Underfunding Is Killing Malaysia’s Public Healthcare System

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Malaysia’s public healthcare system is critically ill.

In March 2022, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin admitted in Parliament that the nation’s public healthcare system is chronically underfunded — which is no real surprise…
Between the sudden influx of patients needing care during the peak of the pandemic, economic slowdowns and calls for reforms from civil service doctors and medical workers who feel that they are overworked and underpaid — the public saw first-hand how the nation’s healthcare system is struggling under the enormous weight of underinvestment.
Read More: Malaysian Doctors Protest Despite Being Warned Not To
In his address, Khairy confessed that compared to other middle-income countries that spend upwards of 4% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on healthcare, Malaysia was only spending about 2.6% of ours in 2020.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other experts suggest that nations should be spending between 5% to 8% of their GDP on public healthcare.
(Credit: Shafwan Zaidon via Malay Mail)
Referencing the 2018 Auditor-General’s report, the Minister acknowledged that this underinvestment caused “insufficiencies” within government health facilities including clinics and hospitals:
Weaknesses within the emergency and trauma (A&E) departmentsStaff shortages due to high patient trafficInsufficient fundingInadequate medical equipment
The government wants to address these problems with more financial allocation and reforms to our public healthcare system, but no clear plans have been put forward yet.
Read More: Our Healthcare System Is Critically Underfunded & Needs Improvement, Health Minister Revealed
Call for reforms
In 2019, Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah exclaimed that our public healthcare system was underfunded, understaffed with underpaid, overworked and overstretched employees, and facilities that are overcrowded with patients.
We are currently underfunded, understaffed, underpaid, overworked, overstretched and with facilities overcrowded with patients.— Noor Hisham Abdullah (@DGHisham) July 17, 2019
He asserted the statement again in 2020, saying that our public healthcare expenditure was too low and that “we have been underfunded for years”.
The same was mentioned by WHO Science Council member Prof Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman who highlighted the importance of investing in healthcare as Malaysia struggles to deal with both non-communicable diseases and communicable diseases like Covid-19.
The collision of a high burden of non-communicable diseases, particularly obesity and diabetes, hypertension and end-stage renal failure, with a highly infectious disease, unfortunately, triggered the hyper inflammation that led to severe diseases.WHO Science Council member Prof Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman via CodeBlue
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Faculty of Medicine Professor Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh elaborated that our public health system carries a “double burden” and needs to be improved.
This is because our burdens are not only communicable diseases due to Covid, we have a double burden, a huge amount of problems with non-communicable diseases as well. We have a high number of people with diabetes, hypertension, stroke, heart problems and so on, so we need to tackle this in a holistic manner.UKM Faculty of Medicine Professor Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh via BFM
In an interview with BFM, she explained that Malaysia’s public healthcare system can be divided into two categories: the primary healthcare system such as clinics, and hospitals where patients are being admitted.
Dr Sharifa said that although our primary care systems are well set up, they can still be improved in order to cater to issues relating to mental health and lifestyle diseases resulting from bad habits like smoking, drinking, unhealthy diets and the lack of physical activity.
She also specified that improvements can be made to how Malaysia acquires drugs and medicine.
If we talk about drug spending, most of the drug funding in Malaysia comes from government purchases. An example would be oncology drugs, they are very expensive and we need to purchase this because a huge number of our patients suffer from cancer, they need treatment.UKM Faculty of Medicine Professor Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh via BFM
Gopeng Member of Parliament and former Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye justified that in order to fix problems in our public healthcare system and make it future proof, we must:
Determine the source of financial funding  — either from general taxation or other alternative sources.Improve the quality of healthcare delivery and services.Make healthcare affordable.Make healthcare services accessible — especially for marginalised groups and those in rural areas.
During the same interview with BFM, he added that with Malaysia’s ageing population, there is an increased demand for healthcare services, especially in cases of non-communicable diseases.
He asserted that the country needs to strengthen our:
Geriatric care or elderly care facilities such as old folks’ homesAmbulatory care or outpatient care where patients receive treatment at home.
 Inequalities on the ground
(Credit: The Star)
In an opinion piece published by Malaysiakini, author and former journalist Christine YP revealed that there exists a clear gap between rich and poor in terms of getting healthcare services here in the country.
She explained that there’s a lack of access to new treatments and therapies for people in the low-income bracket — especially when it comes to non-communicable diseases like cancer.
The treatment gap between the T20 and B40 is real. Cancer Research Malaysia reported that while high-income breast cancer patients in Malaysia have a survival rate of over 90%, low-income patients have a less than 65% chance of surviving the disease.Christine YP via Malaysiakini
Although this is disheartening, Christine says that there’s definitely room for improvements to make universal healthcare available for all.
Inequality exists in every fabric of society and while our coffers may not be able to provide state-of-the-art treatment for all, there is potential to strategically plan, purchase and implement science-backed targeted therapies for the most common cancers to narrow the treatment gap.Christine YP via Malaysiakini
She suggested that the country could do more to bring advanced, lifesaving medicine to all quarters of the population.
If targeted therapies for breast cancer can be introduced to suburban and rural hospitals in the country, the overall survival for cancer patients can be prolonged. The European Society for Medical Oncology 2021 congress highlighted that targeted therapies for breast cancer such as Ribociclib (CDK 4/6 inhibitor) showed a median overall survival of more than five years for metastatic breast cancer, which is one year more than hormone therapy treatment.Christine YP via Malaysiakini

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Source:
Our Healthcare System Is Critically Underfunded & Needs Improvement, Health Minister Revealed
Malaysian Doctors Protest Despite Being Warned Not To
Healthcare has been ‘underfunded for years’
Adeeba: Delta Overwhelmed Malaysia’s Chronically Underfunded Health Care System
FINANCING AND REFORMS FOR BETTER HEALTHCARE
COMMENT | Cheaper cancer treatment, fewer deaths like my mum's
How Much Does A Country Need To Spend On Health?


You Can Now Apply For Travel Permit On Gerak Malaysia App If Stuck In Hometown

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While the Movement Control Order (MCO) is extended again to May 12, there is good news as the government is allowing those who are stuck in their hometowns to return to their workplaces.
The police announced that the travel is permitted during a three-day period from 1st – 3rd May and the permits for interstate travel can be applied via the â€˜Gerak Malaysiaâ€™ app.
To ensure smooth travel, theyâ€™ve released a travel schedule for those who are stuck in their hometowns.
1st May – Perak, Johor, Kelantan2nd May – Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Melaka, Pahang3rd May – Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Terengganu
How to apply for travel permit
The easiest way to apply is via the Gerak Malaysia app that can be downloaded from Google Play Store, Apple App Store and Huawei App Gallery.
Gerak Malaysia app on Google Playstore
Once youâ€™ve downloaded the app into your smartphone, you have to insert personal details including full name, MyKad or passport number, address, mobile number, and email address.
Before applying for the travel permit, your phoneâ€™s GPS must be enabled as the app will verify your current location for approval.
Make sure to update the app on the date of travel to enable the automatic generation of your unique QR code. The authorities will scan this QR code at roadblocks.
QR code generated for interstate travel on the Gerak Malaysia App.(Credit: Gerak Malaysia)
Those who do not have the Gerak Malaysia app can apply manually at the nearest police station.
Application for the travel permit is now open until 29th April.
Aside from interstate travel, the app can also be used to apply for 4 types of travel:
Buying essential goods within 10km from their residenceGetting medical treatmentEmergency situations – eg: death of nearest kinEssential activities – eg: vehicles or home repairs
However, only interstate travel permit application can be done right now.

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Gov’t To Make Covid-19 Self-Test Kits A Controlled Item

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The government will make the Covid-19 self-test kits a controlled item to ensure that it is sold at a reasonable price, according to Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) Deputy Minister Datuk Rosol Wahid.

For now, he said to Sinar Harian, the Ministry is discussing with the manufacturers, importers and sellers of the self-test kits.
We got the information that each of these test kits is sold at a price of RM39.90, I think it will burden consumers and not many can afford it. So we are discussing to get a reasonable price that does not harm traders and does not burden consumers with the hope that everyone can afford it. We are in the process of making it a controlled item.Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) Deputy Minister Datuk Rosol Wahid via Sinar Harian
Rosol also informed the media that apart from ensuring that the selling price is affordable, KPDNHEP is also sniffing out counterfeit Covid-19 self-test kits in the market.
Here’s the list of controlled items, according to the Ministry’s website:
Sugar WheatFlourCooking OilFertilizersKeroseneMild Steel Round Bars Petrol Diesel FuelAll types of Bread Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) Cement Chicken
Recently, The Ministry of Health has given the conditional approval for several Covid-19 self-test kits to be imported and distributed nationwide.
The kits are sold via MySejahtera and is priced between RM35 all the way to RM41:
Salixium Covid-19 Home Self Test Rapid Antigen Test Kit (RM39.90)Gmate Covid-19 Salive Home Self Test Saliva Rapid Antigen Kit (RM39.90)JusChek Covid-19 Antigen Rapid Test (RM35)Longsee Covid-19 Home Self Test Rapid Antigen Kit (RM41)
READ MORE: You Can Now Buy Covid-19 Home Test Kits On MySejahtera Plus Other Fancy New Functions
What you can do with the test kit:
Self-screening to know the status of Covid-19For individuals who have had contact with Covid-19 casesOther appropriate screenings (such as International Entrance, cross-state, pre-employment screening, pre-admission to higher institutions etc.)
The user must ensure that the kit purchased has obtained permission from the Medical Device Authority (MDA).

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USM Lecturer And His Brother Face 3 Years Jail And RM807k Fine For Power Abuse

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How corrupt is academia, which is expected to uphold justice, honesty, fairness, probity, impartiality and discipline?

A Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) lecturer and his younger brother were each sentenced to three years in prison by the Sessions Court in Butterworth on Friday (19 August) for abuse of power.
They were also fined RM807,475 after being found guilty of nine charges of abuse of position ten years ago.
Judge Zulhazmi Abdullah sentenced Badaruddin Mohamed, 56 and his younger brother, Mustafa Kamal, 50, after the defence failed to prove any reasonable doubts at the end of the defence proceedings.
Badaruddin Mohamed evading the press when appearing at the Butterworth Court. (Pix: Berita Harian)
The two brothers also face prison terms between one to six months, depending on the charges, if they fail to pay the fine.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamad Azlan Basri, while the two accused were represented by a lawyer, Shamsul Sulaiman.
The court allowed the application for a stay of execution of the sentence pending an appeal of the conviction.
The two defendants had to submit their passports and report themselves to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (SPRM) officials every month until the case appeal was over.
In October 2018, Badaruddin pleaded not guilty in the same court to nine charges of misuse of his power and position to obtain bribes.
Siblings In Crime
Badaruddin was accused of abusing his position as head of USM’s Sustainable Tourism Research Cluster (STRC).
He appointed his brother’s company to supply 30 units of glass souvenirs worth RM3,450 and office biometric equipment worth RM2,920 to STRC between 5 September 2011 and 14 May 2012.
He purchased items such as cameras and official items, which totalled RM160,163.
Badaruddin was charged under subsection 23(1) of the MACC Act 2009, while Mustafa faced nine counts of abetting his brother under Section 28 (1) (c) of the same act.
Badaruddin was charged with committing the crime according to Section 23(1) of the 2009 SPRM Deed.
According to Section 28(1)(c) of the same deed, his brother was charged with committing adultery at the same place and location.
Public Outrage
Netizens were disappointed that a learned man would commit such crimes.
Some said it’s not surprising since the government is plagued with corruption starting from the very top of the leadership.
They said the rampant corruption is because offenders are not punished and could even continue to reap benefits from the government.

https://twitter.com/apanakdikato/status/1559393212221235200

Netizens said the lecturer’s crime merely reaffirms that corruption has become a way of life in Malaysia.

At the same time, some said schools should focus more on teaching moral values and ethics to reduce graft.
They added that universities should conduct more stringent audits to weed out corruption.

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Famous Lefties from all over the world; Happy Left-handers Day!

Even though left-handers (or lefties) sometimes feel left out, needing a different pair of scissors, tin openers, and guitars, lefties have a day dedicated specially for them!
Yup, you read that right, August 13 is the official Left-Handers day!
Excited GIF from Oprah GIFs

August 13 was officially declared as Left-hander’s day on 1997 by Dean Campbell, the founder of Lefthanders International Inc.
Unofficially, it has been celebrated as early as 1976!
Oh Wow Owen Wilson GIF from Ohwow GIFs

Considering only about 11% of the human population are lefties, we decided to do an internet deep-dive of famous left-handers (dead or alive)!
Many are celebrities of the arts like singers and actors, but hey, many revolutionising scientists were left-handers too!
So prepare to be amazed guys!

({Pic Credit: me.me)

1. Malaysian power couple, Yusry KRU and Lisa Surihani

(Pic Credit: remaja)

2.  Minister of Youth and Sports, Syed Saddiq

(Pic Credit: Facebook)

3. Malaysian Iconic Guitarist, Man Kidal

(Pic Credit: blogspot)

4. Sexy Scarlett Johansson

(Pic Credit: reddit)

5. Sweet Anna Kendrick

(Pic Credit: coolspottters)

6. Smouldering Keanu Reeves

(Pic Credit: zimbio)

7. Chef Gordon Ramsay

(Pic Credit: zimbio)

8. Prince William

(Pic Credit: Daily Mail)

9. Spanish tennis player, Rafael Nadal

(Pic Credit: Daily Mail)

10. Canadian Singer, Justin Bieber

(Pic Credit: justinbieberzone)

10. Sensational singer, Lady Gaga

(Pic Credit: Twitter)

11. First Black American President, Barack Obama

(Pic Credit: thefader)

We hope you enjoyed finding out which famous celebrities are actually left-handed!
Share with us any other celebrities or famous people who you know to be lefties too on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
P.S. all celebrity gifs and memes used in this article are Left-handers too.


[Watch] 52YO Woman Rammed By A Car At Tawau Petrol Station

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A 52-year-old woman in Tawau, Sabah, was standing in front of the payment counter at a petrol station when she was rammed by a car.

The petrol station staff who sat behind the considerably damaged counter looked stunned in the video while the other colleagues rushed to help the victim.
According to The Star, the victim managed to escape with minor injuries, sustaining cuts and scrapes on her legs.

Tawau police chief Assistant Commissioner Jasmin Hussin said the incident took place at the petrol station along Jalan Sin Onn on 5 June around 9.30am.
Initial investigations revealed that the 54-year-old female driver accidentally stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake after she refuelled her car.
The police also found that the female driver didn’t have a driving license. The case is being investigated under Section 43(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
The public is also reminded not to speculate about the incident.

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How Our Lifestyle Can Shape The World We Live In

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Although no one is really sure where the phrase YOLO (you only live once) came from, the line quickly became the battle cry of the generation.

For many, it is a call to adventure and to live life like there’s no tomorrow, while for others it served as an affirmation to make better choices in order to make the world we share a better place to live. After all, we only have one life to live and one planet to live on!
Small choices, big impact
(Credit: fxquadro/freepik via Freepik)
According to the United Nations (UN), our population is expected to hit close to 10 billion people by the year 2050.
As more and more people live on the planet, the more our demand for food, energy, and other resources such as housing, transportation, and even fashion grows and places more and more strain on our environment.
The increasing amount of greenhouse gases that we put into the atmosphere is just one example of what our human activities have contributed in order to just meet our lifestyle needs.
However, even the smallest changes to our lifestyles, to reduce our overall impact on the planet and make the world a better place to live in, can add up on a global scale.
You only live once, so why not live for the better?
(Credit: jcomp via Freepik/Shahrul Azwan Mohd Zain via Unsplash)
Net-zero living is a lifestyle choice that encourages everyone to make the most out of our planet’s natural resources and live sustainably with little to zero waste.
Living a net-zero lifestyle means taking full responsibility for our ecological footprint and the impact that our social, political and economical activities have on the environment, with the aim of finding a natural balance between what we take and what we give back to the planet.
For instance, making a choice to take public transportation instead of driving can add up in reducing our carbon footprint. Similarly, choosing to reuse and recycle things such as our old gadgets and clothing can make up for the number of natural resources we consume.
Even doing things like choosing to be more active and participate in outdoor or indoor sporting activities can reduce our demand for energy instead of wasting power by watching TV or playing video games all day. And by choosing to go vegan or vegetarian once in a while, we can together reduce our demand for resource-intensive meals like poultry, meat and seafood.
Making sustainable choices, big or small, can make a huge difference in how we can create the perfect symbiotic relationship with our natural surroundings no matter where we are and without having to fully give up on our modern conveniences.
Even lifestyle brands like Adidas are paving the way towards a more sustainable living and providing consumers with more eco-friendly options to choose from.
Adidas New Sports Fragrance Reignited!
Made with vegan-based formulas, Adidas fragrances are cleaner and safer for the environment and were developed with insight from some of the world’s top athletes and tested for their long-lasting scent.
Adidas has four separate Eau de Toilette (EDT) fragrances, each with its own unique vibe to choose from:
Ice Dive
(Credit: Adidas Fragrance)
Created to convey a sense of freedom, the Adidas Ice Dive is perfect for the cool men and women who live to be active. The fragrance contains refreshing notes of mint leaves, lavender, bergamot, and is enriched with the aromatic scent of geranium, woody sandalwood and patchouli, as well as, warm notes of ambergris and woods. Together they create an invigorating scent full of drive and energy reminiscent of the vast blue oceans or snow-covered mountain peaks.
Pure Game
(Credit: Adidas Fragrance)
Inspired by diversity and strength, Adidas Pure Game provides a bold and unexpected scent that contains a blend of sparkling grapefruit and mandarin enhanced with fizzy green basil, spicy fresh peppers as well as a combination of aromatic lavender and woody guaiac, cypress, patchouli and tamboti, with sensual notes of tonka and incense. The fragrance is perfect for the adventurous souls out there who choose to live life to the fullest and strive to always be ahead of the game.
Team Force
(Credit: Adidas Fragrance)
Made for those who are born to lead and inspire strength in those around them, Adidas Team Force provides an energising and welcoming scent with vibrant notes of grapefruit, lemon, and fruity green pears combined with the elegant scent of jasmine, and a sensual base of rich, woody notes. Just a spray from this musky fragrance and you’ll be ready to take on any challenges thrown your way.
Dynamic Pulse
(Credit: Adidas Fragrance)
Inspired by the adrenaline rush of high-intensity sports sessions, Adidas Dynamic Pulse is a fresh fragrance that opens with an aromatic explosion of rosemary, cedar leaves, lavender and thyme interlaced with juicy accents of green apple, and the musky, woody notes of patchouli giving you the energy to power through your day.

So no matter if you’re sweating it out at the gym or choosing to walk to work instead of taking the car, be sure that Adidas fragrances will keep you fresh and energised all day long.
Check out the Adidas fragrance official store at Shopee, Watsons or Guardian and be part of the movement to sustainability and style today.

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Source:
World population projected to reach 9.8 billion in 2050, and 11.2 billion in 2100
For a livable climate: Net-zero commitments must be backed by credible action


Sarawak Ulu Culture Will Hit The Big Stage At Taiwan World Music Festival

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With the world slowly healing from the pandemic, music festivals are also coming back to life with a few accommodating the new normal of online participation.

Of the different types of festivals is one celebrating World Music – music from non-Western countries, including quasi-traditional, intercultural, and traditional music.
In fact, there are so many distinct sounds by a surplus of talented people across the globe that World Music festivals make it great for people to discover the best of the best.
One such festival is the 2021 World Music Festival @Taiwan and this year they’ll be featuring East Malaysia’s award-winning singer-songwriter and sape player Alena Murang.
Discovering the cultural heritage of the Kelabits
The dancing women in Kelabit culture(Credit: Sarawak Tourism)
The talented East Malaysian musician will be taking the stage this weekend in a workshop highlighting the cultural heritage of the Kelabits, one of the 27 ethnic groups in Sarawak.
Read More: East Malaysian 101: An Explanation For West Malaysians
The workshop and performance will be held online on Saturday, 30 October from 2 – 3 pm and will also feature her parents Datu Ose Murang and Dr Valerie Mashman.
Alena, who is of Kelabit descent, is known for her music that was inspired by narratives of growing up indigenous in an urban environment.
With a sound described as “distinctive, earthy and fresh”, she has performed in various international music festivals since her EP “Flight” was released in 2016.
Just recently in July 2021, she took home the Best Asia & Pacific Music Video and Honourable Mention for Best Costume awards for her latest music video, “Warrior Spirit” at the International Music Video Awards held in the United Kingdom.

