EPF’s Proposal For Periodic Withdrawals Upon Retirement Sparks Debate

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The government’s plan to refine a proposal that will only allow new contributors of the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) to make periodic withdrawals from their savings has sparked mixed reviews from netizens.

According to the New Straits Times, EPF is looking to institute periodic withdrawals for new contributors once they hit retirement age, rather than receiving a lump sum at 55 years old.
In the report, it was also noted that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim pointed out that he had no objections to this proposal.

I have no objection. The proposal is still in the final stages. However, if we listen to the statement made by EPF’s chief executive officer Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan earlier, there are some restrictions, especially for those who have insufficient savings
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim
NST also reported Amir Hamzah pointing out that these periodic withdrawals would offer contributors a better opportunity to manage their retirement funds.
In the meantime, this proposal by EPF sparked a heated debate on social media regarding the freedom of contributors to manage their retirement savings.
Twitter Users Debate The Pros And Cons Of This Proposal
While some argue for the freedom to withdraw EPF funds as a lump sum after retirement, others believe that periodic withdrawals could ensure financial security in the long run.
Twitter user @sinach_z strongly advocated for the freedom to withdraw EPF funds as desired, stating that pensioners should get freedom to withdraw their own EPF money after retirement.

This is bullshit. We should get freedom to withdraw our own EPF money after retired. Let us decide how we manage our fling money lah. Fuck y'all if this going to pass. Fuck fuck. https://t.co/mCXx2sEtDR— tukang karrut (@sinach_z) July 7, 2023

This sentiment was echoed by @OnlyWanAmir and @kamilah_notes, who believe that making it an option, rather than compulsory, would be a fair approach.

It should be an option for contributors to choose. Not make it mandatory. https://t.co/fEAOu1IEOd— Amir Amin (@OnlyWanAmir) July 7, 2023

Give them options either to withdraw it periodically or lump sum. https://t.co/1jQOgj5h63— kamilah 🦋 (@kamilah_notes) July 7, 2023

On the other hand, @benalsagoff676 emphasized the importance of providing contributors with the choice between a lump sum or periodic withdrawals, suggesting that denying them this right is unjust.

Its best to give this as an option to contributors.Either to withdraw lump sum or to withdraw periodically (with potential attractive returns should they do so).To deny contributors their rights to withdraw lump sum if they wish to do so is wrong. https://t.co/POgqGgezRz— Binyamin (Zen Mode)🕸 (@benalsagoff676) July 7, 2023

On the other hand, there are individuals who support EPF’s latest proposal.
Twitter user @_piqaaaaaaa commended the decision, stating that this is a good decision because she personally knew many people exhaust their retirement savings in less than five years.

This is a good decision la I think bcs I knew numbers of people exhausted their retirement’s savings less than 5 years. It’s scary yknow https://t.co/Ti99fyF7Ip— ぴか (@_piqaaaaaaa) July 7, 2023

In conclusion, while unrestricted access to EPF funds may grant retirees more control over their finances, it also raises concerns about the sustainability of those funds throughout retirement.
What are your thoughts on this debate?

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Classic P.Ramlee films are being screened in TGV Cinemas for Merdeka!

Would you like to experience a black and white film in an actual cinema in 2019?
Ramlee Bestfriend GIF from Ramlee GIFs

TGV Cinemas takes you down memory lane this Merdeka and Malaysia Day with an exclusive screening of classically iconic films from the legendary actor, director, singer, songwriter, scriptwriter, musician, composer, and producer, P.Ramlee!

