Study: Intermittent fasting is actually good for your health

Eating less to save money? There’s better news, as we now have proof that eating less is also better for your health.
According to cancer researcher Dr Miriam Merad, intermittent fasting reduces risk of developing certain deadly chronic diseases.
The culprit is monocyte, a type of white blood cell that is inflammatory. Although their main job is to fight off infections and wounds, they stand guard to fight foreign microorganisms when we eat.
Monocytes also become extremely active when we eat sugar. They accumulate in fat tissue, contributing to chronic diseases such as diabetes, stroke, and high cholesterol.
Dr Meradâ€™s study shows that intermittent fasting helps to calm these inflammatory cells.
Although many people who fast have mentioned that eating spicy or sour food on an empty stomach to be uncomfortable.(Credit: TRP)
Her study included taking blood samples from adults who were asked to fast for 19 hours a day. She found that those who fasted had astonishingly low monocyte levels.
Intermittent fasting isnâ€™t a novel idea. Fasting has been used religiously and culturally for centuries.
In recent years, the most common form of fasting has been the 16:8 fast, where you fast for 16 hours and eat only within the 8-hour window.
For most modern lifestyles, it simply includes skipping breakfast and having a slightly later lunch with a slightly earlier dinner.
(Just donâ€™t tell your mum that youâ€™re skipping breakfast!)
Always ensure that you have a well-balanced, nutritionally diverse meal during your eating window.(Credit: TRP)
Fasting is still dangerous when done incorrectly!
Before you start on your fast, do your research and speak to nutritionists on your plan.
People with eating disorders, are pregnant, or require a specialized eating regimen are not advised to start fasting on your own.
For most people, it can be hard to not snack during your fasting window, which can result in higher stress hormones, binge-eating, and overeating.
Some can take fasting to extremes and practice dry fasting (fasting without water) or extended periods of fasting which puts your body into starvation mode. This is not healthy and will lead to dehydration, especially in Malaysia’s harsh weather.
Food is a crucial part of a healthy lifestyle, so make sure you don’t go to extremes with intermittent fasting.(Credit: Unsplash)
Practice safe dieting
Always make sure you are getting the appropriate amount of nutrition even if you want to partake in fasting.
Listen to your bodyâ€™s needs and never push yourself to the extreme.
Some people are not suited for fasting, especially if you have diabetes, are pregnant, or have a chronic illness.
If you ever feel dizziness, fatigue, dehydration, constipation, or unwell, always consult a doctor to make sure you’re not putting your health at risk.

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Selangor Says Used 80% Of Vaccines, Refuting KJ’s Claim Of Under Utilization

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Selangor Health, Welfare, Women Empowerment and Family executive councillor Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud today refuted claims that the state was under-utilising the vaccines they have received.

National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme Coordinating Minister Khairy Jamaluddin earlier today said Selangor only used 76% of 1.36 million doses of vaccines given.
Dr Siti said in the statement that the State Government has taken note of the concerns raised surrounding the issue of vaccine supply in Selangor.
She went on to say, “According to records, Selangor State Health Department (JKNS) received 1,189,350 doses as of 27 June 2021, with 954,051 doses distributed. Therefore, the remaining balance of around 20% is 235,277 doses. This supply is only expected to last another two days, if vaccination is carried out at vaccination centers maximum capacity.”

Dr Siti said that JKNS will be receiving an additional 60,000 doses, and expressed the State Government’s gratitude.
With 73 vaccination centers, she says it is important to note that the capacity of daily vaccination at centers is 87,616. However with the current supply, the daily rate is at only 53,037.
“Insya-Allah, after joining hands with the Vaksin Selangor Program, which will be announced by the MB, we will be able to achieve the CITF National target as mentioned by the PICK Coordinating Minister with 135,000 and 165,000 daily doses in July and August respectively,” said Dr Siti.
She ended the statement saying the issue faced by the state of Selangor is a lack of vaccine supply, and not a lack of capacity or vaccination centers.

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Time Magazine Names Michelle Yeoh Icon Of The Year

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Ladies and gentlemen, she’s at it again.

Our legendary Ipoh-born actress, Michelle Yeoh has been making headlines, again and again, this year alone.
READ MORE: 2 Malaysian Women Made It Into Forbes 50 Over 50 Asia 2022 List
For 2022, not only has she made the Forbes 50 Over 50 Asia list, she also received an honorary doctorate of fine arts from the American Film Institute (AFI), won a Tribute Award at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), nominated as well as won best actress in various other awards and was on the cover of countless famous magazines.
Her latest achievement? Time Magazine’s Icon Of The Year.
READ MORE: ‘Groundbreaker’ Award Given To Malaysian Actress Michelle Yeoh In Toronto During Oscar Season [Watch]
READ MORE: Tan Sri Datuk Michelle Yeoh Will Soon Be A ‘Dr’ Too!
2022 is a lucky year for our Malaysian actress.
Time’s Icon Of The Year
Not long ago, she was listed in Time’s ‘100 Most Influential People of 2022’ in May. Now, 7 months later, she returns to the magazine at the front cover, as their Icon Of The Year.
With almost 40 years’ worth of experience in the film industry, the 60-year-old actress has been in more than 70 films and television series.
Some of her notable films include Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Tomorrow Never Dies, Memoirs Of A Geisha, Crazy Rich Asians, Shang-Chi & The Legend Of The Ten Rings, Everything Everywhere All At Once and many more.
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Michelle Yeoh 楊紫瓊 (@michelleyeoh_official)
From growing up in Ipoh and dreaming of a future in ballet to winning her first Miss Malaysia pageant and starring in commercials that got her into the Hong Kong film industry, her story was told extensively in the Time feature.
She even talked about how some of the movies she starred has brought her to where she is now.
Take a look at her feature in the magazine here.
Congratulations, Tan Sri Datuk Dr Michelle Yeoh! You keep on making us proud.
READ MORE: Michelle Yeoh Honoured As BBC’s “100 Women” Of 2020 Because She’s Just That Iconic
READ MORE: New Transformers Movie Welcomes Michelle Yeoh As One Of The Voice Actors

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You Might Be A Mosquito Magnet For These 7 Reasons (No, It’s Not All In Your Head!)

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Fun Fact: Did you know that the mosquitoes eat nectar and the only ones that bite us are female?

Both male and female mosquitoes actually eat nectar, honeydew, plant sap and other natural high sugar sources.
However, females in particular eat our blood just for reproduction. It’s the eggs in them that need the protein, iron and other compounds. So that’s why they bite us – for the sake of their child! (It doesn’t make things less annoying, does it?)
(Credit: USDA / Flickr)
But did you know that there are also certain types of people that these ladies attack? They have preferences you know!
Thanks to @DrSamhan, a local doctor who often shares medical tips and knowledge, he compiled a few factors in us humans that make us a more scrumptious target for the mosquitoes.
Here are the factors:
1. The blood types
Some blood is yummier than the others, we guess.
A study in 2004 revealed that people with the blood type O have an 83% higher chance of being bitten by the Aedes albopictus mosquitoes (the ones responsible for dengue, zika and chikungunya) than the A (46%) blood type. Another study in 2010 also suggests that those with type O blood type have a higher secretor status compared to other blood types, which makes the mosquitoes detect them easier.
(Credit: DFAT / Flickr)
But other blood types can’t just throw their insect repellents just yet. Other studies have also found that type AB attracts the Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes (responsible for malaria) and type B attracts the Anopheles stephensi (also malaria) and Aedes aegypti (same as the other Aedes) mosquitoes. It just depends on which type of mosquito and where they live.
2. Those with a larger volume
According to studies, it has something to do with your metabolism and the amount of carbon dioxide you exhale. The more you exhale, the more attractive you become.
Mosquitoes can sense you from afar by tracing the carbon dioxide you exhale. The bigger you are, the more carbon dioxide you exhale and hence, the higher the chances of you being bitten compared to anyone else.
3. Pregnant women
According to a study in Africa, pregnant women are twice as likely to be bitten by mosquitoes because they release more carbon dioxide.
(Credit: Juan Encalada / Unsplash)
In fact, the study claims that pregnant women release 21% more of the said gas than any other woman.
Body heat can also contribute to this as the abdomens of pregnant people were about one degree warmer.
4. Those on exercise
Strenuous exercise increases the buildup of lactic acid and heat in your body.
(Credit: Freepik)
Mosquitoes are attracted to lactic acid, ammonia and other compounds detected in sweat.
Body heat during exercises could also contribute to the higher percentage of mosquito bites.
5. Those who perspire a lot
Well we can’t help it, can we?
Some acids in our body like lactic as well as uric and also cholesterol have high amounts of steroids.
These attract mosquitoes because these types of people who sweat a lot have a higher metabolism and process cholesterol quicker than anyone else.
6. Those wearing dark coloured clothes
Generally, mosquitoes are more attracted to dark environments and so, your clothes play a part in that as well.
Research shows that wearing dark colours like green, black and red makes you easier to spot by mosquitoes.
(Credit: Freepik)
Dr Jonathan Day, an entomologist and mosquito expert at the University of Florida explains that “mosquitoes have problems flying in even a slight wind, and so they keep close to the ground. Down there, they spot hosts by comparing your silhouette to the horizon. Dark colours stand out while light shades blend in.”
He also added that motion also distinguishes you from your surroundings, so if you’re wearing dark and moving a lot, you might as well just say “Hey ladies, I’m right here!”.
7. Those drinking alcohol
Who knew mosquitoes like beer?
In one research in 2002, mosquitoes are found to fly toward study participants who had drunk one litre of beer than participants who had drunk a litre of water.
(Credit: Freepik)
This could be because of an unknown chemical that forms on the skin after alcohol consumption.
Well, what do you know? Turns out mosquitoes do discriminate after all.
Take a look at his tweets below for more info.