Learn and listen more of the world
Though you should tune in to support Alena, online participants of the festival can also attend several other lectures and showcase performances conducted by speakers from all over the world.
Check out the schedule here:
(Credit: World Music Festival @ Taiwan)
And if by chance you are in Taiwan, the festival’s physical concert will be held on the 30th and 31st of October with artists from Taiwan, Colombia, Brazil, the US and the UK performing
For more information on the 2021 World Music Festival @Taiwan, visit their website here.
To experience the workshops and performances in all their worldly glory, purchase your tickets for NT$388 (RM57.95) on KLOOK, Pok’elai, or UDN Fun Life.

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Preacher Uses Justin Bieber Concert To Guilt Trip Followers Into Joining His Religious Class

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When it was announced that Justin Bieber will be hosting his Justice Tour Concert in Malaysia this October, Malaysian Beliebers went wild.

READ MORE: Justin Bieber Is Coming To Malaysia, Tickets Start From RM288
One opportunistic Malaysian even tried to jump on the hype to promote his religious class, but unfortunately for him, it did not sit right with his followers.
“Spend your money wisely”
Twitter user Iddin Ramli shared the video with a caption critisizing how people are “lazy” to commit to religion, even with the month of Ramadan coming up in just a few days.
Untuk dunia ramai sanggup buat apa sahaja. Untuk agama kadang kita leka. Pula Ramadhan lagi beberapa hari saja tapi kita masih belum bersedia. pic.twitter.com/vTZ4yUXM27— Iddin Ramli (@IddinRamli) March 24, 2022
In the video, he explains that Justin Bieber’s one-day concert in Malaysia, with ticket prices ranging from RM288 to RM2,088, is likely to sell out immediately.
It will sell out too. Even RM2,088 is cheap for people who are interested in these things.Iddin Ramli on Twitter
He then compares it to the religious class “30 Days With Quran” that he is hosting during the month of Ramadan, saying that that has not sold out.
It’s cheap too, only RM1.70 per day.Iddin Ramli on Twitter
He goes on to say that it’s such a good deal as he provides free gifts such as notebooks, Ramadan planners, and a chance to win an iPhone, all for a low price of RM50.
He ends the video seemingly disappointed, saying that people must not care about learning about religious values, because even such an attractive price can’t get people to sign up for the class.
Netizens aren’t having it
Iddin Ramli’s post ended up rubbing netizens the wrong way, with many people saying that his guilt-tripping was done in bad taste.
stop guilt tripping muslims, this is not you😣🙏🏻— BYLOS DAY (@dayanakarmilaaa) March 24, 2022
Pendapat saya video ni adalah cubaan untuk guilt-trip people.Boleh je marketing dengan menggunakan positive info yang eye catching tanpa comparing two different things.Be better.— BeepBeep (@snowcap_hijau) March 24, 2022
Others said that he should relearn his marketing strategy instead.
How? Because they make a good marketing strategy and they know how to approach people to attend their event. The way you do seem like you judging other people. Now people have doubts on you. Are you do this just because want to be famous or you really want to preaching.— naim (@naimrzali) March 24, 2022
this is not the way u attract people..🤦🏼 your marketing strategy is not right tht y people did't notice what you do.. if ur Ads & Promotion on point.. then u will get the result.. dont compare..what i cn see their marketing planing is good and urs nothing!!!— ELLE (@afiez_cheeky) March 24, 2022
Even more raised the fact that those who would be interested in the Justin Bieber would be more than just Muslims.
Salam abg iddin, saya nak tanya majoriti yang akan beli ticket concert bieber ni 100% semua orang islam ke ? Tanya je and saya rasa untuk membuat perbandingan concert & your taddabur class sangat la tidak patut sebenarnya. Again, tak semua pergi concert adalah semua orang islam.— hafizkenny 🏴🇲🇾 (@hafizkenny) March 24, 2022
Shockingly enough, it turns out that people can be interested in both Justin Bieber and their religious learnings, because the two are not mutually exclusive interests.
Additionally, while Justin Bieber’s concert tickets go on sale on 31 March, the concert itself will only be held on 22 October.

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Chikungunya Outbreak In Perak, Over 450 Cases Reported

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Not to be the bearer of bad news, but it looks like the coronavirus isn’t the only thing that the good people of Darul Ridzuan need to worry about.
The state’s health department revealed that there have been more than 450 cases of Chikungunya (CHIKV) reported across the state in the last five months.
That’s 30 times more than just the 13 cases reported over the same period last year.
Chikungunya is a viral disease that’s transmitted to humans by, you guessed it, the Aedes mosquito.
The virus causes fever and severe pains including headaches, nausea, fatigue, and rashes on the body.
According to Perak Health Department Director Datuk Dr. Ding Lay Ming, 15 locations have been identified as Chikungunya hot spots and cases have been concentrated in the Kampar,  Larut, Matang, Selama, and Kinta districts.
Fortunately, there have been no deaths from the virus reported thus far.
Perak authorities are currently trying to bring a stop to the outbreak by carrying out fogging activities as well as the standard gotong-royong cleanups to get rid of mosquito breeding sites, and over 700 compounds have been issued to properties discovered to be infested with mosquitoes.

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Source:
Perak sees 30 times more chikungunya cases compared with last year


ESCAPE Penang Launches Two New Star Attractions

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So you’re telling me that a Ski Slope – of which snow is a key component – is available in Malaysia – a country with a tropical climate? And we have our own Dead Sea – like ‘the’ Dead Sea in Jordan known for its high water salinity where everything simply floats on it? How is this possible?

The answer lies in none other than: ESCAPE Penang.

About ESCAPE Penang
Like all ventures, ESCAPE Penang started out small, by – according to Penang EXCO for Tourism and Creative Economy YB Yeoh Soon Hin – “our very own Penang boy himself, Datuk Sim Choo Kheng”.
“I have no doubt that ESCAPE Penang has and will continue to be a tourist magnet for visitors for decades to come, as proven by the millions of visitors who has visited this park,” Yeoh said.
Meanwhile, speaking to the press at the park, Yeoh, in a lighthearted manner, said: “Just come to Penang, don’t need to go far far.”
Datuk Sim Choo Kheng, Founder and Executive Chairman of Sim Leisure Group
So what is it that makes ESCAPE Penang so newsworthy?
Well, to begin with, all of their attractions were built with the goal of repurposing existing infrastructure while preserving the park’s natural setting. It is a theme park where visitors can enjoy exciting rides and games where the natural environment is undisrupted.
And their latest star attractions – Malaysia’s First Ski Slope and Dead Sea Pool – are just that – brilliantly repurposed infrastructures, centering around fun in Malaysia’s natural tropical environment.

ESCAPE Penang’s 10th Anniversary

ESCAPE Penang’s Ski Slope and Dead Sea Pool were launched on 4 November in commemoration of their 10th anniversary. The event was hosted by Harith Iskander, Malaysia’s renowned comedian.

ESCAPE Penang’s Ski Slope
First and foremost, a ski slope is a sloped surface that you can ski down, whether it’s on a mountain covered with snow or a specially built building. And what is a prerequisite for a ski slope? That’s right, a mountain, and a whole lot of snow.
So how is this possible in Malaysia, a country with no snow at all?
Well, they simply cover a 302-metre-long downhill slope in a special material that allows skis and snowboards to slide effortlessly down it to create Malaysia’s very own Ski Slope. So, ESCAPE Penang’s Ski Slope is a snow mountain slope reimagined, but without any snow involved. Just how brilliant is that? Now, who wouldn’t want a skiing experience right in our little country’s tropical setting?

Remember what I mentioned about ESCAPE Penang building their attractions around repurposing infrastructures? And what a brilliant repurposing the Ski Slope was, being laid over a defunct road on what was once a construction site in Teluk Bahang Dam.
Kudos to Sim Leisure Group for proving yet again their creativity and commitment to the environment!
At the 10th anniversary celebration, the Ski Slope was inaugurated by Malaysian Olympic Alpine Skier, Aruwin Salehhuddin who showcased her skills on the man-made ski slope.

ESCAPE Penang’s Dead Sea Pool
Malaysian actor and comedian Harith Iskander takes a dip in the new Dead Sea Pool
As for Malaysia’s very own Dead Sea Pool, it was named after the famous Salt Lake in Jordan, since it was, after all, inspired by the original Dead Sea itself.
The Dead Sea was named as such because of its extreme salinity – which is the saltiness or the amount of salt dissolved in the water – that makes it impossible for macroscopic aquatic animals like fish or water plants to survive there. But this does not mean that it is dangerous for people!
The Dead Sea’s high salt levels mean that people can easily float on its surface due to its natural buoyancy.
Much like Jordan’s Salt Lake or the Dead Sea, the Dead Sea Pool in ESCAPE Penang is made of a pool that contains high salinity in its body of water. And this allows visitors to float naturally in the pool. Imagine being able to splash into the water and not sink, simply float – how amazing is that?
https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSRcrNn5d
ESCAPE Penang: Another Milestone
The two new attractions in ESCAPE Penang are entirely unique and game-changing, symbolizing yet another milestone in the park’s continuous achievements.
Did you know that ESCAPE Penang has previously made history as the first and only themed destination to hold two Guinness World Records with the World’s Longest Water Tube Slide and the World’s Longest Zip Coaster? Well, they did.
ESCAPE Penang is keeping it real with their trademark of “low tech, high fun” in their attractions.
Now with their two latest additions of the Ski Slope and Dead Sea Pool, aren’t we all here for it and the excitement it brings? Well, I for sure am!

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[JUST IN] Agong Says Parliament Should Reconvene ASAP

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The Agong says Parliament should convene as soon as possible so the Emergency Ordinance and the National Recovery Plan could be discussed with the members of the Dewan Rakyat.