(Image Credit: Malay Mail)

Five classic films from the golden 50s and 60s would be played for a limited time from August 24 till September 16 as part of the cinemaâ€™s The Gemilang Vibes Campaign.
Anakku Sazali

(Image Credit: Wikipedia)

A classic drama that tells the story of an overprotective father whose wealth and love for his only son caused the child to grow up to become a mobster.
Labu Labi

(Image Credit: Wikipedia)

A hilarious comedy starring P.Ramlee and M. Zain who play two male maids living and working under the roof of a stingy old man who has a beautiful daughter that both men try to woo.
Nujum Pak Belalang

(Image Credit: Wikipedia)

A fairytale comedy where a lazy man gets caught up in a weirdly marvellous adventure with his smart, trickster of a son.
Ibu Mertuaku

(Image Credit: Wikipedia)

A must watch romantic comedy turned dramatic tragedy that tells the tale of a musician tortured between his love for the arts and the woman of his dreams.
The film is also a classic social commentary on the divide between the rich and the poor that’ll definitely have you bawling your eyes out.
Madu Tiga

(Image Credit: Wikipedia)

A romantic comedy where a man sneaks around and secretly marries three women without them knowing about it. (Yeah the 60s were different times… LOL)

These sensational movies would only be screened on specific times at selected TGV outlets.

Suria KLCC
Sunway Putra Mall, KL
Dâ€™Pulze Shopping Centre, Cyberjaya
AEON AU2, KL
AEON Bukit Indah Shopping Centre, Johor
AEON Station 18, Ipoh
Gurney Paragon Mall, Penang

For more information and showtimes, just head on over to their website.


Wanna Book Flight Tickets For GE15? Here Are Some Tips

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Following the announcement of Polling Day on 19 November for GE15 yesterday, domestic flight tickets are seen to double the amount.

READ MORE: EC Sets GE15 On 19 November
Netizens complained of ridiculous prices for flight tickets back to their hometown for Malaysia’s 15th General Election.
As many flight businesses tend to do, the festive season and important dates are usually when they charge their highest-fare rides, it’s the nature of the business, as they say.
However, as this General Election is indeed for our nation itself, the public thinks that discounts and ceiling prices should be set on airway tickets to lighten the load of them going back to their hometown to vote.
[TERKINI: PRU-15]Harga tiket flight AirAsia semasa hari mengundi naik mencanak tinggi bagaikan lupa daratan.— Sir kamarul (@kamarul14) October 20, 2022
WOI @airasia WHY was an error (code 999) when paying for election flight tickets then the price was then DOUBLED???From RM360 to RM 730 from Johor to Kuching. tak masuk akal betul pic.twitter.com/hcUyu3AMSA— Iced Nyior (@IcedNyior) October 20, 2022
Jangankan tiket flight KL-KCH, tiket Kuching ->Miri, yang sama dalam Sarawak pun mahal harga, untuk tarikh sehari sebelum tarikh mengundi.One wayAirAsia : RM 275MAS : RM 736 (it’s not even business class). pic.twitter.com/y0PdGV7UGe— FIRAWAN (@fdajesfry) October 20, 2022
Wee Ka Siong said Mavcom will intervene if the prices hike up arbitrarily
According to Bernama, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong said that the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) will regulate the prices of flight tickets if airlines were found to have raised their prices against set conditions during the GE15 season.
Credit: Yusof Mat Isa/Malay Mail
He added airline ticket prices would normally increase according to the Dynamic Price mechanism if there was an event involving a large number of passenger movements.
“Based on the dynamic pricing mechanism for any airline in the world, the earlier it (the ticket) is booked, the cheaper it is and the closer to a date or event, the price will be higher,” he said yesterday at the launch of the Taxi4U application at the Land Public Transport Agency’s (APAD) central region office.
Some airlines offer discounts
Following the republic outcry, a few airlines are offering discounts and deals to ease the burden of voters back to their hometowns.
According to The Edge Markets, Malaysia Airlines will be offering 20% discounted fares to aid voter movement for the 15th General Election (GE15).
This is done under their Jom Balik Mengundi campaign and the 20% discount applies to all fare categories: Lite, Basic and Flex for Economy Class, and Basic and Flex for Business Class.
The airline stated in a statement that passengers can book tickets from Thursday (Oct 20) to Nov 19 for travel between Nov 11 and 27.
Malaysia Airlines will add 26 additional flights and operate 16 domestic flights with wide-body A330 aircraft to meet the rising demand on several routes in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.