6 Sebab Anda Sering Digigit Nyamuk1. DARAH JENIS OJenis darah tertentu lebih manis dari lain. Satu kajian mendapati darah jenis O mempunyai 83% kebarangkalian lebih tinggi untuk digigit nyamuk. Manakala sebaliknya dengan darah jenis A. pic.twitter.com/5wQosfUn8H— Dr Samhan (@DoktorSamhan) July 19, 2022

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Malaysia’s Michelle Yeoh Becomes A Deadly She-Elf In Netflix’s The Witcher: Blood Origin Series

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Malaysia’s very own screen queen, Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh, will be joining the ‘Witcherverse’ in the upcoming The Witcher: Blood Origin series on Netflix.

Netflix just confirmed that the actress will be playing the part of ‘Scían’, a deadly sword-wielding she-elf from a forgotten time.
Burdened by the fall of her tribe, the elf sets off on a quest to retrieve her people’s stolen sacred sword which soon leads her on a journey to save the world.
With an absolutely magical career in the film industry, she’s still flying our 🇲🇾 flag high. Dato’ Michelle Yeoh has been cast in the role of Scían in the upcoming series, The Witcher: Blood Origin 🎉✨ Into the Witcherverse we go! ✨THREAD 1/3 pic.twitter.com/ElHmCOaBHa— Netflix Malaysia (@NetflixMY) July 6, 2021
The Witcher: Blood Origin is a six-part spin-off and a prequel to The Witcher series starring Henry Cavill.
Set in an elven world 1200 years before Geralt of Rivia began killing monsters for coins, the Blood Origin will tell the story of how the legendary hunters came to be and when the worlds of monsters, men, and elves collide.

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MOHE: These College & Uni Students Allowed Back On Campus From 1st March Onwards

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The Higher Education Ministry (MOHE) has announced that some college and university students will be allowed back on campus from 1st March onwards.

In a statement released yesterday (31 Jan), MOHE assured that the decision was made following discussions with the Health Ministry (MOH), National Security Council (MKN), student bodies and health experts.
As a result, 6 categories of students are allowed to return to their respective campuses from 1st March onwards to resume hybrid teaching and learning sessions (PDP) – which comprises both physical and online lessons:
Those with no online learning accessStudents that require practical, laboratory, studio, & workshop sessions -This applies to students taking certifications, diplomas, bachelor’s degrees and postgraduates.Foundation level or Diploma students already on campus can continue with hybrid learning sessionsAll international students (current and new) except those from UKStudents with special needs / persons with disabilities (PWD)Students taking the Malaysian University English Test (MUET), or international and professional examinations
The hybrid learning sessions will be fully compliant with standard operating procedures (SOP) to curb Covid-19 infections. Students not identified in the categories above will continue with their classes online.

What about students travelling back to campus between East & West Malaysia?
Students cleared to return to campuses in Sabah and Sarawak will be required to undergo Covid-19 swab test, paid for by MOH.
Students who enter Sarawak must undergo 14-day quarantine whereby the cost will be borne by the Sarawak state government.
As for Sabah and Sarawak students travelling to campuses in the peninsula, they will be placed at isolation centres prepared by their respective institutions of higher learning to ensure that they are free from any Covid-19 symptoms.
For more information, students can contact MOHE’s Bilik Gerakan Covid-19 24-hour hotline at 03 8870 6777/ 6949/ 6623/ 6628.

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No More 10PM Curfew, Private Vehicles Now Allowed On The Road At Any Time Of Day

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Private vehicles are now allowed on the road at any time of the day or night now that the country has moved into the implementation of the conditional movement control order (CMCO).
During his daily security briefing today (5 May), Senior Minister (Defence) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that this specific restriction from the movement control order (MCO) no longer applies.
In terms of movement, district to district movement is already allowed, so there is no limit in terms of the time to travel.Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob via Malay Mail
Previously, under the MCO only those in essential services were allowed beyond the limits he mentioned. This restriction was enforced by police roadblocks set up along major roads preventing the public from any unnecessary travel.
In contrast, now under the CMCO, most businesses, except for those involving crowds and close contact services, have been allowed to resume.
Meanwhile, despite the loosening of this rule, interstate movement will continue to require police approval, which can be applied for through the Gerak Malaysia app.

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Health D-G Urges Protection Of Children From Covid-19 Amid Increase In Rare Kawasaki Syndrome Overseas

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Malaysians need to be more vigilant when it comes to protecting our children and infants from contracting Covid-19. It is a commonly held misconception that children are less vulnerable to the effects of Covid-19. However, the Health Ministry has stressed that kids are considered a high-risk group.
The concern follows a recent rise in reports of children being diagnosed with a more severe form of Kawasaki disease, with some health experts suspecting that the severity of the disease might have links to Covid-19.
Speaking to BBC, Dr Liz Whittaker, a clinical lecturer in paediatric infectious diseases and immunology, at Imperial College London, pointed out that the rise in Kawasaki disease among kids is occurring in the middle of a pandemic. Saying that this suggests the two are linked.
You’ve got the Covid-19 peak, and then three or four weeks later we’re seeing a peak in this new phenomenon which makes us think that it’s a post-infectious phenomenon.Dr Liz Whittaker via BBC
What is Kawasaki disease?
Kawasaki disease symptoms. (Credit: Kawasaki Kids Foundation)
Kawasaki disease was first described in Japan by Tomisaku Kawasaki in 1967, and the first cases of it being detected outside of Japan were reported in Hawaii in 1976.
Kawasaki disease is an illness that causes swelling and redness in blood vessels throughout the body. Currently, doctors still don’t know what causes Kawasaki disease, though they believe it isn’t contagious. It might be linked to genes, viruses, bacteria, or something else.
Thankfully, the condition is highly treatable. When caught early, kids are expected to recover within a few days of starting treatment. However, if the condition isn’t found until later, patients can have severe complications that affect the heart, including damage to a child’s coronary arteries.
Often affecting kids younger than 5 years of age, symptoms of the disease appear in phases. The first phase is usually a fever that lasts for at least 5 days. Other symptoms include red eyes, pink rash on the back, belly, arms, legs and genital area, dry lips, sore throat, a “strawberry” tongue, swollen palms and soles of the feet with a purple-red colour, and swollen lymph glands in the neck.
Speaking of the issue, Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said that to date, 317 children under the age of 12 years have tested positive for Covid-19 in Malaysia. Out of the 317, 35% were under the age of four and 7% were infants.
Image for illustrative purposes. (Credit: Malay Mail)
Despite the fact that there have not been any reports of severe Covid-19 cases among our kids, Dr Noor Hisham warned that Kawasaki-like symptoms are a danger that needs to be considered.
More importantly, we do know that Covid-19 affects the lungs, like pneumonia, for example. And in children, they can actually have Kawasaki-like syndrome which actually means inflammation of the vessels. This is why we call it vasculitis.Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah via Malay Mail
He stressed that the important issue that must be addressed is the need to prevent children from getting infected with Covid-19, and urged parents and guardians to adhere to the ministry’s standard operating procedures (SOP) to decrease the chances of infection.
He reminded parents of the importance of washing hands or bathing after returning home before interacting with children and encouraged the avoidance of crowded or confined spaces and implementing the required social distancing practices.
The MOH calls on parents, guardians and older family members be responsible and protect them at all times from this invisible virus. The general public is also encouraged to cooperate in protecting children and infants, by maintaining a safe social distance of at least one metre.Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah via Malay Mail

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Kedah Man Charged With Murder After Security Guard Dies, Faces Possible Death Penalty

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The suspect in the case of the security guard who was stabbed to death was brought before the Sungai Petani Sessions Court on Monday (8 Aug) on charges of murder.

Previously, the suspect faced charges of causing injury to the victim on Sunday.
The 58-year-old Ismail Ahmad victim received treatment at the Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital due to injuries from being slashed and beaten on Thursday.
He died at about 6 pm on Sunday (7 Aug).
R. Subramaniam, 41, was charged at Sungai Petani Magistrate’s Court for intentionally causing death to Ismail.
Pengawal Keselamatan Dilibas Pedang Kerana Tegur Cara Lelaki Tunggang Motosikal Meninggal Dunia https://t.co/y7Q7fdgi3c— BuzzKini (@BuzzKini) August 8, 2022
The crime was committed at the guard post of Sierra 4 Bukit Banyan housing project site at 4.40 pm on 4 August.
The accused has committed an offence that can be punished according to Section 302 of the Penal Code, which provides for the death penalty if found guilty.
However, no confession was recorded and the accused nodded in understanding as soon as the charges were read out in front of Magistrate Nor Fazlina Musa.
Deputy Public Prosecutor S Arthini handled the prosecution while no lawyer represented the accused.
Due Process Of Law
The court then set 5 October as the next hearing date pending the autopsy and chemical report.
The Court granted bail at RM12,000 with one surety in addition to imposing additional conditions.
The accused will need to report at the beginning of each month to the police in Kuala Muda until the case is completed.
A second suspect has been placed under court bond as a prosecution witness, and police are still tracking down the third suspect.
Previously, Subramaniam had pleaded guilty to causing serious injury to Ismail under Section 326 of the Penal Code.
The confession was made by the accused before Judge Roslan Hamid, who then set August 29 next as the next hearing date while waiting for the victim’s medical report.
The incident also led to a piece of fake news, saying that a race riot had broken in Sungai Petani.
READ MORE: Race Riot In Sungai Petani, Kedah Is Fake News, Says Police

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Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Wins Social Media Hearts With Cleverly Edited Wes Anderson Reel

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It’s not every day you see a politician following a TikTok trend. But recently, a smoothly edited video of the Wes Anderson trend went viral, this time done by our Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker, Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor.

Garnering around 325K views and 29K likes at the moment of writing, Ramli’s video featured him showing off his day at work at the parliament, Deputy Speaker’s style.
(Credit: Ramli Mohd Nor / TikTok)
With a typical Wes Anderson filmography, his videos featured him walking in straight lines through the frame and doing symmetrical movements with a vibrant saturated background.
What’s amusing to see in this video is how he acted throughout the video with a poker face on, especially at the part where he hid behind a pillar and played on the swing at the end of the video.
  @ramli.mohdnor Bila saya fefeeling ikut trend #Wesanderson #Ramlimohdnor #RMN #Timbalanspeaker #Parlimenmalaysia #Dewanrakyat #Malaysiamadani ♬ original sound  – Ramli Mohd Nor
For those unfamiliar with Ramli, he is also known as the speaker who reminded the MPs to not act like they were in a zoo while in the parliament.
Last February, when the council was still in session, he told the MPs that the public already has a bad impression of them working in the parliament, as one person randomly asked him at a mamak stall, “How’s the zoo?”, referring to their antics.
He reminded all the MPs to behave and continue upholding the virtues and etiquette while in Dewan Rakyat, especially because they are filmed live, for the public to see.
Netizens are impressed & amused by his Wes Anderson trend
Since the video went viral, a lot of people commented and reacted to it.
Many of them are amused and they find it cute seeing how this strict ex-police officer could do a trend as quirky as this.