His Majesty Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah expressed this opinion after meeting with all of the nation’s political leaders, the Independent Special Committee on Emergency 2021, and after briefings by experts from various government agencies.
His Majesty reaffirms Parliament’s role as a platform for representatives of the people to convene and discuss various issues especially regarding the pandemic.
The Dewan Rakyat could also discuss issues regarding the government’s allocation to help the people in need and recover the nation’s economy.
His Majesty also hopes that the Covid-19 infection curve can be flattened and it is in his opinion that the only “exit strategy” to keep the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic under control is to through vaccination.
Therefore the Yang di-Pertuan Agong expressed his opinion that the government must take serious action, simplify the bureaucracy, and speed up the process of vaccination so that the goal of herd immunity (80% vaccination) will be achieved as soon as possible.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong also expressed his opinion that there is a need for a strong and stable government that is able to function effectively in combating the Covid-19 pandemic and recover the nation’s economy.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong also took the opportunity to express his gratitude to the other Malay Rulers, who sat with him today at the Istana Negara for a special meeting, for their continued support, and for their exemplary concern towards the nation’s issues and the welfare of the people.
He also expressed his highest gratitude towards the frontlines and all the people who have sacrificed their time and effort to combat the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.

READ MORE: Special Meeting of Malay Rulers Calls For End To State Of Emergency

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The Dark Horse of Malaysian Politics: Mahiaddin Md Yasin

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He became Malaysia’s eighth Prime Minister at the very start of a pandemic but a year and a half into his premiership, Tan Sri Mahiaddin Md Yasin’s position became untenable.

Talk of his possible resignation became more than rumors after he lost support from UMNO with its party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi declaring that they no longer support the government.
Mahiaddin claims that the reason for UMNO’s withdrawal is because he won’t help with their court cases.
However, UMNO says it’s because the Prime Minister went against the Agong and mishandled the pandemic as Malaysia has recorded over a million cases and 10,000 deaths, with upwards of 20,000 new cases per day.
But where did Mahiaddin come from and how did he become the Prime Minister of Malaysia in the first place?
Early beginnings
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, as he apparently prefers to go by, was born on May 15, 1947, in Muar and received his early education at Sekolah Kebangsaan Bandar Maharani, Muar before attending Muar High School.
He then furthered his studies in Universiti Malaya from 1968 until 1970 where he received his degree in Economics and Malay Studies.
Mahiaddin then married his wife, Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman two years later and they have four children.
Among them is the local singer, Najwa Mahiaddin.
Picture Credit: OhBulan
Joining into politics
Mahiaddin started in politics in 1971 when he joined UMNO Pagoh as a member for five years before he was elected as Pagoh Umno Youth Chief and Division Secretary in 1976.
At the age of 31, he won Pagoh’s parliamentary seat during the General Elections in 1978 and became the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs three years after that.
In 1982, Mahiaddin continued his rise both in government and UMNO as he was chosen to become the Deputy Federal Territories Minister, Johor Umno Youth chief, and joining Umno’s Youth Exco all in the same year.
A year later, he jumped to another Ministry, this time becoming the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry in 1983.
In 1984, he was chosen as Pagoh’s UMNO Chief, defeating former Johor Chief Minister, Tan Sri Osman Saat but failed to become part of the high council due to lack of votes.
Picture Credit: Al-Attas Univesity of Life
Becoming Menteri Besar
1986 is the year when Mahiaddin won the Bukit Serampang state legislative seat and became Johor’s fourth Chief Minister.
He was also the chair of UMNO Johor’s liaison body at the time.
In 1990, he defended his DUN seat and entered his second term as Johor’s Chief Minister but wasn’t so lucky in the party elections as he lost out to Anwar Ibrahim for the Vice President post in the same year.
He finally won in 1993 to become the Vice President alongside Datuk Seri Najib Razak and former Selangor chief, Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib, as Anwar moved up to become UMNO Deputy President.
He contested in the ninth General Election in 1995 and defended his Pagoh parliament seat but didn’t extend his term as Johor’s Chief Minister.
Picture Credit: FMT
Close, but no cigar
In 1995, Mahiaddin was appointed into Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad’s Cabinet as Youth and Sports Minister but he failed to defend his position in UMNO a year later in 1996.
He won the Pagoh parliamentary seat in 1999 and became Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs soon after.
During the UMNO elections in 2000, he regained the Vice President post, holding the position for 8 years.
4 years later in 2004, he retained his parliamentary seat again in Pagohd before being elected as the Minister of Agriculture during Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s administration.
In 2008 when BN was starting to lose votes to Pakatan Harapan, Mahiaddin comfortably defended his seat and subsequently became the Minister of International Trade and Industry.
The year after he had become Deputy Prime Minister and also Minister of Education under Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s government when the latter became Malaysia’s sixth Prime Minister.
Picture Credit: mStar
In October of the same year (2009), he contested against Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib to take the UMNO Deputy President post.
A year later, he was involved with a controversy revolving around his statement of being “Malay first” as a response to DAP leader Lim Kit Siang who challenged him to state whether he is a Malay or a Malaysian first.
He added soon after that despite being “Malay” first, he is still a Malaysian and also said that he would be shunned by all the Malays if he were to say that he is a Malaysian first and a Malay second.

He continued to carry on the post until 2015 when he was relinquished of the Deputy Prime Minister position after questioning Najib’s involvement in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and RM2.6 billion donation issues.
Mahiaddin was eventually replaced as Deputy Prime Minister, by then Home Minister and UMNO Vice President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, but still retained his seat in UMNO as Deputy President.
He openly criticised Najib’s government a day before UMNO’s General Assembly but was not allowed to give his speech during the convention.
Mahiaddin was later suspended as UMNO Deputy President until the coming election and his role was taken over by Zahid.
He was kicked out of UMNO in 2016, alongside Dr Mahathir’s son, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, and Datuk Shafie Apdal.
Picture Credit: Flickr
Into Bersatu
After UMNO, he began to attend PAS events where he would give speeches alongside the party’s top brass.
UMNO politicians have downplayed his involvement with PAS by labeling him “desperate” to bring down the previous government.

He then joined forces with Dr. Mahathir, who also left UMNO around the same time to form Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), a party that offers full memberships to bumiputeras, while non-bumiputeras can be associate members.
Bersatu was part of the Pakatan Harapan Plus (PH+) coalition that brought down Barisan Nasional in March 2018, after more than 60 years in power, and Mahiaddin was appointed Home Minister under Dr. Mahathir’s new government.
Later, in 2018, he spent a month being treated for pancreatic cancer at the Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore and had a tumour removed before returning to Malaysia.
The Sheraton Move: A coalition between Bersatu, UMNO, and PAS
In February of 2020, PH+ began to crumble when PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali joined forces with Mahiaddin and moved to block Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from taking over Dr. Mahathir’s position as Prime Minister.
This resulted in Dr Mahathir resigning as Prime Minister and when PH could not agree on whether to re-elect him or move on to Anwar, the Agong called all the MPs to see him one at a time.
After listening to them, the Agong decreed that Mahiaddin had the most votes and on 29 February 2020, he was sworn into office.

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The Real Squid Games Are Also In Our Malaysian Childhood Games

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The Squid Game drama series from South Korea on Netflix is all the rage at the moment.

The drama is themed on a survival game with 456 players who aim to grab a cash prize of 45.6 billion Won.
It is so popular that “#SquidGame” has been viewed more than 22.8 billion times on TikTok.
But, did you notice that many of the games in the drama are what Malaysians used to play in their childhood?
Today, many children do not even know these games. Most of them are busy with mobile phones, which are the most important thing in life.
They are unlike the kids in the 80s and 90s, who spent their time outdoors. Back then, having fun means playing out there in the field without fear of sun burn, or hanging out until forgetting to go home and ended up being scolded by mom and dad.
So, let take a trip down memory lane and relive the good old days.
Childhood games: Marbles and hopscotch
Red Light, Green Light: This is the game where players need to move fast to get to the finish line, but the challenge is that there will be a phrase uttered for a few seconds, and participants are only allowed to move while the words are being said out.
Tug of War: One of the all the time classic games where two teams square off against each other in a test of strength. Each team tries to pull the rope as hard as possible so that the opposing team crosses the boundary line. Teams that cross the boundary line are considered losers.
Marbles: The game of marbles is a popular traditional game. The basis of the marbles game is to throw one’s marbles, targeting other marbles within a circle. The goal is to rid the opponents’ marbles from the circle, and the winner gets to keep the losers’ marbles.
Hopscotch: Known locally as ketingting, this game is played within a relatively small court. Girls play Hopscotch more often than boys, perhaps due to the game being not very rough. It requires a lot of energy and observation. The court is made by drawing a line on the ground, using powdered chalk or anything that can be used to draw on a paved road. They draw lots before the game starts to determine which player should start the game first using the lai lai li tam plong method.
Meanwhile, here are some games which you can only find in Malaysia
Congkak: Congkak is a traditional Malay game that is often played as an indoor activity or as a competition. Very often, the game is played with rubber seeds or marbles on perforated wooden boards or holes in the ground.
Batu Seremban: This game is a game where small stones are tossed and then received back. The game involves at least two players and is usually played by girls. In total, Batu Seremban has eight stages that players have to go through before being counted as winners.
Konda-Kondi: Also known as Perik Mata, the game requires a sharp mind and a good deal of strength. The players must think of a safe direction to flick the stick and chase the flicked stick to kill off the opponent. Played in an open space, the game consists of two small wooden sticks, one is long and the other is short. Both sticks are round in shape and measure about two cm in diameter. The short stick is called the anak and the long one is called the ibu. Holes are dug to place the long sticks. Wan-to-som (rock – scissor – paper) is to form the teams and also decide which side should play first.
Baling Selipar: The baling selipar (throwing slippers) is a very simple and straightforward game. The first player will throw a stack of slippers using the given slippers. If the first player is not successful, other players will follow until the end of the group. Each player is only given 3 attempts.

Bottle caps: Also known as ceper, this game requires five bottle caps. Most of these bottle caps can be obtained from beverage or soy sauce bottles which are made of glass. The objective of the game is quite simple, which is to collect as many points as possible and you are the winner. But, to play it, a bit of skill like weighing using the hands, and flicking the bottle cap, is required.
Galah Panjang: A game that is played on a court sketched on the ground, galah panjang tests the efficiency of the players in getting past obstacles. The game is played by boys and girls and the number of players can be up to ten people. The courts are formed according to the number of players playing long pole. For example, if there are 10 players, the court contains 4 rows.
Gasing: Gasing (spinning top) is often associated with people in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia especially Kelantan. There are various types of gasing in Malaysia such as gasing jantung, gasing piring or leper, gasing kelamar, gasing telur, gasing berembang, gasing Melayu, gasing Cina, gasing buku benang and gasing pinang. This game can be played one-on-one or in groups. In a one-on-one game, the player with the longest spinning top is the winner.