Besides that, Firefly Airlines will offer up to 70 additional flights from Subang and Penang to selected domestic routes from Nov 17 to 20, with 24% and 10% discounted fares for jet and ATR-operated flights respectively.
The promotion is available for booking from Thursday until Oct 24, for travel from Nov 1 to June 30 next year.
“We are prepared to meet the increase in travel while offering smooth and reliable connectivity and ensuring our customers’ highest level of safety and security throughout their journey with us. Customers are encouraged to take advantage of the promotions and book their flights early, for the best deals on Malaysia Airlines, Firefly or MASwings” said Captain Izham Ismail, Malaysia Aviation Group Chief Executive Officer.
Tips to book flight tickets
In the case of the public looking out for themselves, a few netizens shared their tips to deal with the increasing prices of flights during General Elections.
One user suggests waiting for a week before the polling day to purchase tickets as the prices might go down.
Tiket flight memang mahal kalau beli sekarang, so tunggu la nanti seminggu nak dekat tarikh mengundi tu harga turun baru beli. Based on pengalaman balik mengundi 2018.— Yana (@yanaboredaf) October 20, 2022
Another user, @azuanzahdi also gave his two cents about the price surge and offered tips to search for affordable flight tickets in a video.
The tips include:
Survey a few websites like Google Flight, Skyscanner, Kayak, Trip.com and the Airlines’ Websites.Don’t expect low-cost airlines to always give cheap prices and always consider luggage and hidden charges.Try a one-way flight and buy from different sites for return flights.Mix and match different airlines. There’s no guarantee but you can wait for extra flights and a fixed ceiling price. Redeem credit card and loyalty points.
Here’s a video of his tips on Twitter.
Nak comment lebih2 nanti cakap Saya cuba jadi macam a guy yang want to be involved with everything 😃 but aviation is close to me and I have to share my 2 sen worth.Bagi yang try nak cari ticket flight #ge15 #PRU15 here are some tips on my TT: pic.twitter.com/4QHVPqmhrG— Azuan A Zahdi (@azuanzahdi) October 20, 2022
READ MORE: Wee Ka Siong Debunk Slanders, Taxpayers Not Paying Him To Go On Holiday

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Take A Listen To The Funky “Tenonet” Vehicle Horns That Could Land You In Jail

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Authorities are now going after vehicles with “tenonet” horn sounds.

What is a tenonet horn sound you ask? We’ll take a listen to some of the colourful honks made by the lorries and busses reprimanded by Selangor’s Road Transportation Department (JPJ) in an operation to drive away motorists with illegally modified honkers.
The Nusantara navigator

The bumping bus

Rhythm is against the law
JPJ strictly reminds Malaysians that it was against the law to have rhythmic or horns with more than a single tone installed on vehicles because not only does it confuse other road users, the noise also disturbs people.
Horns are an important feature on vehicles and function to provide warning, reminder or a signal to other motorists with the use of sound, But, the use of horns with more than a single tone can confuse other road users about the message that’s being conveyed and can disrupt public peace if the noise were made in residential areas.Selangor JPJ via Facebook
Motorists who are caught with these funky sounding horns retrofitted on their vehicles can face a maximum fine of RM2,000 or six months in jail under section 119 of the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333).
Read More: PDRM: Your Noisy, Modified Motorbike Can Mean Jail Time & RM2,000 Fine

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Source:
ROAD TRANSPORT ACT 1987


Landslides In Cameron Highlands: Tourists Advised Not To Travel At Night

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Cameron Highlands, Pahang was hit by landslides on Monday (23 November) affecting several populated areas including Sungai Palas, Brinchang and Tanah Rata.