One even said that his social media team did a good job at keeping up with the youngster’s trend.

Others just made fun of what usually goes on in the parliament.

So, who exactly is this man and why is he so special?
For your information, Ramli is no ordinary politician. Not only is he the first member of Parliament from the Orang Asli community, but he is also the first from the community to be elected Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat.
Here’s a little background on Ramli Mohd Nor that you might know about.
Ramli was born in the Batu 12 Orang Asli Settlement, Jalan Pahang, Gombak, Selangor. His father was from the Semai tribe in Cameron Highlands, Pahang while his mother is from the Temiar tribe in Gua Musang, Kelantan.
His father, the late Mohd Nor Abdullah or Bah Ayob was no ordinary man, as he was among the founding members of the police’s Senoi Praaq unit – a jungle fighting force trained by the British Special Air Service to counter communist insurgency.
(Credit: Ramli Mohd Nor / Facebook)
Ramli started off his career being a port traffic officer in Johor from 1980 to 1984 until he joined the police force (PDRM) in 1984 and served for 34 years. Before his retirement in 2018, he was the deputy director at the Bukit Aman Commercial Crimes Investigation Department.
For his studies, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Studies (Hons) from the University of East London and also continued getting two Master’s Degrees, one in Public Administration from Open University Malaysia and another in Bussines Administration from The University of the West of Scotland (UWS), Scotland, UK. He then also took a PhD in Business Studies at the International University Malaya-Wales (IUMW).
Besides being conversant in Mandarin, another fun fact about Ramli is that he was chosen to undergo training at the USA’s Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) while he was still serving in the police corps. He spent three months training at the FBI Academy in Quantico along with 56 other policemen chosen from all around the world in 2014.
The first Orang Asli MP in the Parliament
Ramli Mohd Nor’s political journey began when he contested in the Cameron Highlands by-election in 2019. He emerged as the chosen candidate, representing the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.
(Credit: Ramli Mohd Nor / Facebook)
He secured his victory (12,038 votes) in the election by defeating Pakatan Harapan’s M. Manogaran (DAP) and two other independent candidates; Wong Seng Yee and Sallehudin Ab Talib.
He then became the first Orang Asli to be elected into the Dewan Rakyat. Ramli’s victory brought hope for greater representation and a stronger voice for the Orang Asli within the political landscape.
The first Orang Asli Deputy Speaker in the Parliament
In October 2021, he was nominated as a Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker by Umno after Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman tendered her resignation on August 2021.
He then became the first Orang Asli MP sitting as the temporary Dewan Rakyat Speaker in March 2022 to fill in for Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun while he was away to chair a Special Chamber meeting.
(Credit: Ramli Mohd Nor / Facebook)
Then, officially in December 2022, he was appointed as the Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker along with Alice Lau, a Pakatan Harapan MP representing Lanang.
Three names were thrown in the hat for the post of deputy speaker; Ramli, Lau and Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) Masjid Tanah MP Datuk Mas Ermiyati Samsudin. A vote was conducted and Ramli obtained 148 votes, Lau garnered 146 while Mas Ermieyati only managed 74.
Ramli now serves as the Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker under Speaker Datuk Johari Abdul who was previously the MP for Sungai Petani.
READ MORE: How Much Does The Dewan Rakyat Speaker Earn Every Month & What Are The Benefits He Gets?
READ MORE: What Is The Dewan Rakyat Speaker’s Role And Why Is It Such A Big Deal?

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“It Gives A Peace Of Mind” Flood Victims Praise Police For Taking Flood Damage Reports At Relief Centres

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Our policemen have been praised for going over to the temporary relief centres in the Sepang district so that the victims can make reports about their damaged properties caused by the recent floods.

According to theSundaily, one of the flood victims named Jaafar Selamat, 64, said the gesture was most welcome because the police presence made it easier for those who didn’t have time to lodge a report at the police station to do so now.
He also said he was grateful that the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah visited them at the relief centre on Sunday.
We hope our plight gets equal attention and hope the government aid can be sent to us quickly because I have nothing left.Jaafar Selamat told Bernama at the Sekolah Rendah Agama Dato Ahmad Razali relief centre.
Another flood victim, Rosmawati Juhari, 53, was still in shock by the disaster and said she lost everything in the flood.
She had to quickly leave the house with her four children in waist-deep waters at 2 am on Saturday while being led by the light of her handphone.
She said the initiative by the police to take reports at relief centres is helpful for those who are still in shock like her.
At least, the effort gives us peace of mind because many are still not able to go to the police station to lodge their reports.Rosmawati Juhari
Dengkil police station chief, Inspector Sallehuddin Sulaiman, said his men will take the reports manually so that the process is shortened.
He added that he expects the Dengkil police station to receive 10,000 flood-related reports involving the destruction of property.
To cope with the task, he said that applications for three more computers and printers have been sent to Bukit Aman.

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Latest U.S. Anti-vax Trend? Inhaling Hydrogen Peroxide To Prevent Covid-19, But Asthma Association Say It Will Damage Lungs

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The U.S. is at it again. This time, using hydrogen peroxide as a way to prevent Covid-19.

However, according to America’s Asthma and Allergy Foundation, this is dangerous and can cause damage to lungs and respiratory system.
The association has given out a warning saying that putting hydrogen peroxide into a nebulizer and breathe it in, which is circulating on social media there, is not a safe alternative to prevent Covid-19.
A concerning and dangerous trend is circulating on social media channels like Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok. People are breathing in hydrogen peroxide through nebulizers to try to prevent or treat Covid-19.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
According to WebMD, hydrogen peroxide is a mild antiseptic used on the skin to prevent infection of minor cuts, scrapes, and burns.
It’s reported by USA Today that the chemical compound is toxic to consume – either by ingestion or inhalation. If it’s inhaled, it can cause irritation on the lungs and respiratory system depending on how diluted it is.
Only use asthma medicine prescribed by your doctor in your nebulizer. Other chemicals can be harmful to your lungs.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

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18,702 New Teachers Wanted To Close Shortage Gap

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The Ministry of Education will take in 18,702 new teachers in a new one-off intake process to close the teacher shortage gap, announced Senior Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin in a special press conference today (20 July).

He said that the solution was discussed and agreed upon by the Ministry of Education (KPN), the Public Service Department (JPN), and the Education Service Commission (SPP).
This new one-off approach involves adopting subject option clusters, whereby the applicant’s qualifications are divided into clusters to create large pools of candidates.
It also includes a diversity of appointment methods that utilise different approaches. While it will prioritise graduates in education, the ministry would also look at graduates of other professions to complete the numbers needed.
DPB Malaysia / YouTube
This approach, said Dr Radzi, requires the cooperation of various departments. It is hoped that it will result in the intake of 18,702 grade DG41 education service officers.
Dr Radzi admits that these are big numbers in such a short time, but it is needed to remedy the long-running issue of the lack of teachers.
“The one-off intake is designed to close the shortage gap and create a new baseline for us to move forward. After that, managing the gap between the supply of teachers and the demand for teachers would be easier,” said Dr Radzi.
He added that the Ministry of Education would, in the future, recruit teachers through the normal procedures.
Where teachers are needed
Meanwhile, Dr Radzi shared the statistics that show the four states in Malaysia that have the highest number of vacancies for teachers are Sabah, Sarawak, Johor, and Selangor.
In primary schools, he noted that there is a shortage of teachers for subjects such as English, History, Special Education, Islamic Education, and Information Technology and Communications.
Secondary schools, on the other hand, need more teachers for subjects such as Malay Language, English, Special Education, Islamic Education, and Design and Technology.
The intake process will begin on 7 July and the placements of these new teachers will be made beginning in October this year.

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Gordon Ramsay’s Opening A Restaurant In Msia & You Can Already Make Reservations

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Gordon Ramsay is well-known for his excessive profanity in the kitchen, and perhaps it’s understandable in the face of 2021.

Still, the year isn’t all too bad, as it turns out that the multi-Michelin-starred chef will be opening his new restaurant in Sunway City Kuala Lumpur mid-2021!
The only other restaurants in Asia owned by him is in Singapore and Hong Kong, and both are not his self-titled restaurants. So, Malaysia is pretty lucky to have our very own self-titled Gordon Ramsay restaurant!
Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill will be officially opening in June 2021 in the lobby of Sunway Resort, but the hype is real as they are already accepting reservations six months in advance for a restaurant that is not even open yet.
The menu seems to focus more on typical Western bar & grill food such as Gordon Ramsay’s signature dishes like Beef Wellington and Sticky Toffee Pudding.
However, we can’t help but wonder if he will add a couple of Malaysian offerings, just to see if he has gotten the hang of making Malay-style beef rendang after previously being scolded by a makcik garang.

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Finance Ministry To Introduce Ways To Disincentivise Malaysia’s Shadow Economy

In an interview with BFM, Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said that his ministry is “considering measures to disincentivise the shadow economy”.
This was part of the minister’s response to the radio station’s question regarding the government’s plans on broadening revenue base, which touched on taxation issues for the upcoming Budget 2021.

Malaysia’s shadow economy

Late last year, it was revealed that Malaysia’s shadow economy is worth RM300 billion – about 21% of our overall gross domestic product. The shadow economy refers to economic activities that involve corruption and tax avoidance, such as the black market of illegal cigarettes and contraband alcohol.