Childhood game: Tug-of-war
When looking back to these beautiful memories of the past, one cannot help but feel very nostalgic or even homesick.
Perhaps, the Squid Game is a timely reminder to preserve and pass our very own Malaysian childhood legacy to the next generation.

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Treat The Women In Your Lives With These 11 F&B Deals On International Women’s Day

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This International Women’s Day on 8 March, enjoy F&B deals and discounts for your loved ones.

Ladies, it’s time to appreciate ourselves and support other inspiring women around us, whether it’s your bestie, your mom, your boss or anyone! Treat them these snacks and drinks to show your encouragement and support.
Trust us, there’s nothing more empowering than a fellow sister encouraging you to be a badass girl boss.
Here are some of the F&B deals available on 8 March. Women empowerment let’s go!
1. Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart – Buy 2 Free 1 Soft Serve
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart MY (@hokkaidobakedcheesetart)
2. Daboba – Discount On 2nd Drink
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by DABOBA Malaysia (@dabobamalaysia)
3. Chatime @ Avenue K- Buy 2 Drinks & Get a Free Cupcake
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Chatime Malaysia (@chatime.malaysia)
4. Haagen Dazs – Buy 2 Free 1 Scoop
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Häagen-Dazs by Rose Mattus (@haagendazsmy)
5. Sushi King – Free Pink Plate
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Sushi King Malaysia (@sushikingmalaysia)
6. TGIF – 50% Off for Fish & Chips
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by TGI Fridays Malaysia (@tgifridaysmy)
7. Famous Amos – Discount On Cookies With RM38 Purchase
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Famous Amos Malaysia (@famousamos.my)
8. Coffee Bean Tea Leaf – Discount On Watermelon Lychee Drink
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf MY (@coffeebeanmy)
9. Maru Cafe @ Mynews – Buy 1 Free 1 Latte
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by myNEWS Malaysia (@mynewsmalaysia)
10. Gongcha – Discount On 2nd Drink
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Gong cha Malaysia (@gongchamy)
11. Empire Sushi – Discount On Onigiri / Handroll
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by empiresushi (@empiresushi)
Come on ladies, let’s claim all these discounts because we truly do deserve them!
READ MORE: Malaysian Women’s Junior Squash Team Wins Championships For 4th Time
READ MORE: 4 Malaysian Women Make Forbes’ 50 Over 50: 2023 Asia Pacific List
READ MORE: Malaysia Airlines Kendali Penerbangan Oleh Semua Staf Wanita Sempena Hari Wanita Sedunia
READ MORE: Wanita Bekerjaya Tak Boleh Urus Keluarga? Siapa Kata?

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These Gorgeous Purple Drinks And Cakes Celebrate CBTL’s 25th Birthday!

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Can you believe it? Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Malaysia is 25 years old!

Now celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, they’re serving Malaysians with an everything purple menu!
Look at their pretty in purple menu!
From their limited edition drink to a hand of delectable desserts and appetisers, their 25th silver jubilee inspires all things local & purple! However, these are all limited-time menus so grab them before the 31st of October!
 1. Lavender Cold Brew Latte
Purple-inspired flavour infusion of soothing lavender and cold brew coffee.
Price: Small (RM14.50), Regular (RM 15.50)
Lavender Cold Brew Latte (left) and Twilight Berry (right).(Credit: Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Malaysia)
2. Twilight Berry
Sweet blueberries and zesty lemon mousse complement each other on a dark charcoal sponge and cream cracker base.
Price: Whole (RM159.00/1.2kg), Slices (RM15.90/slice)
3. Purple Swirl
This soft brioche is filled with purple sweet potato and red bean, resulting in nutty and sweet snack.
Price: RM9.50 each
Purple Swirl (left) and Coco Yam Tart (right).(Credit: Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Malaysia)
4. Coco Yam Tart
To celebrate one of the time-honoured Malaysian flavours, Yam and coconut are paired perfectly in this magnificent tart.
Price: Whole (RM139.00/1.2kg), Slices (RM13.90/slice).
5. Murasaki Blondie (Petite & Sliced)
The cake is a combination of nutty Taro at the top and a crumbly white chocolate brownie at the bottom.
Price: Whole (RM149.00/1.3kg), Slices (RM14.90/slice), Petite size (RM55.00/0.5kg)
Petite Murasaki Blonde (left) and A slice of Murasaki Blonde (right).(Credit: Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Malaysia)
6. Asam Beef Pandesal
A nod to Malaccan heritage dish, the beef pandesal (a type of bread with meaty fillings – like curry puff) is reimaged to suit the Asam Pedas flavours.
Price: RM10.90 each
Asam Beef Pandesal (left) & Pecan Caramel Muffin (right).(Credit: Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Malaysia)
7. Pecan Caramel Muffin
A rich & crumbly muffin filled with crackling pecans and salted caramel.
Price: RM9.50 each
They have discounts & promotions too!
Other than purple themed menu, they also offer a few eye-catching discounts throughout this September.
Malaysia Day Specials Get 16% off on any Cold Brew BeveragesDate: 16/9/2022 – 18/9/2022
25th Anniversary Specials Get an RM5 off voucher with a purchase of our selected beverages. Date: 23/9/2022 – 25/9/2022
The Coffee Bean Card Specials 2 Get a FREE purple beverage or food when you top-up RM100 via TCB Card.Date: 23/9/2022 – 30/9/2022
25 Years CelebrationGet 25% off on purple food voucher. Date: 23/9/2022 – 30/9/2022
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf MY (@coffeebeanmy)
Started in Malaysia in 1997
The popular Californian food & beverage company started in Malaysia in 1997 and first opened its doors at KL Plaza, or what we know now as Fahrenheit.
They introduced their signature The Original Mocha Ice Blended to Malaysians at the time and we loved it! They’ve been exploring different flavours of the world since then and sharing those tastes at their premises ever since.
This celebration goes out to all the good times we’ve shared together, whether it’s over a hot cuppa, a warm hearty meal or a shared slice of cake. With every year we spend together, we continue to make it our utmost priority to make every visit to The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf one that is reminiscent of coming home, just as much as Malaysians have given us a place to call home for the past 25 years.Fiona Rodrigues, Head of Marketing& Innovation, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Malaysia

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Klang Valley & Sabah CMCO Extended Till December 31

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The conditional movement control order (CMCO) in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Sabah is extended till the end of 2020.

Senior Minister (Defence) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said because of the ongoing Covid-19 outbreaks, the CMCO enforced in these areas will continue from 21 to 31 December.
However, three areas in Selangor – Sabak Bernam, Hulu Selangor, Kuala Selangor – are exempted from the extension and would return to the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) period.
Despite the CMCO, the government had previously announced that inter-district and interstate travel across the country, except in and between Enhance Movement Control (EMCO) areas, would be allowed.
The minister also said that tourism, cultural as well as sports, recreation and entertainment activities and facilities would be allowed to operate in accordance to SOP, except in EMCO areas.

READ MORE: Official CMCO SOP For States In Peninsular Malaysia As Of 7 December (In English)

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Melaka durian cendol seller thanks netizen for soaring sales after bad publicity went viral

Several months ago, a post of someone complaining about being billed RM114 for three bowls of Musang King durian cendol went viral on Facebook.

However, instead of criticising the stall and its owner, netizens stood up for the cendol stall saying those prices were reasonable considering the market price for the premium fruit.

“Am I the only one who feels like these prices are cheap? It’s Musang King ok, not the durian behind your house that’s been thrown into that bowl of cendol.”
“This is considered cheap la. I’d buy five bowls if I was there. Come all lets go there for some cendol? I can’t wait to eat some myself!”
“The durian is of Musang King type. Of course it’s going to be expensive. I’d just order cendol with a little bit of durian ice cream. That would cost at most RM8 per bowl. And it’s still satisfying!”
Picture credit: Oriental Daily
Owner of the stall, Muhammad Ariff Qayyum Mohd Zamri, 25, said that since the post went viral, his sales soared even further.

â€œIâ€™m so thankful the matter went viral. Now more people know about my stall and Iâ€™ve many more customers. My workers and I have never been busier.â€
 Muhammad Ariff Qayyum Mohd Zamri via The Star
Instead of being salty for the bad publicity, he thanked the netizen instead, clarifying that his stall, Raja Cendol Taming Sari, clearly advertises itâ€™s prices both inside and outside its premises.
Picture credit: Berita Harian
After the issue was widely shared online, Melakaâ€™s division of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs also agreed with Muhammad Ariff.

â€œTo me, there is no issue. Even the trader in question has stated the price for each cendol and it is up to customers to choose the cendol that they can afford.â€
 Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Melaka director, Jaiya Abu, via Malay Mail
Division director Jaiya Abu explained that his office received a complaint over the RM114 price, however, when officials were sent to investigate the store, they found that the stall did not break any rules.
 Picture credit: Oriental Daily
Prior to the fuss, Raja Cendol Taming Sari generated an average monthly income of RM90,000 that would swell to RM150,000 a month during the school holidays. (Walao, we also want to sell durian cendol la liddis.)
 Picture credit: Oriental Daily
While his Musang King cendol is the favourite among his customers, Muhammad Ariff also offers Udang Merah cendol (RM20/bowl), D24 cendol (RM20), hybrid durian cendol (RM17) and normal cendol (RM7) alongside several other local snacks.
Are we the only ones with major durian cendol cravings now?


Tomok Ends Up With Over RM5k Levi’s Clothes After 2-Year-Old Daughter Spills Nail Polish In Store

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Local singer Shah Indrawan, or better known as Tomok, encountered an unfortunate incident when his youngest daughter accidentally spilled nail polish on a few branded shirts and jeans.

