingly.
Providing a useful tip, the Chief said that authorities will be asking joggers for proof of where they live if it so happens they get stopped for a spot-check.
So joggers are advised to run along with their personal identifications or at least a copy of their bills (with proof of address) as evidence that they are not breaking the rules.
Based on the official SOP released by the National Security Council (MKN) Malaysians are only allowed to either jog or perform physical exercise during the FMCO.
The guidelines says that people are only allowed to exercise between 7 am and 8 pm, and are not allowed to exercise outside of their own neighbourhoods.
Health guidelines also clarified that people must maintain a distance of between two to three meters apart and not engage in any form of physical contact.
Any other sports and recreational activities not listed in the SOP are strictly prohibited.
You can check out MKN’s ‘Negative List’ of banned activities, (HERE).

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Source:
Tiada kompaun berbasikal ke tempat kerja
Police: Jog only within your own neighbourhood or face fines for going beyond the boundary during ‘total lockdown’
[UPDATED] MKN’s Official Total Lockdown MCO SOP Effective 1 June 2021 (In English)


Free Face Masks For All Malaysians, Says Government, But With One Condition

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Face masks (and sanitisers) have become one of the rarest commodities this year as Covid-19 continues to rage across the globe.
Pharmacies seem to never have any supply and many have resorted to wearing DIY masks made with assorted pieces of cloth. But fret not, there is some good news.
The government is giving out free face masks to Malaysians!
Malay Mail reported the news following Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakobâ€™s live press conference where he announced that the government is currently in the process of distributing free face masks to Malaysians nationwide.
The government will distribute for free four face masks to each household nationwide.Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Senior Minister.
Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Senior Minister.(Credit: Bernama via Malay Mail)
This announcement follows an earlier statement by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin that the government will purchase and distribute face masks to all Malaysians for free, in a bid to mitigate the spread of the virus.
However, there is one caveat. The masks will be distributed to those who display flu-like symptoms, following the Health Ministryâ€™s (MOH) recommendations.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and MOH recommends that only those with symptoms such as coughing, sneezing and runny nose should wear a face mask. This is because surgical masks can catch respiratory droplets and prevent them from infecting others. Surgical masks are not effective in preventing an infection.
Credit: Malay Mail
The distribution
According to Ismail Sabri, the government currently has 24.2 million face masks marked for distribution.
The Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) will send the face masks to the National Security Council (MKN) in each state. This is followed by the National Disaster Management Agencyâ€™s committees to districts.
Frontline workers will then distribute the masks to those in need.
The masks will also be flown to Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan on Friday (10th March) via special charter by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM).

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Source:
Minister: Govt in process of distributing face masks to all Malaysians


TLDR: Bank Negara Just Raised OPR, How Would This Affect Us Malaysians?

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Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) today announced the increase of the overnight policy rate (OPR) by 25 basis points (bps) to 2.25%, with the ceiling and floor rates of the OPR increased to 2.5% and 2.0% respectively.

The decision was made by the central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) as Malaysia had entered the endemic phase of the Covid-19 crisis beginning 1 April, with the OPR being set at a historically low rate during the pandemic.
For the record, the OPR – the rate of interest for financial institutions that lend each other money overnight – was set at 1.75% between September 2020 till May this year.
But how does the increase in OPR affects us Malaysians?
Paying more interest on your loans
Should your bank decide to pass on the hike to consumers, it means that your monthly repayments to your bank would increase.
According to iMoney, historically, banks will raise about 20bps to 30 bps for a 25 bps hike in OPR.
This would especially affect homebuyers, as those with housing loans of RM400,000 with terms of over 30 years could see their monthly repayment increase by RM55.
While you may not feel the pinch so much, the accumulated amount of interest that you need to pay can come up to a substantial amount over a long period of the loan.
Harder to obtain loans
The simple math is that the higher the OPR is set, the higher the cost of borrowing would be.
This would mean that there will be fewer capital financing opportunities for people and businesses as banks would tighten the prerequisite requirements for both personal and businesses to secure loans.
This might hamper the growth and sustainability of small enterprises that needed capital injection into their businesses.
Not all bad
BNM’s decision to increase the OPR could help sway more investment into the country as it indicates that our economy had recovered since the pandemic.
The move could also help strengthen the Ringgit, which in turn would help reduce our cost of living and inflation.

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Beruk wanted for viciously attacking 9-year-old boy in Kelantan

Oh, how the tables have turned!

via GIPHY
A Southern pig-tailed macaque or more affectionately known to locals as a â€˜berukâ€™ is set to be detained for attacking a child.
Kelantan State Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) said that the department will be taking custody of the animal from its owner as a step towards moving with the investigation.

via GIPHY
Yesterday a 9-year-old boy was left critically injured after being violently attacked by the aforementioned beruk while he was making his way back home from attending Hari Raya open houses in Kampung Teluk Renjuna, Tumpat.
The child suffered serious wounds on both hands and feet, as
well as injuries to his privates.

The Southern pig-tailed macaque is endogenous to southern Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Males have sharp canine teeth up to 12 millimeters long and can exhibit very aggressive behavior when threatened.(Picture Credit: Lucie S. via Pixabay)

Perhilitan said that the beruk will be kept under observation to determine the cause of the primateâ€™s sudden rogue behavior and ascertain whether the owner had had proper documentation to keep the animal.
The beruk however could not be reached for commentsâ€¦

via GIPHY
Though the thought of being viciously mauled by a wild animal rarely cross the minds of us millennials habituating here in the concrete jungle, did you know that the government has a program to aid victims of wild animal attack cases?

via GIPHY
Listed under the Social Welfare Department (JKM), the Kumpulan Wang Amanah Bantuan Mangsa Serangan Binatang Buas (Wild Animal Attack Trust Fund), is a program that is meant to provide financial assistance to the victims and families of wild animal attacks. (WILD animals ONLY guys, your satanic pet kitty wonâ€™t count)
Victims can receive a maximum of RM20,000 for cases
involving death, debilitating injuries and any incidents that the department deems
appropriate, which consist of physical injuries, allergies, infections, losses
of limbs and the likes.
Here is a list of what are considers to be ‘wild animals’ according to Perhilitan and would be eligible for aid:
Land Creatures

Elephants
 Gaurs
 Wild Bore
 Bears
 Tigers
Pythons
 Venomous snakes
 Primates
 Crocodiles
 All species of wild bees and wasps
 Civets
 Flat-headed cat or jungle cats
 Monitor Lizards
Otters

Aquatic Creatures

Fresh water Stingray
Giant snake-head
Wallago catfish
Puffer-fish
An assortment of stinging catfish
Piranhas
Electric eels
Arapaimas
Sharks
Jellyfish
Stingrays
Sea snakes
Stone fish
Cone Shell
Whales

So the next time that you might be unlucky enough to be attacked a ravaging wild animal, youâ€™d know where to go for assistance.


No More Walk-In Vaccination in Klang Valley From 15 September

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As the number of unvaccinated people in the area has dropped to a small number, Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba announced that the walk-in Covid-19 vaccination facilities in the Klang Valley will cease on 15 September.