Over 60% of the cigarettes sold in Malaysia are from the black market.(Credit: Julia Engel/Unsplash)

These goods are usually smuggled into the country to avoid paying excise duties and escape regulatory controls. As such, black market cigarettes and alcohol are usually priced much lower than legal ones. The low price of illegal goods is believed to be a factor that drives Malaysians to purchase them, consequently boosting the shadow economy.
Not only does the shadow economy cause the government to lose revenue, black market goods are proven to have negative health effects as well. A Universiti Malaya study revealed that illegal cigarettes have three times more tar and nicotine than that permissible by Malaysian laws. They are also more likely to be contaminated by unknown chemicals and substances that are harmful, too.
On the other hand, illegal cigarettes are linked to the growing trend of underage smoking among Malaysian youths.

Region Two Marine Police Force confiscated over 3,229 litres of contraband alcohol in Tampoi, Johor Bahru on 6 October 2020.(Credit: Region Two Marine Police Force/Malay Mail)

How is Malaysia fighting the shadow economy?

While Tengku Zafrul did not provide details about the measures his ministry is taking to fight the shadow economy, he did mention it in relation to “reviewing the scope of tax”.
The Malaysian Chapter of the Retail and Trade Brands Advocacy (RBTA) earlier proposed four suggestions to the government on how this can be done:
Increase funding to relevant enforcement agencies;Review price mechanism and excise structures; Establish funding for a multi-agency and multi-national task force dedicated to combating the black market; andCreate an anti-black market fund to encourage whistleblowers.

(Credit: Stop The Black Market)

On the ground level, British American Tobacco (BAT) Malaysia has also launched their Stop The Black Market campaign to create awareness about the illicit cigarette trade. A bus carrying the campaign’s message was even seen around some of Kuala Lumpur’s famous landmarks.

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Missing 15YO Girl Found In Kajang After Running Away For A Week

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A 15-year-old girl named Pavitra Pogelselvan who went missing on Thursday, 10 February, has been found.

Pavitra did not go home with the school van after school ended so the worried van driver alerted her father.
A NUR alert was issued which stated that she was last seen in her PJ clothes: black track pants and maroon shirt.
READ MORE: NUR Alert Issued For Missing Form 3 Schoolgirl In Bentong
According to the police statement, they found Pavitra along with a 17-year-old female friend at a bus stop in Kajang, Selangor around 3.30am yesterday (19 February).
The police checked the identification cards (ICs) of both girls and discovered that one of them is Pavitra, the girl who was missing.
The police said Pavitra ran away from home and used an e-hailing service to meet her friend in Kajang, and stayed at her friend’s house for almost six days.
Pavitra has been sent to Hospital Bentong for a health checkup.
Bentong police chief Superintendent Zaiham Mohd Kahar advised parents to be alert and take notice of their children’s behaviour.
He also encouraged children to communicate and discuss any problems with their parents or guardian and to refrain from making hasty decisions that may put them or the adults in charge in trouble.

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Malaysians Set New World Record, Juggling And Passing Football On Video

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Malaysians have gained another entry into the Guinness Book Of World Records for “The Largest Online Video Chain of People Performing Football Juggle” thanks to a campaign by WONDA Coffee to promote their canned “Kopi Tarik”.

The campaign was started in conjunction with the last FIFA World Cup, during which WONDA Coffee organized its #WONDABolaCorner campaign, encouraging Malaysians to participate as we didn’t get a spot in the World Cup itself.
To commemorate the achievement of setting a new world record, official Guinness World Record adjudicator Jacob Yip presented the record title to Etika Sdn Bhd vice president (Marketing) Amy Gan during a press event earlier today.
(From left) Etika Sdn Bhd vice president (Marketing) Amy Gan, and official Guinness World Record adjudicator Jacob Yip.
Juggling a football for at least two kickups requires a certain level of skill but to draw more Malaysians into taking part, WONDA Coffee managed to get some of Malaysia’s football talents to take part, such as Mohd Faiz Subri, Safiq Rahim, Qhouirunnisa and Steffi Sidhu among others.
The initiative has been a massive success that can be validated by the overwhelming response and mass participation of Malaysians which far surpassed our initial expectations. We truly appreciate and would like to thank everyone for the tremendous support throughout this activity.Etika Sdn Bhd vice president (Marketing) Amy Gan
And while the ink is still drying on this record, Etika says they are committed to setting more in the future.

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Everything You Need To Know About Penang CM’s New RM458,000 Mercedes

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Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow’s new ride was welcomed with criticism from pretty much everyone.

The RM458,000 selenite-grey, Mercedes-Benz S560e luxury hybrid saloon, was bought by the state to replace the Chief’s old official car – a Mercedes S300L purchased for and used by the former Penang CM Lim Guan Eng since 2013 and cost RM298,263.
The new car was said to be purchased in 2019 with a discount of RM127,765
Not the best time?
Many began questioning the State Government’s decision to get the new car considering how loud members of the Opposition were at condemning the Kelantan State Government for its purchase of luxury vehicles, which made headlines in 2020.
Former Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman took to social media and openly compared the Penang State government with Kelantan’s and added that the rakyat was fed-up by the extravagance shown by “VIPs” – with their fancy imported cars, luxurious meals and events.
The rakyat are struggling, sick and hungry. The Covid-19 crisis, the flood crisis. There are those who slept for over 8 months in their car because they couldn’t afford rent. There are those who drowned due to collapsing from exhaustion helping kampung residents because of floods.via Facebook

Terengganu PKR Youth Chief Nazhan Zulkifli was also reported as saying that such behaviour would make the rakyat sick of politicians and said that the Penang government owes the people an apology.
We do not want to be an opposition that only knows to attack the other side, but at the end of the day, we do things just like them. This is akin to a crab trying to teach its offspring how to walk straight.Nazhan Zulkifli via Malaysiakini
Of course former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak also took a shot at DAP, saying that the party would only be “furious” when the Kelantan PAS government made such purchases.
It’s okay for Penang’s DAP government to buy a new Mercedes for Guan Eng in 2014. It was okay for Penang’s DAP government to buy a new Mercedes for Chow Kon Yeow months after the pandemic. But don’t let it be Kelantan’s PAS government that buys a Mercedes because Guan Eng would be furious.via Facebook

On social media, netizens were also voicing their dissatisfaction over the issue saying that it was a waste of taxpayer money.
No, I do not agree with the Penang CM's purchase of the RM420k Mercedes-Benz while others are suffering.There is no necessity to buy a luxury car using the people's money when hundreds of thousands have lost jobs due to Covid-19 and thousands are affected by bad flooding.— Ivan Ong 🇲🇾 (@IvanAlexOng) January 8, 2021
Some even took to comparing how members of the Opposition were critical on other accounts of luxurious spending but remain silent in light of the current situation.
Still no respond from some DAP leaders such as Hannah Yeoh, Marina Ibrahims and etc on this Penang Chief Minister’s new rm400k++ Mercedes during such a disastrous pandemic. where have they gone? They can condemn others, but why keep silent on one of theirs? pic.twitter.com/lkRWP8EUZs— August Teh 🧢⚖🇲🇾 (@august_teh) January 8, 2021
Greatest hits. pic.twitter.com/Clmhx2xvn9— 🇲🇾 MVP (@RimauXI) January 7, 2021
Malaysian cars not good enough?
Penang has reportedly been upgrading its fleet of state official vehicles since 2019, explaining that new cars would be safer and cost less on maintenance.
In 2020, the Kelantan State Government purchased 14 Mercedes-Benz for the use of state officials with Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah reported as saying that it was also due to safety reasons.
Perak’s former Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu also had his official car upgraded from a Toyota Camry to a Lexus ES sedan, last year.
However that same year, Guan Eng who was Malaysian Finance Minister at the time, announced that the Federal Government would keep using the Malaysian-made Proton Perdana as its official car after it was reported that the government intended to replace its fleet of official vehicles with imported cars.

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Source:
Penang CM receives new S-Class hybrid Mercedes-Benz as replacement official car
New Mercedes: Penang CM under fire from allies
Penang CM sports new Mercedes-Benz S560e luxury hybrid saloon
Keselamatan jadi alasan Kelantan beli Mercedes
Perak MB trades Camry for Lexus
Proton Perdana still official cars for ministers, deputies
Ministers to continue to use Proton Perdana cars, after all


Netizens Track Down Alleged Hit & Run Driver Faster Than The Police Did

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Malaysia’s social media investigators quickly went to work on identifying the driver of a red Perodua Axia that had allegedly run over a cyclist on Jalan Kinabalu in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday (8 September) morning.

It was understood that a public call was sent out to help find the culprit behind the incident after a traffic cam footage capturing the hit-and-run managed its way online.
Netizens were supposedly able to track down the vehicle’s owner through the car’s license plates.
(Credit: Facebook)
In the video, the cyclist was seen riding on the far left side of the road before being hit by the vehicle that came from behind it.

Conversations online also show social media users arguing over who’s at fault in the incident.
While many had accused the driver of intentionally causing the collision, others say that the bicycle shouldn’t have been on the road in the first place.
Fun fact though, according to Malaysia’s traffic laws, cyclists are indeed allowed to be on all types of public roads, except for highways and expressways, depending on the circumstances.
Read More: It’s Not Illegal For Bicyclists To Use Highways But These Are The Laws You Can Use To Report Dangerous Cycling
Netizens also later dug up that the owner of the red Axia was not the one who was behind the wheels during the incident.
A police report shared online claims that the original owner of the vehicle had loaned the car to a friend.
(Credit: Facebook/Twitter)
Police involvement
Reportedly, both the cyclist and the driver later came to provide statements to the Kuala Lumpur Traffic Police.
Cops say that the cyclist, a 33-year-old man who worked for KL City Hall (DBKL), had suffered from minor injuries. His bike though, as seen in pictures, had definitely seen better days.
Meanwhile, the driver behind the red Axia was identified as a 22-year-old individual who was released from custody after providing statements.
Police explained that the car had continued on its journey after having hit the bicycle.
The car was also confiscated to aid the investigation.
The case was being investigated under Rule 10 of the Road Traffic Rules 1959 for the offence of neglecting to properly control a vehicle or being asleep behind the wheel.