As a result, the singer had to fork out RM5,593 for the stained clothes.
According to the video he posted online, the incident took place when he and his family visited a Levi’s Outlet in the Gardens Mall to do some Raya shopping.
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Tomok (@tomokofficial)
My family and I went to the Gardens Mall to break our fast here. (After our dinner) at around 9:30pm, my wife wanted to purchase some jeans. However, something unexpected happened when my daughter spilled some cutex (nail polish) on not one, but four pairs of jeans which cost RM1,299. The cutex also spilled over on a few T-shirts worth RM499 and RM899.Tomok via Instagram
Due to the mishap, Tomok added that he had to buy the clothes before leaving the fashion outlet.
I couldn’t just leave the shop. After the staff gave some discount, the bill came up to a total of RM5,593 for the jeans and the shirts. The nail polish only left little stains on the clothes, but I understand that this is part of the shop’s rule. This is probably a test for me since Hari Raya is approaching.Tomok via Instagram
Towards the end of the video, the singer revealed that he would be reselling the clothes at a much lower price and asked for help from netizens and followers.
I’d like to ask for your help. I want to sell these clothes, because they are not my size. It’s okay, I’ll pay for it first since this falls under my responsibility.Please pray for me. To those who are interested in buying, do drop me a text. I won’t be selling these items at their original prices.Tomok via Instagram
In an update on his Instagram today, Tomok said all the items had been taken up.

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1,800 Individuals Allowed To Enter Kelantan For Hari Raya Test Negative For Covid-19

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A total of 1,800 individuals who were allowed to enter Kelantan for Hari Raya Aidilfitri have tested negative for Covid-19.
According to Kelantan Health Department director Datuk Dr Zaini Hassan, following the state government’s directive, his department surveilled and screened the individuals three days before the celebrations.
The surveillance and tests were carried out at five entry points, including at Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Pengkalan Chepa here, throughout the three-day period.Datuk Dr Zaini Hassan via The Sun Daily
Speaking to reporters after attending a State Security Working Committee meeting at Kota Darul Naim Complex in Kota Baru yesterday, he said the department is confident that there are no new Covid-19 infections involving travellers who were allowed to enter the state.
On a separate note, Dr Zaini also informed the press that his department has been conducting surveillance operations on illegal immigrants at the Tanah Merah immigration detention depot, and at several prisons in the state.
Datuk Dr Zaini Hassan. (Credit: New Straits Times)
Sixteen samples were taken in Tanah Merah immigration detention depot and 30 samples from prisons and they were all negative.Datuk Dr Zaini Hassan via The Sun Daily
He added that his department will continue to surveil these places from time to time, depending on the number of detainees brought in.
Meanwhile, regarding the issue of the pregnant woman who returned to give birth in Kuala Krai, he said that despite her positive Covid-19 test result, the woman is healthy.
However, the woman would be tested again on her 13th day of treatment to verify if she was still carrying the virus.

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Think You Might Be Covid-19 Close Contact? MOH Explains What Happens

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With Covid-19 cases surging through the nation, many Malaysians now find themselves in close range of a positive case, be it from mutual friends, neighbours or family members.

So if you’re worried that you may be infected, the Health Ministry (MOH) has released an explanation of what happens next.
Close contacts identified
Credit: Shafwan Zaidon/Malay Mail
The District Health Office (PKD) will identify who is in close contact with the patient based on the field investigation and risk assessment conducted.
Close contact is an individual who:
Has been in direct contact with a positive case of Covid-19 in the last 14 daysWas face-to-face with a Covid-19 patient at a distance of less than 1 meterHas had physical contact with a case of Covid-19
Other groups counted as close contacts include:
Healthcare workers who treat Covid-19 positive cases WITHOUT wearing complete personal protective equipment (PPE)Individuals living in the same house with a positive Covid-19 caseIndividuals sitting nearby (less than 1 meter) with Covid-19 cases for example in the office or in the classroomIndividuals traveling together and sitting nearby (less than 1 meter) with a positive Covid-19 case during the trip
The District Health Office (PKD) will detect and contact relevant parties for the Covid-19 screening test.
Credit: MOH
Quarantine
A self-quarantine Home Surveillance Order (HSO) will be given to close contacts if they:
have mild symptoms and do not meet the criteria for admission to the ward, namely Patient Under Investigation (PUI)are asymptomatic, but have an epidemiological history such as close contact with Covid-19 cases, namely Person Under Surveillance (PUS)
What to do if you might have been in contact with a Covid-19 case?
Based on current MOH protocols, individuals who have been in contact with a positive case but have not been identified as close contacts will not be given a HSO or bracelet.
The pink bracelet that indicates one is under Home Surveillance Order (HSO).(Credit: @MelGohCNA/Twitter)
If you suspect that you might have been in close contact with a Covid-19 case, MOH advises to undergo self-quarantine for 14 days and monitor your health status for symptoms.
You’re likely to be suspected with Covid-19 if there is absence of a more likely diagnosis and present at least TWO of the following symptoms:
FeverChillsRigorsMyalgiaHeadacheSore ThroatNausea or VomitingDiarrheaFatigueAcute onset nasal congestion or running nose
More severe symptoms to look out for are:
coughshortness of breathdifficulty breathingsudden new onset of anosmia (loss of smell)sudden new onset of ageusia (loss of taste)clinical evidence of pneumoniaacute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
READ MORE: This Is How The Health Ministry Categorises Covid-19 Patients
Criteria for hospital admission for Suspected, Probable and Confirmed Case
Health workers evacuate suspected Covid-19 individuals.(Credit: Firdaus Latif/Malay Mail)
Based on the latest official MOH guideline (dated 5 Oct), these are the factors for individuals who require hospital admission:
All Covid-19 cases confirmed via laboratory confirmed caseAll Probable Covid-19 casesSuspected Covid-19 who is clinically illSuspected case with uncontrolled medical conditions, immunocompromised status, pregnant women, extremes of age (< 2 years or > 60 years old)Suspected case who does not fulfil the above criteria but are not suitable for home surveillance, to consider admission in quarantine station.
Covid-19 positive individuals from low risk groups who are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic can be admitted directly to low risk Covid-19 quarantine and treatment centres after discussion with relevant physicians.
However with the recent surge in Covid-19 cases, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah advised those who have tested positive for Covid-19 but are asymptomatic to be isolated at home as they may not be taken to the hospitals immediately.
In a Malay Mail article dated 28 December 2020, Dr Noor Hisham said that this is because MOH is currently dealing with a very high number of cases and logistics issues when it comes to ferrying patients to hospitals.

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Source:
Saying system overloaded, Health DG advises Covid-19 positive cases to self isolate first, keep in touch with district health offices
Annex 1: Case Definition of COVID-19
Annex 2 : MANAGEMENT OF SUSPECTED, PROBABLE AND CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASE


[JUST IN] MCO To Continue According To Recovery Plan

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Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin says that the current movement control order will not be lifted on 28 June but instead will continue in line with the National Recovery Plan.

This means that Malaysia will remain in phase one of the National Recovery Plan until daily cases dip below 4,000 cases per day, 10% of the population is vaccinated, and the condition of the healthcare system is no longer critical.
Meanwhile, according to Bernama, Muhyiddin also said that the government will announce additional financial assistance within the next two days.
READ MORE: Malaysia Could Enter Phase 2 By Mid-July
READ MORE: There Are 4 Phases Planned For The Country To Recover From Covid-19
READ MORE: MKN’s Official Total Lockdown MCO SOP Effective 1 June 2021 (In English)
READ MORE: MCO 3.0 Extended For Another 2 Weeks, Ends On 28 June, Says Ismail Sabri

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Angkasa Space Ordered To Close Because Their Entertainment Licence Has Expired, Says DBKL

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The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) clarified that it suspends the operations of Angkasa Event Space as the local music scene had been operating without a valid entertainment licence.

In a reply to TRP’s sister portal BuzzKini, DBKL said that the Angkasa Event Space’s operation was suspended after a raid conducted last Sunday on the event’s premise located in Bandar Sri Permaisuri, Cheras.
“Based on observation and investigation conducted by DBKL, the premise was found to conduct live music sessions (Live DJ) without a valid licence from the Kuala Lumpur city mayor. When the operation was conducted, there were 80 patrons inside the premise,” the statement reads.
DBKL said that upon checking with its operators, the entertainment licence that it hold had lapsed on 25 September last year.
The statement further said that the matter is being investigated under Section 4 (1)(a) & 4(1)(b) of the Entertainment (Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur) Act 1992 for operating and conducting entertainment activities without a valid licence.
DBKL also said that a spinner deck was also seized during the operation.
READ MORE: Pemilik Ruang Gig Angkasa Space Kecewa, Dakwa Terpaksa Tutup Operasi Selepas Diserbu DBKL
Yesterday, the venue’s co-founder Mohd Zulhelmie Zullifan, also known as Elmi, took to Twitter to announce that the venue will be shut down after a raid by DBKL.
Dah rindu, @AngkasaSpace. pic.twitter.com/54U89lYTfr— Uncle Elmi (@ELMIELMO) July 24, 2022
Zulhelmie said that he was giving up on managing the event space and will refund all tickets sold for future shows, as well as all deposits of future events
According to Zulhelmie, DBKL requires the venue to have permits for every event held at the venue which requires a deposit of RM30,000 while also lamenting the fact that the refund process takes up to four months.

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NGO Expresses Regret At Malay Muslims Spotted At Thaipusam Procession

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The Malaysia Consultative Council of Islamic Organisations (Mapim) has expressed regret at some Malays, which they deemed as having participated in the religious rituals of others.

Mapim president said Azmi Abdul Hamid said a video of Malay Muslim children marching and chanting together in other religious processions had been going viral.
He claimed the incident in the video is said to have happened in Penang recently.
The legitimacy of whether they are Muslim or not needs to be investigated. However, it appears that the marchers are veiled Malay children and teenagers. If it is true that they are Muslims, we regret that their parents did not prohibit them from doing such acts.Mapim president Azmi Abdul Hamid on why the matter needs to be investigated.