The number of people who have yet to be vaccinated in the Klang Valley is very small, and you can see this from the small number of attendees at PPVs (vaccination centres) recently.Taking this into consideration, I would like to announce that the walk-in programme in Klang Valley will be stopped from Sept 15 onwards.The Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba.
The Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister added that residents of Klang Valley who have not got their vaccination can still do so at selected health clinics starting 16 September, reported Malay Mail.
He also said that the Covid-19 Vaccination walk-in facility in other states will remain as is.
To date, 97.8% of adults in the Klang Valley are fully vaccinated.
So if you are one of the 2.2% in the Klang Valley that has not been vaccinated, better hurry to the nearest PPV that offer walk-in vaccination. Here’s the list by MKN.
If you are still on the fence about getting the vaccine, here’s some advice:

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AirAsia Group Changes Name To ‘Capital A’ To Reflect New Business Portfolio

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AirAsia Group Bhd has changed its name to Capital A to reflect its growing portfolio as an investment holding company in travel and lifestyle businesses.

Capital A chief executive officer Tony Fernandes said the announcement reinforces that the company is not just an airline company anymore.
According to Malaysiakini, the company has ventured into logistics, lifestyle and financial services.
Image: Capital A
Under the AirAsia Super App, Capital A now offers 16 products and services, providing the best value for air travel and lifestyle needs such as food, retail, ride-hailing and e-commerce.
That’s more products and services under a company than any other brand in Asean.
We are already one of the top three online travel agents (OTAs) in Asean and our super app is on track to become the leading lifestyle app in the region soon. All of our portfolio businesses are well on the way to becoming industry leaders in their respective fields across Southeast Asia, including BigPay, our aircraft engineering division Asia Digital Engineering (ADE), and logistics venture Teleport.Capital A chief executive officer Tony Fernandes
AirAsia retains its name
Image: Capital A
Fernandes added that the AirAsia airlines will retain its name, seeing that AirAsia is also one of the strongest brands in Asia.
Even though the last two years have been the most difficult and disrupted years in the history of commercial aviation, I welcome the year ahead with much greater confidence. We expect our digital and non-airline revenues to contribute around 50 percent to the group in five years.Capital A chief executive officer Tony Fernandes

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Adham Baba: Ministers’ 3-day Quarantine Part Of “Travel Bubble” For Country’s Investments

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The recent announcement that cabinet ministers will only be required to quarantine for 3 days was highly unpopular and received public backlash.

READ MORE: Cabinet Ministers’ Quarantine Period Cut Short To 3 Days, #AdhamBabaLetakJawatan Trends
Health Minister Datuk Dr Adham Baba has clarified that this 3-day quarantine only a part of what is known as a “Travel Bubble”.
Travellers at Kuala Lumpur International Airport downloading the MySejahtera mobile application before going for quarantine. (Credit: Aizat Zahar)
Bubbled in isolation
The “travel bubble” is meant for ministers who will go overseas to secure foreign investments. These ministers cannot deviate from the itenerary, so as to strictly control the exact people that they will come into contact with. Ministers will also not be allowed free reign.
Ministers wanting to travel must take four swab tests: once before they depart, once when they arrive at the host country, once before they return to Malaysia, and once when they arrive in Malaysia. Additionally, the shortened quarantine period does not mean that ministers will be immediately released after three days.
Only if the health authorities are completely certain that the minister is not a threat to the health of the community, then they will be allowed to be released from isolation. If there is even the slightest indication that they may be a carrier or suffering from symptoms, then they will be placed under further observation until the health authorities are completely satisfied before releasing them.Health Minister Datuk Dr Adham Baba to The Star
Essentially, the travel bubble for ministers is similar to the local travel bubbles employed during the MCO, such as no interstate travel and movement only within 10km of our home. It applies the same concept: a small bubble with limited people that moves around in a limited space.
Some things must go on.(Credit: Malay Mail)
It’s not about the science, it’s about the economy
Other countries and trading partners do not practice strict quarantine rules like Malaysia, says Dr Adham.
Our strict quarantine rules, such as a mandatory self-quarantine of 10 days, deters foreign investors, which spells bad news for the country’s economy. When foreign leaders don’t visit, investments don’t come.
This year’s MCO lockdown (affectionately coined MCO2.0) is costing the country RM600 million a day. Hence why minister’s foreign travel has become an urgent need to bring foreign investments back to the country.
The country’s economy is taking a huge hit.(Credit: Ahmad Zamzahuri/Malay Mail)
Dr Adham also admitted that while the 10-day quarantine was based on clinical data, the new regulation for ministers is not completely based on science.
This is not about science totally. This is about how we regulate who will go abroad. Before, I can lock the country. Now, I can open the country. I have to do something good for our nation.Datuk Dr Adham Baba to MalaysiaKini

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Source:
Adham: 3-day quarantine may be for business travellers, public next
Adham: Ministers’ fast track quarantine only for investment purposes
Ministers’ ‘travel bubble’ isn’t the first of its kind


Sabah Teen Jumps Out Of Moving Car To Escape Alleged Molester, He Tried To Rob Her Too

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A teenage girl jumped out of an e-hailing car after the driver allegedly molested and robbed her near the Kionsom waterfall in Inanam, Kota Kinabalu on Thursday, 31 March.

The 19-year-old salesgirl got into a dark blue Perodua Axia car to head to work in Menggatal around 9am.
According to The Borneo Post, the driver known only as ‘Zahir’ told the girl that he had to detour using a shortcut because the main route was jammed.

When they got near the Kionsom waterfall area, he asked the girl to sit in the front seat.
The suspect then allegedly groped the victim’s thighs. When the victim told him not to do it again, the suspect then allegedly took out a small knife from his pouch and asked her to hand over her money.Acting Kota Kinabalu police chief Superintendent George Abdul Rakman.
Fearing for her life, the brave girl jumped out of the moving car and called a friend for help. Due to her jump, she sustained injuries on her legs and was taken to a hospital for outpatient treatment.
The Star reported that she lodged a police report around 1.14pm on the same day.
Her ordeal was also shared online by a woman who’s believed to be her employer. The employer reminded the public to be careful while travelling in an e-hailing ride.

Police have launched a manhunt for the suspect. Investigations revealed that the car’s number plate was registered to another vehicle.
Anyone with information has been urged to contact investigating officer Inspector Riduan Abd Majidat at 010-514 4059 or head to the nearest police station.

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Sunway Malls Drives Commitment To United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

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Rapid developments in Malaysia have caused negative environmental side effects and damaged the ecosystem, leading to various natural disasters and poorer quality of life.