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Source:
Polis sita kenderaan langgar lari penunggang basikal
Pemandu kereta merah langgar lari penunggang basikal berjaya dikesan


Local Designers Rally To Help Sew PPE For Medical Frontliners

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-jJ2-Xn0eb/https://www.instagram.com/p/B-erRBspD4C/https://www.instagram.com/p/B-hEcGJpxAI/
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Famous local fashion designers plus their teams of seamstresses have been busy working to help supply local hospitals with the much-needed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) gowns.
Big names such as Jovian Mandagie, Khoon Hooi, Radzuan Radziwill, Alia Bastamam, Melinda Looi, Celeste Thoi, Nurita Harith, Mimpikita, Justin Yap, and Fizi Woo are doing their part to help the country battle the Covid-19 pandemic by putting their sewing skills to good use to produce PPE for medical workers.

Melinda Looi, designer and President of Malaysian Official Designers Association (MODA) said she was dismayed to see pictures and videos of nurses and doctors sewing their own PPE gowns.
They should be focusing on saving lives instead. Leave the sewing work to the designers.Melinda Looi via FMT
So, the association decided to rally those in the industry to help out and received an overwhelming response from not only fashion designers, but others as well who wanted to help make the PPE gowns. In two days, Melinda also managed to secure RM100,000 in donations.Â
Speaking of this, Melinda said that this was the time everyone was coming together doing whatever they could for the country and the real heroes in this crisis.
She added that despite the fact that designers are unable to run their businesses as normal and that their income have been affected, they remain a caring lot and want to contribute in any way they can.

I have received so many calls and messages from designers wanting to help. Some are willing to donate money while others are open to crafting, cutting and sewing these essential protective gowns.Melinda Looi via NST
Delivery of materials has been made to the homes of designers, where they have been working hard to produce as many hospital gowns as they possibly can.
Fashion designer Khoon Hooi is already creating 600 pieces of PPO gowns. Key Ng is doing a few hundred PPE jumpsuits, Alia Bastamam, Innai Red, Nurita Harith, and Mimpikita are all creating a few hundred pieces each. I am targeting between 80,000 to 100,000 pieces of PPE.Melinda Looi via FMT
Jovian Mandagie put his own designer twist to the gowns and sewed them in white to symbolise the front linersâ€™ “pure and clean hearts”.
Alia Bastamam has ordered two rolls of the necessary fabric and hopes to make 1,200 protective outfits.
Meanwhile, upon hearing that hospital staff could use up to 400 gowns in just one day, Khoon Hooi said that whatever they could supply would be much needed and shared that it feels good to assist those who are putting themselves in danger to help others during this time.

According to Melinda, one roll of the material cost about RM5,000 now and one roll could be used to make 600 gowns.
In their statement, MODA states that PPE hospital gowns are very important to protect medical frontliners from contracting the virus when they deal with confirmed and potentially positive Covid-19 patients.
MODA has around 40 members and they also have some 200 home seamstresses and general members of the public contributing to this initiative. Melinda was most touched when senior citizens in their 60s and 70s asked her if they could contribute and sew, too.
All PPE gowns that have been completed so far have been delivered to the Institute for Medical Research and Hospital Kuala Lumpur.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-qZH32gLBW/

Besides this, MODA is also working with online retailer FashionValet for their help with fundraising, and Imaret (Ismalic Medical Association of Malaysia) for distribution to their network of hospitals.
MODA, which is a non-profit organisation, is also appealing to the public to donate, in a bid to raise funds to buy the fabric needed to sew the gowns, as well as purchase other essentials like latex gloves and shoe covers for the frontliners.
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Malaysia Drops The Ball On 300K Vaccination Streak

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Over the past week, the National Covid-19 Immunisation Program (PICK) hit some of its key milestones. More than 10% of Malaysians have been vaccinated and over 300,000 vaccinations were administered each day.

Reaching the 10% vaccination rate is one of the conditions needed for the country to enter Phase 2 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP). As of 9 July, 7 states: Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, and Sabah, have entered Phase 2.
This is due, in no small part, to the over 300,000 vaccinations administered per day since 5 July.
It’s reported that Malaysia’s high vaccination rate was higher than many other countries including the United Kingdom based on doses administered per 100 people.
Our World Data
The fumble
However, PICK couldn’t maintain the numbers as 291,217 doses were administered on 11 July.
At the same time, Putrajaya, which already had 29.3% of its population vaccinated, has recorded no second dose shots for two days in a row.
Melaka, which has 10% of its population vaccinated, saw only 30 first doses being administered and no second doses.
Daily vaccination report by states on 11 July#LindungDiriLindungSemua pic.twitter.com/NYOh236aLG— Vaksin COVID-19 🇲🇾 (@JKJAVMY) July 12, 2021
Meanwhile, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, which has constantly hit the highest number of daily new infections, have 7.6% and 20.2% of their population fully vaccinated, respectively.
They both also show the highest number of first doses administered nationwide and their second dose numbers were only beaten by Sarawak with 36,279 doses, which is more than the two combined.

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Govt’s Hiring Incentive Programme, PenjanaKerjaya, Was So Successful They’re Updating It For 2021; How To Apply

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Almost 150,000 unemployed Malaysians managed to find a job through the government’s Hiring Incentive Programme PenjanaKerjaya since it’s launch in June 2020.

This is incredibly hopeful news for fresh graduates, school leavers, and the almost 100,000 Malaysians who recently lost employment this year due to the pandemic. Especially since the government is launching an updated version of the programme for 2021.
Based on a report by The Star,  Deputy Human Resources Minister Awang Hashim said the 2021 version includes an allocation of RM2 billion under Budget2021, as well as some new and improved incentives.
This includes training programmes for the apprenticeship category and the recruitment incentive rate has been increased from 40% to 60% from a ceiling salary of RM10,000.Awang Hashim, Deputy Human Resources Minister of Malaysia via The Star
What is PenjanaKerjaya and how it worked
PenjanaKerjaya was announced under the National Economic Recovery Plan in June 2020 by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
It offered financial incentives of between RM600 and RM1,000 to employers for each member of staff employed for up to six months.
According to Awang Hashim, there have been 12 large-scale carnivals organised by Socso since the programme began.
During these carnivals, potential candidates were interviewed by company representatives to fill vacancies in their respective organisations.
         View this post on Instagram            A post shared by SOCSO’s Employment Services (@eisperkeso)
He said the job seekers, including fresh graduates, school leavers, and the recently unemployed, found placings with 47,000 employers nationwide.
Six of these were virtual carnivals involving 28 locations, while for small interviews 242 programmes had been implemented.Awang Hashim, Deputy Human Resources Minister of Malaysia via The Star
Until 23 December, about RM160.66 million was allocated to companies which recruited new staff under the programme.
If you’re interested in taking part, the programme is being improved for 2021
On the PenjanaKerjaya website, an announcement was made saying that they have temporarily closed applications for the programme while it is improved under Budget2021.
(Credit: PenjanaKerjaya Perkeso)
The last date for applications for PenjanaKerjaya was changed from 31 December to 20 December 2020.
Employers who had hired new staff members before 20 December and registered them through the MYFutureJobs portal were urged to send in their applications before noon of 20 December 2020.
Any employer who has hired new employees who have been registered through the MYFutureJobs portal can submit their employee incentive application on the website before 12 noon, on that day.PenjanaKerjaya 2.0 announcement on PERKESO’s website.
Meanwhile, for hires made after 20 December 2020, the announcement said employers can apply under PenjanaKerjaya 2.0 according to the set eligibility criterias, adding that the new application date starts on 1 January 2021.
It also stated that guidelines and FAQs for PenjanaKerjaya 2.0 will be displayed on PERKESO’s official website in the near future.
However, at the time of writing, TRP could only find the updated FAQs, but not the new guidelines. So, readers are advised to check on PERKESO’s website and their social media platforms from time to time for the updated information.
Facebook: @eisperkesomalaysia Twitter: @eisperkesoInstagram: @eisperkesoLinkedIn: EIS PERKESOYouTube: EIS PERKESO
In the meantime, you can know of other governmental assistance through our other articles below:
READ MORE: New Job? Claim A One Time RM1,000 Allowance From Government
READ MORE: Here’s A List Of Financial Aid Available During The Movement Control Order Period

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Flood Evacuees In Four States Increasing

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Johor, Melaka, Kelantan, and Perak recorded an increase in the number of flood victims last night.

According to Bernama, the number of evacuees in Selangor dropped to 126 compared to 144 earlier in the day.
The situation in Penang showed an improvement after the last temporary evacuation center (PPS) at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Lahar Yooi, which had been sheltering 37 victims from eight families, was closed down on Monday.
The Johor District Disaster Management Committee informed that six PPS were operational in the districts of Segamat, Kluang, Pontian, and Tangkak, where the number of victims increased to 318 from 310 at 4 p.m. Monday.
Over in Melaka, the number of flood victims at two PPS in Alor Gajah increased from 41 from 12 families at 8 a.m. on Monday to 51 from 16 families.
The Kampung Gadek Town Hall PPS accommodates 12 people from six families, while the Durian Tunggal State Legislative Assembly Development and Coordination Committee Office PPS houses 39 people from 10 families.
All of the victims were from Kampung Gadek, Kampung Bukit Tambun, Kampung Bukit Balai, Kampung Pulau, and Kampung Belimbing, however one additional neighbourhood in Central Melaka, Taman Bukit Beruang Bestari, was also affected, but no PPS was opened.Secretariat of the State Disaster Management Committee in Melaka
In Kelantan, the number of flood victims was at 2,124 from 713 families. They were seeking shelter at eight PPS in Pasir Mas as of 9 p.m., up from 2,076 people from 693 families on earlier in the day.
In Perak, as of 9 p.m. yesterday, there were 254 evacuees sheltered at six PPS: SK Changkat Lobak in Kerian, Sekolah Menengah Abdul Rahman Talib, Piandang Village Community Hall in Siputeh, Jelapang Village Community Hall, Simpang Halt Village Community Hall, and Kampung Padang Temak Multipurpose Hall.
The number of flood victims at SK Changkat Lobak has increased somewhat to 34 from 10 this afternoon, with an additional four victims at PPS Dewan Multipurpose Kampung Padang Tembak.
PPS Dewan Orang Ramai Kampung Jelapang in the districts of Larut Matang and Selama showed a decreasing trend, with 12 victims from two families compared to the previous 40 victims.
According to the JKM InfoBencana website in Selangor, the number of flood victims has decreased to 126 from 36 families, down from 144 from 44 families on Monday afternoon.
A total of three PPS are still operating, compared to six on Monday morning, namely SK Sungai Sireh, Jeram National Secondary School, and Yuk Chih Batang Berjuntai Chinese National Type School.