He said parents might think it is a festive cultural event that all communities of various religions can celebrate.
However, it must be corrected as they might not understand Islamic law or be ignorant about deliberately mixing Islam with other religions.
Mapim president Azmi Abdul Hamid. (Pix: Mapim)
Redefining Religious Tolerance
Azmi also called on religious authorities to investigate the incident, so it does not happen again.
He added that those involved in the incident, and society as a whole, need to be educated.
He said they must understand the limits of religion in Islam and not do something based on their assumptions.
We propose that the understanding of the meaning of tolerance in religion that is outside the law needs to be corrected. We suggest a clear guide issued as a reference for the community to avoid confusion.Mapim president Azmi Abdul Hamid on religious tolerance that do not conflict with Islam.
Meanwhile, some netizens had also expressed regret about Malay Muslims joining Thaipusam rituals.

The problem is not new, as similar concerns have also been raised in previous years.
At the same time, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, advised Muslims not to get involved or participate in Thaipusam celebrations.
He said Muslims are prohibited from participating in non-Islamic religious celebration rituals because it is against the principles of the Islamic faith.
Betul la apa dia cakap!!! Do not participate because it’s against Muslims believe but dia tak cakap tak boleh pergi tengok perarakan Kavadi atau tengok orang main urumi melam. Banyak kut orang Melayu jual minuman and makanan during Thaipusam. #Diversity #ourbeauty #malaysia pic.twitter.com/xMK5CXhcn0— Naguk (@Kugz86) February 5, 2023
Nevertheless, some Malay Muslims shared their positive experience of mingling with other Malaysians during Thaipusam, which happened recently.
Among them is TikTok user @faridmaulud who took the opportunity to help cook vegetarian dishes during Thaipusam.
Farid, a youth parliamentarian from Penang, said it reminded him what it feels like to live harmoniously in Malaysia.
  @faridmaulud Happy Thaipusam semua. #fyp #thaipusam2023 #yaaa #okok ♬ Pretty song that imaged a sleeping baby – Azuline
Netizens have also shared videos of Malaysians from other races joining the Thaipusam festivals, including the Chinese, some of whom are Hindus.

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Do Blueberries Really Give Out Blue Hues? – Where Do These Natural Colourings Come From?

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Have you ever wondered why some food is just so vibrant with colour?

Pst… They have food colouring in them. It’s usually the artificial ones that give out long-lasting and very pigmented colours to food. Artificial colouring used to come from tar but not anymore! Now, people use petroleum in our artificial colouring.
But what if you want to skip the artificial colouring and go all organic?
You can!
Did you know that before there was artificial food colouring, we just used whatever natural sources they can find and used that to make coloured food or products?
How Do They Extract The Colors?
For food, there are two ways to create a natural food colouring which are in powdered form or in liquid form.
For the liquid form, you can just slice and boil the ingredients in water and then strain them. Then take the liquid and simmer it under low heat to turn it into a concentrated dye that you can keep in a bottle.
You can also make it into a puree by simply chopping, boiling, and pureeing them into a thick paste.
(Credit: Food52)
For the powdered form, you can slice or grate the ingredients into very thin pieces. Then you can either dry them in the sun, pop them in the oven for a bit or fry them in a cooking pan (without the oil), just to get them crispy and to easily crumble. After that, pop them in your grinder and make yourself a powder.
Here are the ingredients that make colourful things colourful
The food that we’re talking about can range from desserts like pastries, cakes and frosting to savoury meals like curries, pasta and snacks.
Here are some of the edible ingredients you can use to make colourful food, just for fun.
Yellow
Fun Fact: Did you know that turmeric is used to give mustard a deep yellow colour?
SaffronTumeric Custard powder
Fresh and powdered turmeric. (Credit: Steve Buissinne/Pixabay)
Turmeric and custard powder are already in a powdered form which makes them easier to use. For saffron, you can also pulverise them carefully with this traditional method.
Saffon could be a little premium so you could opt for turmeric to create yellow colours. However, if you don’t want a turmeric-flavoured cake, then you could opt for custard powder.
Orange
Fun Fact: You can make orange-coloured pasta from carrots!
CarrotsPaprikaSweet potato
For the carrots, you can grate them and fry them until they’re crispy. Then grind them into a powder.
For the sweet potato, you can cut, boil and puree them into a paste.
(Credit: Nielsen Massey)
Red
You can slice the beets, dry them and grind them into a powder. For tomatoes, you can cut, boil them in a saucepan, smush them into a pulp and strain them, leaving a liquid red form. The same method goes for pomegranates.
beetstomato pomegranates
Fun Fact: Did you know that some red colour comes from insects called cochineal? They farm it, crush it and most often use it in cosmetics like lipstick and eyeshadow for bright, vibrant reds!
Cochineal female bugs.(Credit: The Not So Innocents Abroad)
It was a ruckus before this but they changed the name from cochineal to carminic acid. So you may be eating bugs with your red-coloured candies or ice cream.
Starbucks also had it in their strawberry-flavoured drinks before but it was changed to another colouring ingredient following a public outcry.
Pink
For these fruits, you can use the boiling method, or just crush them all on a strainer and extract the juice. Another easy way is to freeze-dry them and then just pulverise them when you need them.
strawberriesraspberriescherries dragon fruit (pitaya)
Fun Fact: There’s even a dragon fruit flavoured chicken and prawn at a restaurant in Sepang.
(Credit: Anne Dorall / TRP)
You can actually get a taste of everything pitaya flavoured at this HL Dragon Fruit Farm in Sepang. Besides learning to cultivate dragon fruits, you can taste their sweet and savoury menu inspired by the fruit.
READ MORE: Here’s 9 Exciting Places That You Can Enjoy With Your Kids In Selangor
Purple
Blueberries don’t make blue food though, but it does give off a rather cool deep purple colour. You can mash them or boil them into a puree or liquid. The same goes for the purple sweet potato and yam.
blueberriespurple sweet potatoyam
Fun Fact: Although they’re both potatoes, purple sweet potatoes and yam are two different kinds of potatoes with different origins.
(Credit: Nielsen Massey)
Blue
Blueberries turn food into purple and black berries turn food into blue? What are the odds?
For the blackberries, you can use the same method of extracting the colours as other berries. But for red cabbage and butterfly pea, you can simply use the boiling method.
Red cabbage will give out a dark purple colour when cooked but you can add baking soda to make it the blue hue you want.
blackberriesred cabbage + baking sodabutterfly pea
Fun Fact: You can change the colour of the red cabbage and butterfly pea solution by changing their pH balance.

If you add baking soda, it’ll be alkaline and turn blue. If you add lemon, it’ll be acidic and turn light purple or red.

Green
As matcha is already a powder, you can straightly use that in your baking. For spinach,  you can use boiling, blending and straining methods to get that green colour.
Meanwhile, you can also just cut, blend with water and strain the pandan to get a fragrant and green colour for your desserts.
matcha spinach pandan
Ocha Matcha.(Credit: Anne Dorall / TRP)
Fun Fact: Kuih Tako, Seri Muka, and Onde-onde all use pandan leaves in their recipes.
Brown
This one goes without saying. As you would naturally add these into your drinks to make your favourite caffeine or choco malt drink, you can also add these ingredients in your cooking and baking as well.
coffeecocoatea
Nescafe Fried Rice, anyone? (Credit: @uwjeans / TikTok)
READ MORE: This TikToker Makes Coffee And Milo Flavoured Fried Rice And We’re Just Not Into It
Black
Activated charcoal (should not be taken with medicine as they won’t absorb it) and squid ink are a bit hard to make or extract from scratch at home. You should just get them commercially from the store if you can.
Alternatively, you can also get a black colour if you mix other natural food colourings together like red, green and blue.
Squid inkActivated charcoalDark cocoa powder
(Credit: Ikea / Facebook)
Fun Fact: Squid ink is not suitable for desserts as they have a salty and savoury taste to it – they’re mostly used in pasta, rice and sauces.
Downsides?
However, with natural food colouring, how organic they may seem, there are a few downsides to it.
They can fade over timeThey’re not that vibrantA bit costly for some vegetables or plantQuite hard and time-consuming to makeIt comes with the taste of the source
For example, you can’t go around making a yellow cake that tastes like turmeric, right? That’ll be a turmeric-flavoured cake, not really an enjoyable taste, we’re afraid.
(Credit: Canva / Petite Gourmets)
Apart from making food from these natural colourings, did you know that we can also use natural plants to make fabric dyes?
There are a few interesting options for fabric dyes which includes onion skins, avocado seeds, black beans, henna, roses and many more. But that’s another topic for another day.
READ MORE: What Are Those Pretty Colourful Designs On The Floor During Deepavali?
READ MORE: Meet The Colorful ‘Cape Malay’ Community Of South Africa

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Sabah’s State Assembly Is Now Dissolved, But I’m Still Chief Minister, Says Shafie Apdal

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Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal has announced that Sabah’s state assembly is dissolved.
He said it in an announcement after meeting Sabah’s Tuan Yang Dipertua Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Juhar Mahiruddin.
I’m still the Chief Minister.Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal
Shafie said the Election Commision will announce the date of the election later and it will be done in the span of 60 days.
We will give the mandate back to the rakyat in electing who would be fit to form the new government and I’m confident that they will make the right decision.Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal

Recently, former Sabah Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman claimed that he has obtained a simple majority to form a new state government.
The new coalition, he said, will involve several parties:

United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (BERSATU)Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR)Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS)

How it looks like post GE-14
In total, Sabah has 65 seats.
According to reports, prior to the sudden takeover, the government bloc has 45 seats while the opposition bloc has 20.
Below is the breakdown:
Government bloc
Sabah Heritage Party (WARISAN) – 31 seatsDemocratic Action Party (DAP) – 6 seatsUnited Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) – 2 seatsParti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) – 2 seatsElected Adun – 2 seats
Opposition bloc
BERSATU – 9 seatsParti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) – 4 seatsSTAR – 3 seatsIndependent – 2 seatsUMNO – 1 seatElected Adun – 1 seat

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What To Ask Potential Employers At The Hiring Interview

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“Do you have any questions for me?” asks the your potential employer at the job interview.
If you’re among the 3.3% of Malaysians, or 10% of youth, who are unemployed, this is a question you might be dreading.
Recruiters say you should have a few questions ready to ask because it shows that you are interested, engaged and were prepared for this interview.
But if you don’t know what to ask, here are some suggested questions:
Ask about the job
What you will do each day and who you work with will factor heavily into how happy you are at work. So, Glassdoor suggests asking more about your role.
ASK: What do the day-to-day responsibilities of the role look like? Who will I be working most closely with? What do you see as the most challenging aspect of this job?
Make sure you know your responsibilities so you can meet them.(Credit: SCREEN POST/Unsplash)
Ask about training, professional development & career progression
To ensure your career always moves forward and lets you climb up the ladder of career success, always think beyond the current job. HR Professionals at The Guardian say you should also consider things like skill development and training.
ASK: What training will I receive? Are there any advanced training programs available for employees? Where have successful employees previously in this position progressed to?
Ask about the interviewer
You want to ask the interviewer a bit about themselves, their time at the company and what they think. The experts of Monster Worldwide Inc explain that this will reveal something about the culture, values, and attitude of the company, and whether this is a place you could be happy working at.
ASK: What do you enjoy most about working here? Can you give me some examples of the most and least desirable aspects of the company’s culture? Where would the company like to be in five years?
The people interviewing you work in the same company too.(Credit: Unsplash)
And if you want some suggestions of questions you SHOULDN’T ask, we have that here.