In conjunction with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDG) Global Day of Action on September 25, Sunway Malls introduced six SDG initiatives to raise awareness and combat these environmental issues.
(Credit: BuzzKini)
The six initiatives are:
Green Lease  Green ProcurementWaste ManagementSustainable OperationsCommunity BuildingUrban Farming
Developing the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework
Under these initiatives, Sunway Malls embraces and nurtures environmental, social and governance (ESG) to align with its goals of making the world a better place.
From 10 September to 2 October, Sunway Malls will be organizing the ‘Together for Good’ campaign in line with their commitment to UN-SDG.
Throughout the campaign, visitors can come together to join various activities and workshops that promote a more nature-friendly lifestyle.
Taking a holistic approach
(Credit: BuzzKini)
CEO of Sunway Malls & Theme Parks, HC Chan, announced that the shopping mall has a holistic approach by engaging its partners, employees and customers to join in Sunway Malls’ sustainability mission.
Sustainability is not only the responsibility of one but all. By making the right choices in our daily lives, we are making the right decision for a sustainable future. We envision a future for Sunway Malls that is not only green but also a model of smart sustainable development, so that the world is a better place for future generations.HC Chan, CEO of Sunway Malls & Theme Parks.
Currently, Sunway Malls have identified eight specific UN-SDGs that they can actively contribute in:
Goal 3: Good Health and Well-beingGoal 4: Quality EducationGoal 6: Clean Water and SanitationGoal 7: Affordable and Clean EnergyGoal 10: Reduced InequalitiesGoal 12: Responsible Consumption and ProductionGoal 13: Climate ChangeGoal 17: Partnership for the Goals
Green Lease and Green Procurement
Sunway Malls are the first in Malaysia to employ green leasing.
This includes adhering to Malaysia’s Green Procurement to promote sustainable production and consumption of goods and services based on green technology.
Green Lease is implemented via the 3E method: Educate, Encourage, and Enforce.
From 2023, Sunway will choose suppliers, contractors, and vendors who practice responsible sourcing and support sustainable lifestyles to be its business partners in the years to come.
Waste Management
Sunway Malls practises and supports recycling, food composting, and the use of SDG-compliant water and lighting fixtures.
Rainwater harvesting is practiced in Sunway City Kuala Lumpur. Sunway Malls has partnered with organisations like Kloth Cares that promote the use of excess fabric to create everyday items and require that 30% of all holiday decorations be made of recyclable materials.
Sunway Malls’ Food CPR effort composts 500kg of food waste every day. The malls are also working closely with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) to reduce paper wastage.
Sustainable Operations
As part of its commitment to becoming low-carbon, sustainable malls, Sunway Malls has made green buildings, renewable energy sources, emission-reduction capabilities and many others.
They have implemented a variety of strategies over the years to boost production, save costs and run more sustainably. This includes the introduction of the first Internet of Toilets system in Malaysia, the debut of a cashless and contactless Sunway Smart Parking system and the use of solar panels to produce sustainable energy.
Community Building and Urban Farming
(Credit: BuzzKini)
Sunway provided a number of facilities rent-free to conduct Covid-19 vaccinations in support of the country’s goals for herd immunity.
The Food for Thought Program, which encouraged the public to donate food items, was implemented throughout the malls to combat food scarcity. Food banks and donation drives were organised to aid the B40 flood victims.
Additionally, the autism community and their caregivers can also make use of the Autsome rooms and areas at selected Sunway malls.
The Farm, a new urban farming hub in Sunway Pyramid and its accompanying green bazaar provides shoppers with more sustainable living choices.
There is also an upcoming initiative to help the underprivileged in having better reading accessibility through the Sunway READ Library Project.
Keep an eye out for more sustainability-related initiatives spearheaded by Sunway Malls. Follow their social media platforms or visit the website to stay updated.

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A “Vaccine-Friendly” Blouse? Trendy AND Innovative

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The pandemic has birthed an interesting selection of trendy wearables to combat the virus from stylish masks and face shields to more recently – a “vaccine friendly” blouse.

The idea came after Perak native, Nadhiratul Husna Abdul Hari tweeted some pictures last Friday (4 June) of a blouse she designed for her mother to wear to her vaccination. In one of the pictures was a text from her mother explaining how she wanted a top without having to roll her sleeves.

I thought about it and decided to sew a zipper on one of the sleeves so that she can easily unzip the sleeves before getting vaccinated without having to roll her sleeves.Nadhiratul Husna Abdul Hari to the Malay Mail
Her functional fashion statement has since gone viral inspiring Nadhiratul to start her own business after people started asking her for orders.
Priority orders for those with vaccination dates near
The blouses are priced at RM65 with a booking date of at least 1 week before the date of your vaccination appointment. The design comes with 30 different colours to choose from with hidden zips on both sleeves.
According to a posting on her Instagram page, special made orders have been commissioned up to size 4XL with the option to have a zip in the front for breastfeeding mothers.
Slots are limited and priority goes to those with nearby vaccination dates.

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Food Aid Disputes Mean Malaysians In Need Go Hungry

https://www.facebook.com/myJKMHQ/posts/2936730903101686?__tn__=-Rhttps://www.facebook.com/kulasegaran/posts/3946957095314369?__tn__=-Rhttps://www.facebook.com/myJKMHQ/posts/2936434483131328?__tn__=-Rhttps://www.facebook.com/hannahyeoh/photos/a.316534444033/10158102481579034/?type=3&theater
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Reports have surfaced that a good number of Malaysians are going hungry this MCO despite promised food aid from the government.
Selayang is now under the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO), which means that no one can enter or exit the premises, not even for groceries or food delivery. Instead, the residents will need to rely on food aid to be distributed to them.
According to FMT, some residents claim that they have only been provided with a 5kg bag of rice, a 2kg bottle of cooking oil, and an 850gm packet of wheat flour on Wednesday.
While the residents were under the assumption that the aid was sent by the Department of Social Welfare (JKM) which is under the Women, Family, and Community Development Ministry, Minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun denies that the aid was sent by them.
According to her, those three items were not sent by JKM. Instead, she suggests that it was delivered by an NGO.

However, JKM director-general Zulkifli Ismail told FMT that they have been working with DBKL (Kuala Lumpur City Hall) and NGOs to provide rice, cooking oil, and flour to Selayang residents, as well as some other items later on.
Some residents mentioned that because they have run out of food, they can only make porridge with the rice provided.
This isn’t the only time food aid distributed was under scrutiny for being mismanaged. According to Malay Mail, former human resources minister M. Kulasegaran criticized the lack of assistance given to his constituents in Ipoh Barat.
He claimed that none of the 1,500 families in the lower income group were given food aid which was promised by Rina’s ministry. Instead, it was NGOs that once again stepped in, but their financial resources could only support 200 families.
Kulasegaran notes that his own team has personally absorbed costs incurred so far in their attempt to provide food aid, but they still require the financial resources and manpower which can only come from the federal government and Rina’s ministry.

Later on, Kulasegaran, who is in DAP, was informed by JKM in the Kinta district that food aid was distributed, but only to Umno, PAS, and Bersatu divisions. The rest of the district did not receive any form of aid, which is a violation of JKM’s promise to send aid to everyone regardless of racial or political segregation.
According to Malay Mail, JKM staff allegedly told Balik Pulau MP Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik from PKR that they recived “direction from the top” to follow instructions to distribute food aid to families that were not on the submitted list of families.
A letter from the Deputy Minister of Higher Education Datuk Dr Mansor Othman directs the JKM to only provide food aid to the coordinators mentioned in the attachment of the letter, which clashes with the government’s promise of equal food distribution and alluded to political favour.
According to Malaysiakini, 750 packets of food aid for the poor in Cheras have been sitting undistributed for two weeks, despite MP and DAP chairperson Tan Kok Wai having repeatedly requested for the aid to be given out.
He claims that he was denied his share and was not allowed to distribute the aid himself as he was not part of the ruling coalition. After two weeks, he is relieved that the food is still in good condition, but is frustrated that it has yet been undistributed.

The Malaysian Insight has also reported that other areas are facing questionable food aid supplies. Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzli claims that his constituency has received 250 food packs worth RM85 instead of the promised RM100.
He was told by JKM that the balance was deducted for packaging and transportation.
However, he also notes that it’s inefficient and improper to deduct the cost from the food aid itself. If RM15 was deducted from each packet of food aid, that totals up to a whopping RM3.3 million in just packaging and transportation costs alone.
Segambut MP and former Deputy Minister of the Women, Family, and Community Development Ministry Hannah Yeoh has shared a chart questioning where food aid distribution has gone, noting that almost all constituencies under opposition leaders did not receive any aid.