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RTM’s Orchestra has Released an Online Performance Dedicated To Frontliners

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Orkestra RTM has brought 15 musicians together to record an amazing performance, separately, from the comfort of each of their own homes.
The orchestra team for RTM are the first ones in the country to take on the impressive feat, of which was dedicated to all the Malaysian men and women working tirelessly at the frontlines against the Covid-19 pandemic.
The song they chose to perform was Bahtera Merdeka, composed by the late Kassim Masdor.
Speaking of the performance, RTM Music Director Datuk Mokhzani Ismail said that the idea to take on such a challenge was inspired by similar performances done by musicians overseas. Though, he admitted that it was not an easy endeavour.
Aside from bringing the musicians together, at their own separate homes, the team also needed to ensure the song was played in tune and in tempo. At the same time, it needed to be recorded and we needed to keep an eye on the music score too.Datuk Mokhzani Ismail via Berita Harian (Translated from BM)

Mokhzani also shared that they will be working on getting an acknowledgement of their feat from the Malaysia Book of Records and that they intend to record another similar performance soon, but possibly on an even larger scale.
On the choice of song, Mokhzani explained that the score was suitable for the challenge faced by Malaysians in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and implementation of the movement control order.
Bahtera Merdeka was originally sung by the late Datuk Ahmad Jais and remade by Aishah. The lyrics contain the phrase â€œjiwa dan raga, buktikanlah pada nusa dan bangsaâ€. I believe these words perfectly encapsulate what weâ€™re going through.Mokhzani Ismail via Berita Harian. (Translated from BM to English)

The phrase mentioned by Mokhzani means â€œsoul and body, prove it to the country and nationâ€ and he said that the performance is dedicated to the Malaysians who are fighting for the country at the frontlines.
The amazing performance was arranged by Aziem Rashidi and conducted by Luqman Aziz.

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Klang Valley & Melaka Goes Into Phase 4 On Monday

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Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that Melaka and Klang Valley (which includes Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, and Selangor) will move on to Phase 4 of the National Recovery Plan (PPN) on 18 October.

He also announced that Kelantan, Perak, Penang, and Kedah, will move on to PPN Phase 3 on the same day.
This means that on Monday, there will no longer be any states in Malaysia that are in PPN Phase 1 and Phase 2.
The Special Committee on Pandemic Management, which is chaired by Ismail Sabri, also announced new additions to the SOP:
Operations of all R&R at all highways in the country are allowed to operate for a full 24 hours starting today (16 October).

All e-hailing vehicles in all states are allowed to carry passengers at full capacity starting today.

The Surveillance and Observation Order period for travellers from abroad will be reduced starting 18 October.7 days quarantine at home or a quarantine station for travellers who are fully vaccinated.10 days quarantine at a quarantine station for travellers who are not fully vaccinated.

The Surveillance and Observation Order period for Close Contact is reduced starting 18 October.7 days quarantine at home for those who are fully vaccinated.10 days of quarantine at home for those who are not fully vaccinated.

Cyber Centers and Cyber Cafes are allowed to operate with limited capacity starting 17 October.80% capacity for those located in states that are in Phase 3.100% capacity for those located in states that are in Phase 4.

Malaysians are allowed to perform the Umrah starting 18 October.

Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) involving fully vaccinated individuals are allowed to be done face-to-face in all PPN Phase 3 states starting 18 October with these requirements:Covid-19 saliva or RTK-Antigen test must be conducted prior to the event.Physical distancing must be observed.Face masks must be worn.Only occupying 50% of the meeting space.
KENYATAAN MEDIA YAB PERDANA MENTERI@IsmailSabri60PERALIHAN FASA DAN KELONGGARAN SOP#KeluargaMalaysia #BekerjaBersamaRakyat pic.twitter.com/trQz3h8Cb4— KKMalaysia🇲🇾 (@KKMPutrajaya) October 15, 2021

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117 Confirmed Covid-19 Cases In Malaysia As Of 10th March

https://www.facebook.com/informationisbeautiful/photos/pcb.10157864034138418/10157864031513418/?type=3&theater
Covid-19 is a growing concern in the country. It spreads rapidly, and a 5-day incubation period means most people don’t even realize they’re infected.
As of 10th March 2020, Malaysia already has 117 confirmed cases of Covid-19.
24 cases have successfully recovered and been discharged from the hospitals thus far. There has been no deaths in Malaysia.
Globally, there are over 101,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases.
However, fatality rates differ by age group. Currently, the groups most at-risk are the elderly, men, and smokers.

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Is Lalaport, The Mall Built Over Pudu Jail Worth Visiting?

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Mitsui Lalaport Mall is a chain of shopping malls from Japan that just opened its first Malaysian mall right in the city earlier this year. The mall features notable Japanese stores such as NITORI, Nojima, and Don Don Donki.

The mall is built over the old Pudu Jail on Jalan Hang Tuah. However, the prison has not actually been in use since 1996, and the building was demolished in stages until all that was left is the landmark main gate and a section of the exterior wall. In fact, the main gate has actually been incorporated within the design of Lalaport!
Lalaport officially opened in January 2022 to much fanfare and thousands of pictures on their iconic staircase. But six months later, has the mall been able to make a stand for itself?
Much like the malls in Japan, the main entrance leads to a gorgeous spacious atrium with long flights of escalators to help you get to the higher floors.(Credit: Anne Dorall/TRP)
Six Months Later
I visited the mall on both a weekday and weekend afternoon. Both days, the mall was relatively quiet with little crowds.
The iconic staircase was empty, which made it easy to set up a camera and snap away for pretty cool shots. The stairs are outfitted with flashing lights and music, but there’s not much else here.
The iconic Lalaport staircase comes with lights and music.(Credit: Anne Dorall/TRP)
The mall layout itself is rather confusing. It’s shaped like an oval with intersecting corridors, but it’s easy to get lost if you’re looking for a specific store.
Still, if you’re not in a hurry, the aesthetics and architecture of the mall are great. There are plenty of nooks and crannies to poke around in and beautifully done up shops that make for gorgeous backdrops. It’s pretty nice to simply wander around and admire the light displays and gentle rounded designs of the mall.
Even Bookxcess is done up with open spaces in mind.(Credit: Anne Dorall/TRP)
Nice natural sunlight and nice indoor lighting too.(Credit: Anne Dorall/TRP)
Although the mall boasts around 400 shoplots, a majority of them stand empty even in July, six months after the official opening. Even supposed anchor stores like Don Don Donki were still “coming soon”, and you can faintly hear the sound of construction as you walk through the mall.
Untenented shops are covered up. The lower ground floor is still undergoing construction.(Credit: Anne Dorall/TRP)
Lalaport is also supposed to have a nice rooftop garden, but it is currently closed in preparation for a pretty light exhibit, so I didn’t have a chance to check it out.
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by LaLaportBUKITBINTANGCITYCENTRE (@lalaport_bbcc)
At the South Entrance of the mall is a large open-air space (Wow Plaza) that leads to Gourmet Street. This street is quite popular with a nice mix of eateries and coffee shops, such as crowd-favourite Japanese chain Hoshino Coffee and artisanal creamery Matcha Eight.
Gourmet Street is great for al fresco dining.(Credit: Anne Dorall/TRP)
Gourmet Street allows for al fresco dining, so it’s great for those who like to people watch. On weekends, there are also buskers at the Wow Plaza so you will also get to enjoy live music.
The street is pretty nice to walk down.(Credit: Anne Dorall/TRP)
The Verdict
While it’s understandable that things were delayed or slowed down during the pandemic, and that the mall’s opening was probably rushed, I was very surprised to see that many stores – anchor or otherwise – were not yet ready even six months after the official opening.
An empty scene from within the mall. If you look up, many parts of the ceiling have not yet been painted over and the plasterwork is clearly visible.(Credit: Anne Dorall/TRP)
Despite having operated for half a year by now, there is little here to convince shoppers that it’s a vibrant and happening shopping mall. I may have disregarded the unreadiness during the official launch, but at this time I find Lalaport to be rather disappointing.
However, if you’re the kind of shopper who has an itinerary and only visits the stores you like without browsing the rest, you might like the place due to its lack of crowds. Shopping here at the available stores is an unhurried and relaxing affair, without much stress or bustling about. The interior is also strongly influenced by Japanese design and clean lines.
There’s also a relatively decent dining selection in both the Gourmet Street and the Lower Ground floor, so you will have nice options for food. Choose from Japanese to local cuisine to fast food to yummy desserts.
The main entrance of Lalaport.(Credit: Anne Dorall/TRP)
Still, like many other recent malls and projects, Lalaport suffers from launching officially before they were ready. I truly believe that had the mall waited perhaps another year to complete its construction and renovation work for the mall and its tenants alike, and only opened its doors officially when everything else was ready, Lalaport could easily reach its full potential.
Hopefully, with a bit more time, Lalaport can bloom into a happening point of interest in our city. All it really needs right now is a bit of a polish.
If you would like to visit the mall for yourself, parking is free until 31 August. Alternatively, the mall also has a direct connection to Hang Tuah Monorail and LRT station if you don’t want to fight through KL traffic.
The Hang Tuah station connects Lalaport to the Monorail and LRT with an airconditioned link bridge.(Credit: Anne Dorall/TRP)

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A two-headed baby turtle just hatched in Sabah!

Turtle conservationists on Pulau Mabul were surprised to find a two-headed turtle hatchling on Monday.
Picture credit: dailypicksandflicks.com
According to The Borneo Post, the baby turtle emerged from a green turtle nest at the Mabul Turtle Hatchery run by SJ SEAS, in Semporna, Sabah.
SJ SEAS chairman Mohd Khairuddin bin Riman expressed his amazement at the sight of the turtle.