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Get Your Pet A Super Cute Passport From The Department Of Vet Services Malaysia!

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Yes, pet passports are a thing and Malaysia has them.

Recently, Twitter user @ShazGhaf shared an adorable picture of their beautiful orange cat with a shiny new and blue Malaysian passport.

https://twitter.com/ShazGhaF/status/1291242092761505794

Turns out, Malaysia has been giving passports to pets since 2010.
According to their website, the Department of Vet Services Malaysia (DVS) says that the Pet Passport is an official document of the Malaysian Government.
The service is a part of the Malaysian Animal Traceability (MAT) Project, which was organised by DVS themselves under the Provision of Animal Act 1953.
A pilot of the project was launched in February 2010 at the DVS’s Veterinary Hospital in Cheras. FYI, this hospital is the same place where @ShazGhaf got their cat’s passport too.
bahahhahaa.. close-up gambar passport muka annoyed! 😂😾 pic.twitter.com/EMAuHO4zKb— S•G 🇲🇾 (@ShazGhaF) August 6, 2020
Based on the website, the passport is meant to provide your pet with some formal identification, build the country’s animal database to improve disease control efforts, and to promote pet responsibility among Malaysians.
Unfortunately, not all pets are welcome (at least not yet). At the moment, DVS allows you to register cats, dogs, rabbits, and horses. The fee for the passport depends on what type of animal you’re registering.
(Credit: DVS)
Unfortunately, the website states that the fees above are only for the actual physical passport and not inclusive of a microchip, physical examination of your pet or the picture. But according to @ShazGhaf’s tweet, the whole package will set you back around RM85.

https://twitter.com/ShazGhaF/status/1291244076847644672

In case you were wondering (we know you were!), having the passport does mean that you can take your pet on overseas trips with you.
Pet Passport allows you as the pet owner to collect all the important information about your pet in one document and it is easier for the officer at the border or a country’s entrance to confirm the health and immunisation records of your pet.DVS via the Frequently Asked Questions section of their website.
We tried reaching out to the DVS for more information and are still waiting for them to get back to us.
In the meantime, if you’re interested in getting a passport for your pets, you can do so at Hospital Veterinar Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur.
Address: KM 4, Jalan Selar 4, Off Jalan Cheras, 56100 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.
Telephone: 03-92849716/18

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UK’s Prince Philip Passes Away, Aged 99

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The UK’s Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, husband of Queen Elizabeth II, and father of Prince Charles, passed away today, Friday, 9 April 2021 at the age of 99.

He had been hospitalised several times over the past few years, most recently in February.
A brief announcement on the UK Royal Family’s official website stated that his passing this morning was peaceful and that further announcements would be made in due course.
Philip married Elizabeth in 1947 before she ascended to the throne, and their marriage had lasted 74 years.

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Is Hajj Getting Too Expensive?

Each year, millions of Muslims from around the world make their way to the holy city of Mecca in the harsh desert of Saudi Arabia in order to perform the hajj.
Considered to be one of the largest human gatherings on the planet, the hajj can be akin to a rite of passage for Muslims to cleanse the spirit, be closer to God and strengthen bonds with fellow Muslims.
Being one of the five main pillars in the Islamic faith, each and every Muslim is expected to make the hajj pilgrimage at least once in a lifetime if one is physically strong enough and can financially afford to make the journey.
Pilgrims scouring Mount Arafah in Saudi Arabia.(Credit: Konevi via Pixabay)
However, with the Saudi Arabian government imposing new charges towards pilgrims who are taking part in 2020â€™s hajj season, it raises the curious question of whether the sacred pilgrimage is becoming a bit too expensive for the average Muslim.
To discuss the cost of a hajj trip, we must first talk about the ways that a Malaysian Muslim can take part in the holy pilgrimage, and there are generally 2 ways to do so;
Tabung Haji
Like most things in our global market, the cost of performing hajj varies from country to country depending on the nationâ€™s general state of the economy, average income level, currency exchange rate and a range of other factors.
But for Muslim-majority countries like Malaysia, the cost of going on hajj can still be considered â€œrelatively affordableâ€ due to the existence of hajj investment funds, like our very own Tabung Haji (TH).
The iconic Tabung Haji office building in KL.(Credit: Hari Anggara via Malay Mail)
TH is an Islamic institution established to manage hajj pilgrimage in Malaysia. The organisation acts as the sole hajj institution in the country, meaning that all matters pertaining to hajj have to be dealt with through TH.
TH makes it relatively easier for Malaysians to perform their religious duty by providing Muslims with an investment program in which they can save up money for hajj.
Malaysian hajj pilgrims throwing pebbles at stone pillars called jamarÄt, renouncing Satan.(Credit: Berita RTM)
The organisation also subsidises and takes on a portion of the cost for each individual pilgrim, making it somewhat cheaper for a Malaysian to perform hajj under its program.
Since 2009, each Malaysian pilgrim under THâ€™s standard Muassasah package – which includes the cost of flights, transportations, accommodations and a host of other services provided by TH like welfare and medical costs – is only required to pay a total of RM9,980 in order to take part in that yearâ€™s hajj.
This price is significantly lower than the tripâ€™s actual cost which is taken on partly by TH.
Pilgrims resting together in one huge tent in the desert of Arafah.(Credit: Berita Mediacorp)
According to TH, the rate for an individual hajj trip for the 2020 hajj season costs a total RM22,900.
Furthermore, based on numbers provided by the company, the average cost of a hajj trip has been rising steadily since 2013.
Cost of hajj pilgrimage has increased by more than 30% since 2013.(Credit: Tabung Haji)
TH attributes this increase to the rise in airfare and accommodation costs in Saudi Arabia as well as the newly imposed fees announced by the Saudi government which includes additional visa fees of RM300.
Meanwhile, TH also revealed that the organisation might not be able to keep on subsidising Malaysian pilgrims if the cost continues to rise annually, which would make hajj trips even more expensive in the future.
Private Hajj Package
Aside from performing hajj through TH, Malaysians can also opt to perform the pilgrimage through private tour companies that are authorised and registered with TH.
The famous clock tower on the Hotel Fairmont Makkah right next to the Grand Mosque.(Credit: jakman via Pixabay)
This is important because the government of Saudi Arabia has what it calls â€œhajj quotasâ€ which only allows 0.1% of a countryâ€™s Muslim population to perform the hajj each year, which in turn is managed by TH.
So in order to be cleared to travel to Mecca for hajj, a Malaysian must first be registered with TH, before making a booking with the travel agency of their choice.
These hajj packages offered by authorised agencies can range in price between RM20,000 to more than RM150,000.
Private hajj package listed on Tabung Haji Travel and Services.(Credit: TH Travel & Services)
Pilgrims travelling with private tour groups would usually enjoy additional perks compared to those travelling under the basic Muassasah package offered by TH, like accommodations close to the Grand Mosque in Mecca, bigger hotel rooms and way better food, among others.
An exclusive view of the Grand Mosque from the Raffles Makkah Palace hotel in Mecca.(Credit: Tripadvisor)
Despite the higher price tag, reportedly more and more Malaysians are choosing to perform hajj through these private packages tours.
According to TH, in 2016 some 2,000 Malaysians went on private hajj trips and that number had increased to more than 6,000 in 2019.

Do you feel that hajj pilgrimage is getting too expensive? Sare us your thoughts on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Source:
Hajj 360
Saudi Arabia imposes new charge of SAR300 for haj visa
How much does it cost to go for Hajj?
Hajj Management
Hajj Cost & Payment
Tabung haji to bear haj visa cost for M'sian pilgrims
Hajj Data & Statistics
Tiada lagi haji kali kedua
Hajj Quota
Cara Menyediakan Dana Untuk Menunaikan Haji Secara Persendirian
Pilgrims opting for private haj packages on the rise
Benefits of taking private haj packages


Catch These Never Before Seen Images Of KL From Space

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We’re pretty sure that some of you curious cats out there have tried using awesome tools like Google Earth, Zoom Earth and others in order to get a bird’s eye view of what our surroundings look like from high up in the sky.

Read More: Check Out What Malaysia Looked Like Over 200 Years Ago With This Historical Map
These images are mostly compiled from live or recorded footage captured by what’s called non-military Earth observation satellites, or EOs for short, that take aerial images of our planet from orbit.
Most of these satellites are hovering above us at an altitude of 500 to 600km above the ground.
Though these images are amazing and provide us with valuable information about the world we live in, it can’t be denied that quality-wise, they’re not really accurate to the tee and are sometimes blurry too.
(Credit: Google Earth)
Well now, for the first time ever, we get to see high-resolution aerial images of our nation’s capital, Kuala Lumpur thanks to the Airbus Pléiades Neo 3 satellite.
The Pléiades Neo 3 was launched and secured in orbit in April 2021. It is part of the Airbus Pléiades Neo constellation of four satellites that can capture and provide images at 30cm resolution.
Combined with one of the most accurate geolocation technology we have at the moment, the Pléiades Neo brings a significant level of information required for precise large-scale mapping of up to 1:2000 scale.
Check out these never before seen images of KL from space!
(Credit: Airbus)
KL Tower.Credit: Airbus
KLCC and the Petronas Twin Towers.(Credit: Airbus)
KL Central Business District.(Credit: Airbus)

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