She has also strongly criticized Rina Harun, citing that responsibility of the issue lies with the minister-in-charge. According to Malaysiakini, Hannah Yeoh claims that political instructions from the top caused chaos for the staff in JKM who are overworked during this time.
In response, Minister Rina Harun has claimed that more than 260,000 food baskets and other forms of assistance have been channelled since the first phase of the MCO, according to Malaysiakini.
She told media that all food aid distribution were conducted via 108 Welfare Department offices throughout the country, and denied that there has been zero aid in Seremban, citing that she has personally handled the aid distribution there.
Each constituency were supposed to receive two types of food aid: 1,000 packs of food aid worth RM100 from the Department of Social Welfare (JKM) as well as 1,000 packs of food aid from the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma).
However, because both these food aid kits were not properly listed, there has been an incredible amount of confusion over which is which, prompting MPs to demand the minister-in-charge Rina Harun to be transparent about what’s inside the food aid packets as well as the disparity of distribution.

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People In The UK Are Setting Fire To Telco Masts Over Fears That 5G Causes Covid-19

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If we were worried that Malaysians had questionable beliefs about the novel coronavirus, then at least we should be thankful the conspiracy theory that 5G causes Covid-19 has not yet reached our shores.
Fake news has been a problem in Malaysia, but at most our fake news just made everyone drink more water and stay hydrated.
In the UK, a dangerous conspiracy theory linking the new roll-out of 5G wireless communications technology to Covid-19 has taken hold.
Zealous believers are setting fire to telecommunications towers and radio masts, threatening broadband engineers, and destroying mobile phone equipment.
During a pandemic, mobile communication and connectivity has never been more important. Almost everyone is relying on the internet to work from home, keep updated with news, and stay in touch with loved ones.
No internet, no life.(Credit: Freepik)
To intentionally damage telecommunications infrastructure is reckless and harmful, particularly since the conspiracy theory is absolutely baseless.
Covid-19 is spread by a novel coronavirus that attacks the human respiratory system. 5G is the fifth generation of wireless communications technologies supporting cellular data networks. The world isn’t cyberpunk enough for these two vastly distinct concepts to overlap yet.
Right now, Malaysians are doing a good job with a 99% compliance rate to the movement control order. As such, we’ve seen the rate of infection flatten out, though it does also mean we must continue with due diligence.

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Endangered pangolins added to S’wak’s totally protected species list; what you need to know

The pangolin, the small ant-eating mammal species located in Borneo is set to be upgraded as a ‘totally protected’ animal in Sarawak.
Also known as the “scaly anteater” – for its diet and physical appearance, pangolins, or Manis javanica (as they’re scientifically known) are increasingly victims of illegal wildlife crimeâ€”mainly in Asia and in growing amounts in Africaâ€”for their meat and scales.
Picture Credit : Malay Mail
It is the most frequently seized mammal in Asiaâ€™s illegal wildlife trade lately and currently facing extinction.
Previous reports point out that roughly 100,000 pangolins a year are being snatched from the wild and sent to China and Vietnam.
The animal is hunted especially among traditional medicine practitioners for its scales.

â€œThey say it has medicinal value, but I can quote an article by the World Conservation Society that says that pangolins scales are made of keratin, which is the same material as human fingernails, so in reality there is no medicinal value there, but because of tradition, people tend to go for these things.
 Sarawak Forestry Corporation Sdn Bhd Chief Executive Officer Zolkipli Mohamad Aton
The Sarawak Forestry Corporation will conduct a study to find out the current population, before submitting a proposal to the government to upgrade its category.
Primarily nocturnal animals, pangolins are easily recognised by their full armor of scales.
Because they have no teeth, pangolins pick up food with their sticky tongues, which can sometimes reach lengths greater than the animalâ€™s body.
Under threat, a startled pangolin will cover its head with its front legs, exposing its scales to any potential predator.

If touched or grabbed it will roll up completely into a ball, while the sharp scales on the tail can be used to lash out.
Fun fact, they’re also the inspiration for the PokÃ©mons Sandshrew and Sandslash who are also known for having scaly bodies.
Alola Sandshrew GIF from Alola GIFs

Who else is in the totally protected list?
There close to 50 totally protected animals in Sarawak’s Wild Life Protection Ordinance which includes :
Slow loris

Marbled cat

Rhinoceros
Fall Rhino GIF from Fall GIFs

It is a step in the right direction to conserve a species that is pushed towards extinction especially after the sun bear incident where the animal was held captive in horrid conditions.
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How Does Nicotine Gum Help Smokers Kick The Habit?

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Smoking and vaping are addictive habits plaguing many, including young adults.

Many have tried to stop this habit but failed.
However, a Twitter user known as @ZeeMalek shared about a nicotine chewing gum that has helped her brother quit smoking.
According to her, her brother is a heavy smoker who needs to have at least one stick of cigarette a day. However, after trying the Nicorette chewing gum, she said that her brother has gone for days without picking up even one stick.

https://twitter.com/ZeeeMalek/status/1675797920980037633

Many netizens who read the post also shared their experience in trying the chewing gum. One of them pointed out that it was also recommend by the Ministry of Health (MOH).
My husband pergi Klinik Berhenti Merokok KKM mmg suggest benda ni. He stopped smoking for 1 year tapi pastu patah balik to smoking 😕— Suzie Hanif 🇲🇾 (@shanaizus) July 5, 2023
Another netizen said that it is better to use the nicotine patch for heavy smokers rather than going straight for the chewing gum.
if heavy smoke, go for patch first. dont take chewing gum straight. the gum only took if you really really need to smoke. source – ex smoker— M.A.J (@muhamadiib1) July 5, 2023
Another netizen also shared his experience taking the chewing gum.
pengalaman saya makan ni time nk berhenti dulu, makan satu jika mau merokok, contoh lepas makan mesti nk isap, so mkn benda ni akan hilang rasa nk merokok, tekak akan rasa macam lepas isap rokok. niat dan usaha kene kuat nk benti ni.— aziemsky_ (@azimsaat97) July 5, 2023
Nicorette
Nicotine chewing gum helps people who want to quit smoking. It can be purchased in pharmacies.
The Nicorette brand comes in four flavours; Icy White, Fresh Mint, Original and Fruit. It also comes in two different doses which are 2mg and 4mg of nicotine.
According to the brand’s website, when trying to quit, smokers may go through cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Nicotine is released when the gum is chewed, and it enters the body through the mouth’s lining to help with these withdrawal symptoms.
As the body adjusts to not receiving its normal amount of nicotine, cravings may appear. The gum’s nicotine content helps to reduce the desire to smoke.
The dosage of the gum depends on how many cigarettes a person smokes in a day. As for the 2mg dosage, it should be taken by those who smoke 20 or less cigarettes a day. The 4mg dosage is for those who smoke over 20 cigarettes a day.
However, it is important to note than one should not consume more than 15 pieces of the chewing gum in a day.
Besides that, it is also important to know, that one can also easily get addicted to the chewing gum as it also contains nicotine, just like a cigarette.
According to WebMd, the marketers of Nicorette, GlaxoSmithKline, suggests that users discontinue using the gum after 12 weeks and speak with a doctor if they “still feel the need” to take it.
To stop an addictive habit, the main thing is discipline and will power. Although these alternatives are helpful, ultimately it boils down to the individual’s will power in dropping the habit.
Immersing in a healthy routine such as following a healthy diet, exercising and maintaining a proper discipline also helps with getting rid of such habits.
Thus, no matter what alternatives are employed, it is each person’s own effort and hard work that determine their ability to fully kick a bad habit.