â€œWe have released around 13,000 hatchlings from the hatchery and have never seen anything like this before. The Sabah Wildlife Departmentâ€™s Honorary Wildlife Wardens (HWWs) were all intrigued, as well as busy â€“ we had two batches of hatchlings emerged last night and yet another turtle nesting!â€
 Mohd Khairuddin via The Borneo Post
Picture credit: The Borneo Post
According to Marine Biologist and Conservation Manager for SJ SEAS, David McCann, the two heads of the turtle breathe independently of each other and react to stimuli separately.

â€œIt is utterly fascinating. The right head seems to control the front right flipper, and the left head the front left flipper. Yet they are capable of co-ordinating their movements in order to walk and swim.â€
 David McCann via The Borneo Post
Meanwhile, Dr Sen Nathan, Chief Veterinarian for the SWDâ€™s Wildlife Rescue Unit said that while the condition, named Dicephalism, is rare, it isnâ€™t unheard of as there was a similar instance in 2014 in Redang. The hatchling was studied for three months before it sadly died from pneumonia.
Picture credit: Free Malaysia Today

â€œUnfortunately, these turtles would not survive in the wild â€“ including this specimen, whose plastron is not fully developed or closed. Observation by the biologists on site also indicated that in deeper water, one head couldnâ€™t get above water comfortably to breathe. The hatchling is being kept in shallow water allowing it to breathe easily.â€
 Dr Sen Nathan  via The Borneo Post

Director of the Sabah Wildlife Department, Tuan Augustine Tuuga, said that since green turtles are completely protected by law in Sabah, the baby turtle will be kept under observation by the Mabul Turtle Rehabilitation Centre.
The authoritiesâ€™ primary concern is for the hatchlingsâ€™ welfare, and as such, although the two headed baby turtle may not live a long healthy life, they will do their best to ensure it is comfortable and well taken care of.

via GIPHY
Read more about this two-headed baby turtle via Scuba Junkie SEAS Facebook post below. FYI, SJ SEAS is the conservation arm of Scuba Junkie.


Cantona ‘Scores’ Carsome 2022 YouTube Malaysia Ad of the Year Award

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Carsome, the used car e-commerce platform recently bagged the 2022 YouTube Malaysia Ad of the Year award for its Carsome X Cantona: Driving Standards Forward campaign at the 2022 YouTube Festival Awards 2022 held recently.

The Ad of the Year award is given to an advertisement that shows the most effective, creative, innovative, and data-driven campaign that also drove demonstrable business results.
The ad campaign also won the Best Media Innovation category.
In July this year, Carsome announced they had engaged former footballer Eric Cantona or King Eric as their brand ambassador.

With the role, the former Manchester United footballer played an active role in promoting Carsome activities including appearing in the award-winning ad.
Cantona in the video shared with the public Carsome’s process with regard to preparing a used car for sale as well as the options available to customers.
In a statement when the ad was released, Carsome said Cantona embodied everything the company was – a relentless spirit that led one of the biggest football clubs to legendary glory.
Just like the path Carsome was paving for the used car industry, the company said that was why they teamed up with Cantona.
YouTube also announced the winners for its YouTube Works Awards Malaysia, which is where Carsome bagged the Best Media Innovation category.
This award celebrates advertisers’ innovation and creativity in their campaigns in five categories.
The other winners are:
Allianz Malaysia – Action Driver

Hotlink – Best Collaboration: Brand & YouTube Creators

Celcom Axiata – Best Storytelling

RHB Group – Force For Good

The YouTube Festival which was held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), Kuala Lumpur, celebrated the achievements of various YouTubers and advertisers.
This is the second time the awards ceremony is held after the first one in 2019, prior to the pandemic.

YouTube awarded eight local YouTubers with its Gold Creator Awards for reaching one million subscribers. The eight YouTubers are: Lizz Chloe (Dumpling Soda), Isaac Osman, Syafiq Aiman, Azfar Badrul, Alex Ho (알렉스티비ALEXTV), Roshede Basri (Syedot ASMR), Banden Tong (Banden) and Changyong.

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“It’s Because He Supports Palestine” Say Ismail Sabri Supporters On Elon Musk Snubbing Malaysia For Indonesia

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Menang sorak, kampung tergadai (winning the battle but losing the war), a well-known Malay proverb, best describes how some Malaysians feel right now.

They criticised Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob after he came back to Malaysia with a hero’s welcome by supporters.
Ismail Sabri said he suggested to Tesla to invest in Malaysia in producing electric cars.
He made the comment during a recent working visit in Washington DC.
But while he said that, Elon Musk was having talks with the Indonesian president Jokowi Widodo on setting up a Tesla battery hub in the archipelago (while enjoying Kopiko sweets).
Rubbing salt to injury is the fact that the Indonesian leader, popularly known as Jokowi, was also there in Washington DC.
Both Ismail Sabri and Jokowi attended ASEAN-US Special Summit and meet the US President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and other leaders of ASEAN countries.
Ini leader @jokowi yg patut dicontohi… Bukan membeli glemor utk naikkan nama sendiri!? Mcm @IsmailSabri60 pic.twitter.com/U2t0Kif1Vy— Mohd Amran (@armana6797) May 16, 2022
Jokowi pulang bawa pelaburan Trillion dollar. Disambut minima pegawai2 protokol.@IsmailSabri60 balik kosong. Acah2 hero dengan makcik2 banner. Lepas tu lantik mat probok jadi duta. Membazir duit rakyat dan memalukan negara je yang kau tau.#KerajaanGagalKembali https://t.co/y59W8m91dF— Hirman Arsha (@hirman74) May 17, 2022
War Of Words
Already, the comparison between the two ASEAN leaders has started a mudslinging contest between netizens of both nations.
Ismail Sabri’s supporters said those who criticise the prime minister are jealous of his popularity.
They also accused Musk of choosing Indonesia because Ismail Sabri stood up for Palestine against Israel.
READ MORE: Palestinian Islamist Movement, Hamas, Eyes Malaysia As Operations Base
jokowi ketemu Elon itu bukan prestasi yg perlu kalian cemburui sampai memfitnah kami akan normalisasi hubungan dengan Israel. Oh iya setelah lawatan dari Amerika Jokowi juga bertemu dengan Presiden Palestina loh gak bacot doang kayak si Sabri— PersonifikasiDaring (@tghSigarantang) May 17, 2022
Working Hard
Despite not meeting up with Musk, Ismail Sabri described his four-day working visit to the United States as a success.
During the working visit, the prime minister attended ASEAN-US Special Summit and meet the US President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and other leaders of ASEAN countries.
He said his visit further strengthened Malaysia-US relations, as well as ASEAN-US.The US is the second largest trading partner, and the fourth largest in terms of investment in Malaysia.
He said his meetings with US leaders and the country’s industry leaders had further enhanced the relationship.
Ismail Sabri said he also met with American investors and industry leaders, with excellent investment potential for Malaysia in the future.
Alhamdulillah selamat sampai ke tanah air 🇲🇾Pulang ke Malaysia tercinta setelah melakukan lawatan kerja ke Amerika Syarikat bagi menghadiri Sidang Kemuncak Khas ASEAN-Amerika Syarikat di Washington D.C. pic.twitter.com/Jmktpa4oQZ— Ismail Sabri (@IsmailSabri60) May 15, 2022
Meanwhile, his supporters said those who criticise the prime minister are jealous of his popularity.
They said the warm welcome for Ismail Sabri on his return is proof that he is popular and much respected by Malaysians.
Pembangkang dan macai balaci totot khadam mereka sangat cemburu dgn populariti PM Ismail Sabri Yakub disambut beribu rakyat bila pulang dari Amerika https://t.co/DTMQD60VWD— Ghazali Resab@gmill (@GhazaliResab) May 15, 2022
Easier Said Than Done
Although Malaysia is trying to attract EV investors from developed countries such as the US, the rate of EV consumption is still low here.
Most of the electric vehicles being sold are beyond the reach of ordinary buyers, and the situation is similar in most ASEAN markets.
In Malaysia, the government is supporting the shift to electric vehicles with tax exemptions but EVs are currently not seen as affordable for the average M40 household.
Recently, Proton Edar announced it will distribute electric vehicles by the Smart automobile company.
smart #1 in Malaysia 🇲🇾 – Proton Edar to launch premium EV SUV in 2023, CBU only for now, sub-RM150k price? – https://t.co/ykU2vfjS0y https://t.co/wE44W1gmF8— AHH 2 (@AHH0880_2) May 17, 2022
According to Malaysian Electric Vehicle Owners Club (MyEVOC) president, Datuk Shahrol Halmi, there are about 500 EVs on the road today, with more people intending to buy one for several reasons.

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Hand-Mix Your Own Scrubs And Essential Oils At This Local Skincare Shop

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You may have heard of Tanamera before, a local skincare company that is fully vegan and uses raw, natural tropical ingredients in their products.

Now, they are giving their customers to mix and curate their own body scrubs, massage oils, and essential oils! Called Campur2 (after mix-mix, “campur-campur”), the fun hands-on sensory experience will be available at all Tanemera boutiques.
A wide range of natural ingredients available for mixing.(Credit: Anne Dorall/TRP)
The experience was curated to offer customers a chance to really get to know and learn about the benefits of the ingredients used in their skincare. Then, customers will be able to customise the ingredients to suit their skin type requirements, or mix and match according to their mood!
Not to worry! If you choose to mix your own skincare, a Tanamera representative will be there to guide you on the optimal mixtures and give personalised recommendations, so you won’t be completely lost at sea.
Representatives will guide you through making your own customized body scrub or essential oil mix.(Credit: Tanamera)
While there are “recommended blends”, it is of course up to you to customize, whether you want to add, substitute, or remove certain ingredients from the skincare mix.
Since everyone has different skin types and lifestyles, many people are still unable to find the right skincare that best suit their skin needs. Hence, Campur2 was Tanamera’s way to offer customers the most suitable kind of skincare, hand-mixed by themselves.
Mixing a suitable essential oil blend all for yourself!(Credit: Tanamera)
Plus, customers will have access to a vast assortment of ingredients and oil blends, such as Green Tea, Green Coffee, Hibiscus, Ginger, Bamboo Charcoal, Aloe Vera, Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Lavender, Jasmine, Rose and Ylang-Ylang.
Campur2 is available at all Tanamera outlets with a special price of RM39 for a 11gm sachet body scrub, 100ml massage oil, and 10ml essential oil, while stocks last.