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Students Call Tuition Teachers ‘Daddy’ And Made Fangirl Videos, Netizens Repulsed

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A video recently courted controversy when it went viral. The video showed a group of tutors from the popular tuition centre MC Plus being treated like Kpop idols.

Even one of the students could be seen jumping up and down excitedly as if she just caught a glimpse of her Kpop idol.
Videos showing the students welcoming the tutors like celebrities can be easily found in Tiktok under the hashtag #megatourmcplus
Dh mcm bts nyah 💀 pic.twitter.com/MRmFA3Gios— Selenophile 🌑✨ (@khaaaairyh) December 8, 2021
But that’s not even the weirdest thing. What’s strange and uncomfortable is that the students actually call some of the tutors ‘abah’ or ‘daddy.’
In contemporary terms, ‘daddy’ has sexual connotations. It’s usually used by a younger girl to address an older guy that they have a sexual interest in or sexual relations with.
Is it an innocent term?
When criticisms started trickling in, some MC Plus students defended the term and claimed that those who disagreed with them were sexualising an innocent term.
yeah people over sexualised the word daddy and it’s an issues but when these minors are using it we know they’re using it in what context…— M⁷ 🏴 (@marisamusa_) December 8, 2021
A few netizens pointed out that people are able to differentiate when the term is used in a sexual or non-sexual context.
They pointed how some students made a video edit of marrying their tutors too, implying that the term ‘abah’ or ‘daddy’ weren’t used in an innocent way at all.
im muting this tweet,y’all can stay mad but what he joke about is unprofessional and u students need to stop with the edits marrying them. Such a weirdo who tf do thirst edit iver their teachers.— machi ; (@MASYlTAH) December 9, 2021
At this point I think mc plus teachers should address this issue , students making edit about kahwin cikgu, simping calling them daddy..minors plk tu kinda weird also would lead the students into thinking it’s okay to sexualized their teacherss— PotatoSayLawan 🏴 stressed out (@potatogirlie_) December 8, 2021
it depends on the context, if you’re trying to form a family enviroment and want your students to be comfortable then it’s fine but these students going “a-abah oops abah” are clearly using it in a non-family way. at that, these teachers are condoning that behaviour too— 🏹 (@pearlybin) December 8, 2021
Another netizen said the adults are supposed to be their teachers and not parents or friends.
That said, it’s not unheard of for some students to have a crush on their teachers but using calling their teachers ‘abah’ and ‘daddy’ definitely raises some eyebrows and it’s concerning.
Response from MC Plus
MC Plus has acknowledged the issue raised and said an investigation is underway. An official statement will be released soon too.
Hi everyone. Thank you for raising concern regarding one of our tutor. Our team takes the issue seriously and investigation is underway. We will be releasing official statement and taking appropriate action very soon. Rest assured, we always put the well-being of our students 1st— mcplus_my (@mcplus_my) December 8, 2021
One of the tutors in question, Uzairi Taib, also issued an apology on his personal Twitter account.
He acknowledged that as an educator, he has to adhere to the code of ethics and apologized for his negligence.
He also announced his resignation to spare his colleagues from further harassment and to take full responsibility for the matter.
we are supposed to be educators, but it seems this time around i am the one who have something to learn.it has been brought to my attention that the video has raised major concern amongst the public. i apologize for the disturbance caused by the video.— Uzairi Taib (@uzairitaib) December 8, 2021
Some of the netizens, believed to be mostly MC Plus students, were sad to see him go.
A few asked him to stay and said he only needed to apologize.

Official statement from MC Plus
Based on an official statement made by MC Plus on Instagram Story, Cikgu Uzairi will be taking a month’s break from 9 December until 9 January 2022.
All of his classes and seminars will be taken over by the other tutors. MC Plus added that a new timetable will be released soon.
Image: MC Plus’s Instagram Story

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[Watch] NGO Explains How Malaysian Women Are Being Discriminated & Ignored By Doctors

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The All Women’s Action Society (AWAM) shared a video explaining how women are discriminated against in the health and medical industry due to outdated and sexist beliefs.

The Health Ministry (KKM) encourages all women, especially those who are sexually active, to take the pap smear test.
“Sebab dara pun boleh kena diskriminasi ke? Yeye je..” yes! It happens to so many Malaysian women! “Dara” and “suami” should not stop medical practitioners from prioritising patients! pic.twitter.com/SxoYVBnWum— All Women’s Action Society (AWAM) (@AWAMMalaysia) December 13, 2021
A pap smear test is important because it helps to check for cervical cancer.
The screening test is done by inserting a small brush to gently swab for cells from the surface of the cervix and the area around it.
How a pap smear is performed. Image: cancer.gov
However, AWAM claims that most doctors or nurses won’t perform this important test on women who are seen as virgins or who have not had sex or are not married yet.
This is because many people in Malaysia still believe in the outdated idea that the hymen must be protected to protect virginity.
The second example of how women are discriminated against is when it comes to making a decision to sterilise themselves.
It’s claimed that if a woman wants to undergo the sterilisation procedure, they have to ask for signed permission from their husband although the body belongs to the woman and not the man.
However, if a man goes through a similar procedure, they don’t need anyone’s permission, even from their wife.
If the woman insists on going through the procedure, they’ll be hounded by questions from others such as ‘What if your husband wants a child?’ or assuming the woman will regret her choice later.
This shows that women’s health and needs are not important and always secondary to what society needs from them.
The bottom line is preventing women from going through these important health procedures based on these false beliefs are against medical ethics and it’ll harm all women.
A netizen pointed how some doctors refuse to do a vaginal swab although they complained about abnormal vaginal discharge just because they aren’t married.
They only managed to get it checked after going to a private clinic.
Not to mention how they don’t even bother to take a look or do a swab when you complain about your abnormal vaginal discharge just bcs you’re not married. RIP all the school girls with yeast infection.— Ilyanie (@illiots_) December 14, 2021
Another netizen shared the treatment she received when she went for a family planning consultation.
Luckily, she found a doctor who understood and helped her.
Tapi nasib baik jumpa the right doctor. She was surprised but she didnt lecture me. Instead dia cakap bagus awak buat mcm ni. Ni first time saya jumpa kes camni haha selalunya yg dtg jumpa saya nangis nangis taknak baby tapi dah pregnant— Rabiatul. (@rabiatul_h) December 14, 2021
Does the hymen really prove virginity?
The truth is, virginity is a social construct and that means it’s an idea created by society.
It simply does not exist and to continue to uphold that belief is damaging to both genders.
The idea of a woman’s purity is also an idea made to police women’s bodies. People do not lose anything when they have sex or after sex.
An ‘intact’ hymen proving virginity is another myth and social construct that’s often used to discriminate women.
There’s no way of telling if a woman is a virgin just by looking at the genitals and the hymen.
This is because different women have different hymens. According to the Center for Young Women’s Health, the hymen only ‘breaks’ if there’s a serious injury and it stretches during sex.
Hopefully, these old and harmful beliefs will be put to rest so all women’s health can be prioritised properly.

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Perak Man Arrested After Fatal Brawl Over Stolen Fertilizer, Tests Positive For Meth Use

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The police detained a 40-year-old male on Monday after a fight between two men over a fertiliser theft case resulted in the death of one of them in Bagan Tiang, Tanjung Piandang, Perak. He was caught at a neighbouring residence at around six o’clock in the evening, according to Perak Police Chief Datuk Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri.

The suspect was arrested at his home, which is just 100 metres away from the scene. Following preliminary interrogation of the suspect, it was discovered that the suspect admitted to fight with the victim at the scene when riding his bicycle to his friend’s house.
It is said that when he arrived at the scene, the victim stopped the suspect in the middle of the road and continued to grab his shirt and punch the suspect, but the suspect managed to dodge and hit him slightly on the cheek.
The suspect then retaliated by punching the victim on the nose and there was a fight between them until they both fell into a nearby drain.Statement is attributed to Perak police chief Datuk Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri.
According to him, after coming ashore, several passing villagers broke up the fight, and the suspect returned to his house. However, he stated that, according to witnesses, the man was alleged to have collapsed unconscious beside his motorcycle.
According to Mohd Yusri, the altercation allegedly started after the victim accused the suspect of stealing his fertiliser.
He mentioned that the Forensic Team from IPK Perak has collected the evidence from the crime scene and the suspect was also found positive for methamphetamine.
A background check found that the suspect had a history of drug-related offences.
The arrest will be remanded tomorrow at the Parit Buntar Magistrate’s Court, Perak.
Section 302 of the Penal Code is being used to examine the situation.

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Police Probing Genting Highlands’ Child Kidnapping Attempt Claims Made Viral On TikTok

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The men in blue are investigating a child kidnapping attempt by foreigners at Skytropolis Indoor Theme Park in Genting Highlands following a claim made by a TikTok user.

According to Bentong police chief Superintendent Zaiham Mohd Kahar, the theme park’s security had lodged a report at about 8.16pm yesterday regarding the viral video.
“The Bentong Police also confirmed that there has been no report lodged by the involved parties yet,” Zaiham said in a statement.
Zaiham said that the TikTok user’s statement will be recorded to assist the investigation.
He also pleaded with the public not to speculate on the claim and allow for the police to investigate the incident thoroughly.
Yesterday, a TikTok user @alfitry_azmi52 urged the public to be wary of a child kidnapping syndicate at the Skytropolis Indoor Theme Park in Genting Highlands.
According to the man, one of his employee’s children had almost become a kidnap victim by a Pakistani and an Indonesian woman.
The 1-minute and 20 seconds video had since gone viral over social media.
  @alfitry_azmi52 Hati-hati yang mana bawa anak, semalam kat Genting, almost jadi kes besar. #sindiket #culikanak #genting@Maz 🌻 ♬ original sound  – alfitryazmi52
The man claimed that the child’s mother was surrounded by several individuals who tried to snatch the child away from her when the boy’s father was on a roller-coaster ride with his friends.
In the comments section, several people suggested that the perpetrators are the same individuals that had previously gone viral over social media begging for money after claiming they had lost their wallet and purse.

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Student Only Given Rice And Gravy During Mealtime, Netizens Say It’s A Sadistic Move

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A post recently went viral after it showed a picture of rice with only ‘kuah’ (gravy) that was served to underprivileged students under the additional food programme (RMT).

There were no side dishes such as meat other than a small carrot stick on the pack of rice.

The person who posted the picture described it as a sadistic move to feed school children with little to no food.
She also questioned whether the canteen management was really given such a tiny budget.
While the dreary picture shocked some people, a few netizens pointed out that it’s a norm in schools outside the city.
They advised the Education Ministry to conduct a surprise or unscheduled spot check in schools to prevent situations like these from arising.

Another person shared that it’s the reason why they relied on the parent-teacher association (PIBG) to cook food for the students.
This is because only relying on the budget is not enough.

Netizens also pointed out that there’s a possibility that the child has eaten all the side dishes so it’s best to give a benefit of the doubt.
Another netizen chimed in to say the child, like most children, was probably way more interested to eat the chicken that came with the dish than the rice.

It caught the Education Minister’s attention
The picture understandably drew ire from many people online and it has caught the attention of Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin too.
Radzi addressed the issue in a Facebook post and said an investigation will be carried out.
He reiterated that the Education Ministry (KPM) did not compromise when it comes to looking after students’ welfare.

In September 2021, former education minister Dr Maszlee Malik suggested that the free breakfast programme should be reintroduced in schools nationwide.
However, the free breakfast programme that was introduced during Maszlee’s tenure was discontinued in November 2021.
Instead, KPM decided to carry on with the additional food programme (RMT) with some improvements along with the school milk programme for B40 students.
READ MORE: Starve Poor Kids? Edu Ministry Cancelling Free Breakfast For All Students

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First Ever Nickelodeon-Themed Carnival In Malaysia

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Nickelodeon has always had a special place in the hearts of many with shows such as SpongeBob SquarePants, Avatar the Last Airbender, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Dora the Explorer.

With such memories, the World of Nickelodeon, an engaging carnival is coming to Malaysia.
The first ever Nickelodeon-themed carnival will be featuring its popular and iconic characters such as SpongeBob.

This carnival is the perfect place for families to bring their kids and have some fun time together with 17 interesting stations and tonnes of photo opportunities set up over 14,000 square feet.
Moreover, there are plenty of games and activities lined up for all.
So when is it happening? The carnival will take place daily from 28 April until 23 July 2023 at Pavilion Bukit Jalil, from 10am to 9.40pm.
What’s in store? Throw 100 balls for a fin-tastic score at the Bubble Guppies’ Fisketball, embark on a SpongeBob Jellyfish Hunt or assist the PAW Patrol Firefighter’s Rescue.

Besides that, one can take on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Vertical Challenge and have the most fun ever at the Dora Jungle Jump-a-thon.
If anyone ever gets tired of playing all this fun and engaging games, they can take some rest and recharge at the unique Slim Lounge before continuing their journey.

Nickelodeon has been around for 44 years and it has always prioritised children in everything it does.
Nickelodeon has developed a varied, international business. The brand encompasses both domestic and international television production and programming, as well as consumer goods, digital, location-based experiences, publishing, and feature films.
Tickets for the carnival start at RM16.
Bring your children and family for a memorable and fun day with them.

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Bank Negara: Don’t Worry, Financial Aid Will Be Available Up To 2021

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Repayment assistance is available for borrowers who are affected by the pandemic throughout 2020 and into 2021, said Bank Negara.

According to a statement released by the central bank, depending on their circumstances, borrowers who are facing financial difficulties generally opted for reductions in monthly repayment instalments or an extension of the moratorium.
Borrowers who declined repayment assistance for now would still be able to apply for targeted assistance throughout 2020 and into 2021 if their financial circumstances change in the future.Bank Negara Malaysia
Picture Credit: Malay Mail
Many have applied for assistance
The bank said that assistance continues to be offered to borrowers across a range of income groups, with special consideration given to households from the B40 category, micro businesses as well as borrowers affected by movement restrictions.
More than 640,000 applications for repayment assistance have been received, with an approval rate of around 98%. The types of packages offered by banks reflect the financial needs and circumstances of the borrowers.Bank Negara Malaysia
READ MORE: BPN 2.0 – Who Can Get, How Much & When Will The Money Arrive?
Below are the stats:

40% were granted an extension of the moratorium which BNM said consists mainly of individuals who have been recently made unemployed, as well as businesses in sectors that may still be experiencing significant operating constraints caused by the pandemic.
The bank also noted that 60% received a reduction in instalments and borrowers who have requested a reduction in instalments include those in the B40 group.
These instalment reductions put individuals and SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) on a path to start paying down their loans, at levels which they are comfortable with.Bank Negara Malaysia
Among individuals who requested repayment assistance to date, BNM said, about 50% have a monthly income of RM5,000 or less while 28% are those with a monthly income between RM5,000 to RM10,000.
Borrowers in other segments who need assistance are also being supported, including those who earn variable incomes, and those employed in sectors that have been hardest hit such as the tourism sector.Bank Negara Malaysia
Picture Credit: Malay Mail
Banking on a targeted approach
To extend relief measures more sustainably, BNM said a targeted approach will be used.
It noted that many borrowers can and have started to resume repayments but if their financial circumstances change down the road, the bank assured, targeted repayment assistance would still be available.
Borrowers who require assistance at this time have the opportunity to customise their repayment plans based on what they can afford. If their circumstances are further challenged in the future, they would have more recent repayment records to facilitate further assistance by banks.Bank Negara Malaysia
By doing this, BNM said, the banking system’s financial resources can be prioritised to help those most affected by COVID-19.
As more borrowers who can afford to repay do so, more assistance can be made available to borrowers that need it.Bank Negara Malaysia

CMCO or EMCO, it’s still business as usual
BNM urges affected borrowers to come forward to apply for repayment assistance with their banks through the various channels available.
It said that banks are required to respond to applications for targeted repayment assistance within 5 days for individual borrowers and within 14 days for SME borrowers.
Banks will still continue to operate even in Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) or Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) areas and those unable to go to the bank due to movement restrictions can contact their banks instead via website, phone or email.
Those who haven’t received a response from their banks can contact BNMTELELINK.

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“I Don’t Know This Person” Alleycats’ David Arumugam Denies Knowing Controversial Crackhouse Couple

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Alleycats founder Datuk David Arumugam had filed a police report after learning that his band had been associated with Alexander Navin Vijayachandran and Siti Nuramira Abdullah, better known as Alex and Amy.

According to The Vibes, Arumugam denied knowing the couple, who reportedly planned to invite the band to perform in a proposed sex-related event at a music venue Merdekarya in Petaling Jaya.
“I am unaware of this plan (for the event). I don’t know this person (Alexander) as I have never spoken to him. I have filed a report on the matter.
“I am very surprised and disappointed that my group (Alleycats) has been named (in this ordeal),” Arumugam was quoted as saying.
He said that he was alerted by the couple dropping his band’s name when his friends sent him various media clips on the matter.
Alex and Amy had previously courted controversy after the latter’s performance at the Crackhouse Comedy Club, which was recorded on video showing her removing her headscarf and clothing, revealing her skimpy tight top and miniskirt which she wore underneath.
Prior to removing her clothes, Amy introduced herself as a Muslim who has memories 15 chapters of the Quran.
The 53-second video had since gone viral on social media which caused a stir among netizens and led to the call for Crackhouse Comedy Club to be shut down.
The club had since been ordered to be temporarily shut down after the authorities found that it has been operating without an entertainment license.
In support of Crackhouse, Merdekarya shed some light on the couple’s behaviour via a lengthy Twitter thread, where their plans to organise a sex-related event which purportedly include a performance by Alleycats was revealed to the public.
READ MORE: Merdekarya Sheds Light On ‘Comedian’ Couple Who Insulted Islam During Crackhouse’s Open Mic Session
Merdekarya however rejected the proposal, which allegedly angered Alex and Amy.
Amy yesterday, at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court, pleaded not guilty to the charge of Insulting Islam during an open mic comedy skit at the Crackhouse Comedy Club in Taman Tun Dr Ismail.
The charge was made under Section 298A(1)(a) of the Penal Code, which relates to deliberately causing disunity, ill will, or hatred on the grounds of religion.
She faces a two to five-year jail sentence if convicted.
Alex meanwhile was charged at the Petaling Jaya sessions court with two charges under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, for improper use of network facilities by making and initiating the transmission of offensive videos.
The section covers the misuse of communications networks and carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail or a fine of up to RM50,000.

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Massive 110 Containers Of Toxic Waste Found At Johor Port

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The largest shipment of toxic waste was transiting through Malaysia when 110 containers were discovered to contain electric arc furnace (EAF) residue, which is hazardous if improperly handled.
What you need to know: The shipment was falsely declared as concentrated zinc, but the true content turned out to be EAF dust residue. The containers originated from Romania with a final destination at Indonesia, though it lay unclaimed at Malaysia’s Port Tanjung Pelepas in early June. The shipment of 1,864 tonnes of EAF dust were then found and the Department of Environment (DOE) was notified.
EAF residue is classified as a toxic substance under the Basel Convention and as a scheduled waste under the Environment Quality Regulations (Scheduled Waste) 2006.
Who said what: Environment and Water Minister Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said that Malaysia has never given any approval or received any notification for the item to transit through the country. The DOE has already notified its Romanian counterpart as well as Interpol.
Why it matters: This isn’t the first time that illegal trash has made its way onto Malaysian shores. The first six months of 2020 saw 28 illegal waste imports at the ports around the country. Last year also saw illegally smuggled trash at Port Klang, which was sent back to their respective countries.

Read more:Massive haul of toxic waste [The Star]110 containers of toxic waste discovered at Tg Pelepas Port [NST]

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Police Rule Out Contractor & Workmen As Suspects In Zalina Azman’s Disappearance

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Police had confirmed that the contractor and his two workers have nothing to do with the disappearance of former TV3 newscaster Zalina Shaharah Azman, reported Utusan Malaysia.

Shah Alam OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Iqbal said the police had taken 20 statements last week before ruling them out as a person of interest.
The three of them began working on the renovation work on Zalina’s bungalow in Section 3, Shah Alam last year after the media personnel agreed to pay for the work in stages.
“The renovation work is done 60%, with 40% work is yet to be completed as the original quotation was RM320,000 for the renovation work.
“She first paid a sum of RM165,000 followed with RM75,000, which leaves a balance of RM60,000 to be paid,” Mohd Iqbal was quoted by Utusan Malaysia.
He said that the last payment that Zalina made was RM20,000 which was paid in August 2021 before she asked for the renovation work to be stopped as she told the contractor that she had run out of cash.
Mohd Iqbal also said that the police had gone over Zalina’s house three times searching for leads, including seizing her documents as well as her laptop to assist in its investigation.
He also added that a K-9 unit tracker dog also failed to detect Zalina’s scent around her house when it was brought over there to try and track her down.

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290 Areas To Be Affected In Selangor By Water Works Starting 14 July

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290 areas in Petaling Jaya, Klang, Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, and Kuala Langat will experience a temporary water supply disruption starting 14 July.
What you need to know: Air Selangor has announced that the Sungai Selangor Phase 3 Water Treatment Plant (SSP3 WTP) will be temporarily shut down for critical replacement and improvement works.
Who said what: Air Selangor advises everyone to make initial preparations to have enough water stored for daily use during this time.
The full list of affected areas are as listed below:

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These M’sian-made Raya batik swiss rolls are so beautiful theyâ€™re viral!

In this social media day and age, having the tastiest food just doesn’t cut it anymore.
Now, your food has to be Instagrammable as well! Which is why when we saw these beautiful batik swiss rolls a Malaysian has been making as Raya gifts, our first thought was: we need some of those!

Keem Ooi is a full-time piano and vocal teacher who likes to bake in her free time.
She regularly shares her work on Facebook and recently posted some photos of batik themed swiss rolls she made as gifts for her friends who were celebrating Raya.

We caught up with her to ask her a little bit more about her cakes.
Keem Ooi told us that she started baking at a young age with her mother. Her mother taught her all the basic skills she needed to bake.