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Hospital Closes After Pregnant Patient Fails To Disclose Link To Positive COVID-19 Case

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A hospital in Kedah is urging all visitors and patients to provide full and accurate information during the screening process after a pregnant patient tested positive for COVID-19.
The 30-year-old pregnant patient reportedly did not provide full disclosure and was admitted for childbirth at Pantai Hospital Laguna Merbok as per the usual process. However, after delivering her child, she developed a fever.Â
Only after the hospital staff asked the patient further questions did they find out that she had been living with a family member who had tested positive. Her family member was also one of the attendees of the tabligh event at the Sri Petaling Mosque.
Pantai Hospital Laguna Merbok staff disinfecting the hospital after the patient tested positive for COVID-19. (Credit: Pantai Hospital Laguna Merbok via Berita Harian)
The hospital has since transferred the patient to Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Setar for treatment and disinfected all areas visited by the patient. All staff who had been in contact with the patient have been identified, screened and placed under quarantine.
The hospital will also be closing their doors for two days to undergo â€œfull terminal disinfection and fumigationâ€ from 22 March to 23 March.
Come on people, let’s all be socially responsible and do our part to curb the spread of COVID-19. This includes practising good personal hygiene, social distancing, staying and home, and least of all, providing full and accurate information during any screening processes.

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Malaysia Not Giving Covid-19 Vaccine To Children, Depending On Herd Immunity Instead

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Children and teens aged 18 years and below, as well as individuals with immune system disorders will not be given the Covid-19 vaccine.

According to Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Ahmad Amzah Hashim, both these groups – around 30% of the Malaysian population – will be protected through herd immunity instead.
At least 60% of the country will need to be vaccinated in order to obtain herd immunityAhmad Amzah Hashim, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation via Berita Harian (Translated from BM)
What is herd immunity

As stated by the World Health Organisation, herd immunity, also known as population immunity, is a concept used for vaccination, in which a population can be protected from a virus if a threshold of vaccination is reached within the population.
When the vast majority of a population are vaccinated, this lowers the overall amount of virus able to spread within the population. As such, not every single person needs to be vaccinated in order to be protected.
This helps ensure that vulnerable groups of people who cannot be vaccinated are still kept safe.
Malaysia’s vaccination plan
(Credit: Unsplash and Wikimedia)
Ahmad Amzah explains that the country is looking at vaccinating about 70% of the Malaysian population for free as soon as the first quarter of 2021.
This in turn will automatically protect the other 30% who are vulnerable.
The 30% who will not be vaccinated are children aged below 18 years old and those with immune system problems who cannot be vaccinated.Ahmad Amzah Hashim, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation via Berita Harian (Translated from BM)
Even so, he added that the 30% mentioned can choose to be vaccinated at private hospitals if they want. They will get tax exemptions for the cost of the vaccine in up to RM1,000 per person.
Out of the 70% to be vaccinated, he said 20% (or 6.4 million people) will receive the U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine, which Malaysia has agreed to buy 12.8 million doses of.
The first patient enrolled in Pfizer’s COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine clinical trial at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore on 4 May 2020. (Credit: University of Maryland School of Medicine)
Meanwhile, another 10% of the population will be given the vaccines acquired through the Global Covid-19 Vaccine Access Plan (COVAX).
For the remaining 40% of the population, the government is negotiating with suppliers such as Sputnik V, Moderna, AstraZeneca and others.
So far only Pfizer has expressed their commitment to sending vaccines to us by the first quarter of 2021. The other suppliers will need to wait until the fourth quarter of 2021.Ahmad Amzah Hashim, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation via Berita Harian (Translated from BM)
It should be noted that during Pfizer’s clinical testing period, they didn’t include children as participants to test their vaccine.
Which means we still don’t know how these vaccines might affect high-risk age groups.
Front liners will be vaccinated first
(Credit: CPRC/Facebook)
Amzar shared that the Covid-19 vaccine will be priorities to frontliners such as health and law enforcement personnel as well as high risk groups, such as senior citizens.
However, even before this can be done, the Covid-19 vaccines acquired by the government must first be approved by recognised regulatory bodies such as WHO, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the European Union (EU).
The vaccines must also be evaluated and approved by the Malaysian National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) and the Health Ministry (KKM).
All 12 Covid-19 vaccines in the third phase of clinical trials have been tested on 20,000 to 90,000 volunteers from various countries across the globe, including those in the ASEAN region.Ahmad Amzah Hashim, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation via Berita Harian (Translated from BM)
Ahmad Amzar also clarified that these vaccines were not only tested on monkeys and mice, adding that all vaccine candidates being considered by Malaysia are reported to have efficacy rates of 90% and above.
He also stressed that the Covid-19 vaccines do not contain porcine (pig) or bovine (cow) products, and that the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) has helped in the search for vaccines that adhere to requirements under Islam.

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We Broke 500K Covid-19 Cases In 482 Days, And The Number Just Keeps Climbing

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Today, 22 May 2021, Malaysia broke 500,000 Covid-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. It’s been 483 days since the very first case was detected in Malaysia on 25 January 2020.

Terkini. 22 Mei. Kes baharu hari ini 6,320. #COVID19— KKMalaysia🇲🇾 (@KKMPutrajaya) May 22, 2021
There were 6,320 new confirmed cases today and 50 new deaths.
The state with the highest number of cases is still Selangor which had 1,647 new cases, followed by Sarawak (749), Kuala Lumpur (654), Kelantan (613), Johor (477), and Negeri Sembilan (396).
There were also 4,694 more recoveries.
This brings Malaysia’s total cases to 505,115, total deaths to 2,199, and total recoveries to 449,234
Status Terkini #COVID19, 22 Mei 2021 Kes sembuh= 4,694Jumlah kes sembuh= 449,234Kes baharu positif= 6,320 (6,317 tempatan, 3 import) Jumlah positif= 505,115Kes kematian= 50Jumlah kes kematian= 2,199Kes dirawat di ICU= 652Bantuan Alat Pernafasan= 370 pic.twitter.com/KBVjfsY5ZF— KKMalaysia🇲🇾 (@KKMPutrajaya) May 22, 2021
This number means that on average, 1,035 new people were infected with Covid-19 for 483 days every day since the very beginning of the pandemic.
Even though half a million cases, to Malaysia’s total population of 31.95 million, is only around 1.5% of the population affected, the pandemic has impacted every single person in the country personally, from frontline workers to anxious family members.
Percentages don’t tell the full story
Similar to Malaysia, Singapore also has around 1% of their population affected by Covid-19.
However, they have significantly less number of cases than we do. Of their 5.704 million population, they only have 61,730 Covid-19 cases– just around 12% of our total number of cases– even though their population density is more than 80 times denser.
Let’s keep it down
We’ve been through ups and downs this past 1 year and 3 months, through multiple phases of movement control orders, through various stages of celebration and despair, but the fact is that Covid-19 cases are still rising fast and a huge risk to the country.
READ MORE: It’s Been One Year Since Malaysia’s First Covid-19 Case: Here’s Where We’re At Today
However, vaccines are already being distributed, first for the more vulnerable and most at risk such as the elderly and our frontliners. While we’re all facing pandemic fatigue, there is a very real possibility that we’re almost at the end of the race.
Stay safe, Malaysians.

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4-Year-Old Girl Fell From 11th Floor Of Police Quarters In USJ 8

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 A 4-year-old girl fell from the 11th floor of the police quarters this afternoon and died on the spot.

The tragedy happened at the police quarters in USJ8, Subang Jaya, at about 11:35 am on Friday (28 April).
Harian Metro quoted Subang Jaya District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Wan Azlan Wan Mamat, saying that the victim’s mother was in the kitchen while the child was playing in the living room.
Suddenly there was a loud noise from the door in the middle. She tried to open the door but failed because the door was locked.
At this time, she heard her child calling for help.
She walked into the window of the next room to check it out and suddenly found her daughter had fallen from the building.
Police had ruled out foul play and classified the case as sudden death.
The body was sent to Serdang Hospital for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani and Subang Jaya assemblywoman Michelle Ng Mei Sze extended their condolences to the family.

Preventing Accidental Falls
Various factors, such as lack of adult supervision, inadequate safety measures, or accidental falls, can cause children to fall from high-rise buildings.
Children may sometimes climb onto windowsills or balconies and accidentally fall due to curiosity and lack of awareness of the danger.
Other times, falls can occur due to faulty window or balcony locks or inadequate safety barriers.
Parents and caregivers need to take appropriate safety measures, such as:
Installing childproof window and balcony locks.Supervising children around high-rise buildings.Educating children about the dangers of heights.

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We Invited Najib To Ride New MRT Line Because He Loves Trains, Says MRT Corp

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Former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak was invited to experience the ride on Phase One of the Putrajaya MRT line yesterday due to his “love for trains”, reports Berita Harian.

MRT Corp CEO Datuk Mohd Zarif Hashim said the company extended the invitation to Najib after learning of his tweet regarding the Putrajaya MRT line project.
“In his tweet, he stated his interest to board the train so we replied to his tweet and invited him on the train,” Zarif was quoted by the Malay daily.
He however refused to comment on the backlash MRT Corp received after inviting Najib to board the train yesterday.

“In fact, we have also extended the same invitation to community leaders to experience the ride,” added Zarif.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who earlier today launched Phase One of the MRT Putrajaya line, also declined to comment on the matter further.
“I did not want to comment on why MRT invited him. I just launch it today and the invite is MRT’s right,” he said.
Yesterday, Najib posted on Facebook about his experience riding the new Putrajaya MRT.

At press time, the posting had received 2.4 thousand likes, and in the comment section, most Facebook users thanked Najib for his effort in improving the public transport system during his tenure as prime minister.

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