 View this post on Instagram

 For having the biggest and most beautiful heart and for loving me unconditionally everyday. You’ve always been the best Mom, my Piano teacher, my Art teacher, Culinary and Vocal teacher!! You deserve nothing less…. I love you 🌹💕 Happy Teachers day Mommy 💕🌹💕🌹 . . . #happyteachersday #pianoteacher #artteacher #vocalteacher #culinaryteacher #love
A post shared by  Keem Ooi 🇲🇾 (@keempossible) on May 15, 2019 at 9:56pm PDT

Then, three years ago Keem joined a FB Baking group as a hobby. She regularly took part in bake-along competitions the group would organise.
These bake-alongs were often themed and participants would submit their delicious entries to the competition.

 View this post on Instagram

 Mount Fuji roll cake!! 🗻⛩🇯🇵🌸🍂🌸🍂🌸🍂🌸 . . . . . #freehandart #foodartist #japaneseart #japandesert #japan #japansweets #japaneserollcake #sakura #cherryblossom #cupcakeproject #buzzlightyear #buzzfeed #buzzfeedfood #prettybakes #foodphotograph #passionbaker #passion #
A post shared by  Keem Ooi 🇲🇾 (@keempossible) on Apr 3, 2019 at 7:04pm PDT

This levelled up her baking skills, massively. As you can see.

 View this post on Instagram

 Hi everyone we are Easter Chicks🐥☘🐣☘🐥☘🐣 Are we cute? Hope we made your day haha ❤❤❤ . . . #easterbakes #easterchick #spongecake #softcake #cupcakeproject #buzzfeed #buzzfeedfood #instafamous #instabake #instabaker #foodphotographyprops #foodartist #foodcraft #prettybakes #passionbaker #homebaking
A post shared by  Keem Ooi 🇲🇾 (@keempossible) on Apr 5, 2019 at 10:26pm PDT

In case you were wondering, Keem is also an artist and actually, hand draws the batik on the cakes.
Her process starts by piping the outlines of the pattern and then chilling it in the fridge while she prepares the main sponge batter. She then pours the batter over the chilled pattern and bakes the cake. After the cake is baked, she spreads on the cream and rolls it into a swiss roll. Each cake takes about 2 hours to make.

 View this post on Instagram

 Test bake this Batik Roll cake for my Muslim friends who’s celebrating Hari Raya soon. I messed up the motifs a little haha but glad it turned out quite good. Will be trying more design soon 😄👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 Thank you @moucup.patisserie for the inspiration ❤ . . . #batikrollcake #naturalcolouring #selamathariraya #rayagift #spongecake #rollcake #pumpkinpowder #matchapowder #taroyampowder #buzzfood #buzzfeed #cupcakeproject #instafood #instabake #instafamous #instabaker #foodphotograph #foodcraft #foodphotography #foodstagrams #alejandroarandafan @scarypoolparty #prettybakes #passionbaker #foodcraft
A post shared by  Keem Ooi 🇲🇾 (@keempossible) on May 28, 2019 at 7:02pm PDT

We bet youâ€™re super excited to order your own beautiful batik swiss roll from Keem now right? Sadly, she doesnâ€™t sell them.

via GIPHY
Since they take several hours to craft and bake, she doesnâ€™t have the time to make them and sell them as a full-time piano and vocal teacher. She only has time to bake at night after her classes. Sad kan?!
However, Keem did say she is considering teaching people how to make these cakes since theyâ€™re becoming so popular! So if youâ€™re really interested, you can sign up for her class once it starts!

 View this post on Instagram

 I’ve always been an unconditional fan of pretty bakes..it was totally love at first sight when I saw @eugeniema did this mille crepe cake with a hidden rainbow heart… That was 4 years ago…I never dreamed that I would make it one day and now I DID IT !! 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💃💃💃 Thank you so much @eugeniema for inspiring me❤❤ Check out her awesome YouTube channel Eugenie Kitchen . . . #homemadelovers #hlfunbake117 #hlcrepe @homemadeloversss @doroteatirta #crepecake #homemade #homebaking #naturalcolouring #instafood #instabake #foodphotograph #foodphotography #buzzfeed #buzzfeedfood #cupcakeproject #prettybakes #millecrepes
A post shared by  Keem Ooi 🇲🇾 (@keempossible) on Mar 22, 2019 at 7:56pm PDT

In the meantime, you can scroll through her Instagram for more yummy and beautiful pastries!


Mâ€™sians united by 8tv touching love story between mother and daughter

All over Twitterjaya is a short trailer; Back To You, a telefilm scheduled to air on 8tv this Merdeka Day.

(Pic Credit: YouTube)

Back To You revolves around a mother, Xiu Min, who had to give one of her twins away due to financial constraints and her husbandâ€™s insistence.

 (Pic Credit: YouTube)

28 years later, Xiu Minâ€™s son (the other twin) looks for his twin sister.
Eventually, he finds his sister, Sofia, who was brought up culturally and religiously different from their family.

  (Pic Credit: YouTube)

Xiu Min, although shocked by her daughterâ€™s appearance and inability to speak Mandarin, becomes determined to learn Bahasa Malaysia in order to connect with her estranged daughter.
This story sets heavily around the endless love of a mother transcending cultures and religion.

 (Pic Credit: YouTube)

The 2-minute trailer currently has nearly 20,000 retweets and 16,600 likes within 24 hours, the Twitterverse is definitely emotional.

finally, something i actually want to watch
â€” lilith (@wanibasrii) August 22, 2019

 pic.twitter.com/wAfKZNC9GJ
â€” Break up with ur gf, I’m bored (@AnumzLuna) August 23, 2019

Many Malaysians hope that other local directors will also follow suit in creating more movies like this.

Hopefully more directors… producers, content mcm ni, yg lebih dekat dengan masyarakat kita. Skang bnyk isi seperti bom jangka menunggu waktu. Hopefully this kind of telemovie will reminds us how unique we are as Malaysian.
â€” Mohd Noh Hafifie M. (@Nohbigbang) August 23, 2019

Hopefully more directors…producers, content like this,  which are closer to our community. Most movies are like ticking time bombs. Hopefully this kind of telemovie will reminds us how unique we are as Malaysian

Movie Night GIF from Movienight GIFs

While some Malaysians shared their intercultural family stories too.

we have the same story 🙌🏻 but we donâ€™t know who it is what their name or her siblings. just know she (my late grandma) from chinese family 🙂
â€” ✈ (@whomaii) August 22, 2019

@RezElefun: This is the same story as the my late grandmother. She was given to a Malay family for adaption. My late grandmother had 13 siblings, but she was the onyl one that was given away to a Malay family.

I remember my grandmother’s face, her Chinese look, tapi cakap Nogori pekat. She was also brought up in a Malay family. I always assume that’s where my genes came from.
â€” Iffy (@crazynified) August 22, 2019

Back To You has now even sparked curiosity among Twitter users who are inspired to find their biological family as well.

My mom also was given to malay people. Until now my mom x thu siapa family Chinese. I hope i can me my uncle, grandmother and the whole family. Last jumpa, kampung Paya Bunga, Kuala Terangganu, 1964.
â€” Ben Amin (@amirulaminz1996) August 22, 2019

Goofy Looking For GIF from Goofy GIFs

Watch the whole trailer here:

So mark your calendars and get a box of tissues ready this Merdeka Day at 8.30pm!

(Pic Credit: XTRA)