The landslide was said to be at its worst on the 28th-mile marker (Batu 28) on the Tapah road there.
Pictures shared by sources via WhatsApp showed mud and debris blocking up paths and even trapping vehicles.
(Credit: WhatsApp)
Cameron Highlands Regional Environmental Awareness (REACH) President Dilip Martin told TRP that the landslides occurred following heavy rain that lasted for more than five hours.
In one incident, four people narrowly escaped a tree that fell onto their car while they were travelling near the famous Smokehouse Inn between Tanah Rata and Brinchang.
(Credit: WhatsApp)
According to Dilip, no one was seriously injured. However, he advised the public to take great care when travelling to and from Cameron.
DO NOT TRAVEL AT NIGHT
Dilip, who’s a local to the highlands, said that people who plan to visit the popular tourist destination shouldn’t do so at night.
The roads that go up Cameron Highlands can get dangerous and as it’s currently the monsoon season, expect more rainy days to come.
No surprise here…
The environmentalist explained that with over-development and Cameron’s old infrastructures – such as a drainage system that hasn’t been upgraded in 20 years – the landslide that hit yesterday came as no surprise.
And with so many new projects developing there, Dilip posed the simple question of “where would all the water flow to.”
Read More: Cameron’s Last Unspoilt River: A Visit Worth Your While
Cameron Highlands is no stranger to landslides
Not only is the highlands a popular tourist spot, but it’s also home to a population of over 30,000 people.
In the past, there had been many landslides in the region. The most notable was a mudslide several years ago in Bertam Valley which unfortunately took several lives.

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Checking Out The Delicious Neapolitan Pizzas At Round @ HappyMansion [Review]

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Round at Happy Mansion serves an array of delicious food, and a must-try is the Neapolitan pizzas.

Alan Goh started learning to make Neapolitan pizzas after attending a cooking masterclass in the UK.
When he came back to Malaysia, he started making pizzas from his home kitchen during the pandemic before branching out to set up Uno’s Pizzeria food truck.
He continued honing his skills and finally opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant which had a soft launch last December.
The exterior of Round HappyMansion. Image: Adeline Leong/TRP
The pizzas at Round are contemporary Neapolitan pizzas, and the difference between a contemporary and traditional Neapolitan pizza is in the dough.
In a contemporary Neapolitan pizza, the dough is well-hydrated, which results in an airy, light and puffy pizza base and crust.
The lean ingredients and proper fermentation of the dough also make the pizza healthy to eat and easily digestible. Not to mention, you don’t have to play tug of war while eating your pizza.
His passion for food is also shown as they use good and fresh ingredients, and invested in a good oven that’s imported all the way from Naples, dubbed the Ferrari of Ovens.
Here’s what we had:
Sides
CapreseBurrata salad w Bresaola (I.G.P.)
Pizzas
Marinara (Vegan)Margherita (Vegetarian)Diavola (Spicy)
Desserts
Classic TiramisuGranita (seasonal flavour)
The Taste Test
It’s always nice to have a starter or sides to share with the group. We had the Caprese and Burrata salad with Bresaola (cured beef).
Both side dishes look similar at first sight but the slight difference lies in the ingredients.
Caprese and Burrata salad with Braseola. Image: Adeline Leong/TRP
The Caprese is made out of D.O.P. Bufala, D.O.P. Parmigiano Reggiano, mixed herbs, sea salt flakes, Sarawak B. Pepper, and extra virgin olive oil mixed with arugula (rockets) and tomatoes.
Meanwhile, the Burrata salad with Bresaola is made out of cured beef, arugula and tomatoes mixed with aged balsamic vinaigrette and sea salt flakes.
The Bufala burrata had a poached egg texture and its mild, creamy taste was a nice addition to both salad dishes.
Clockwise from top right: Marinara, Margherita, and Diavola pizzas. Image: Adeline Leong/TRP
The bestseller pizza is the Margherita pizza, which is suitable for vegetarians. Margherita pizzas are made with five basic ingredients: San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, extra virgin olive oil, parmigiano reggiano, and basil leaves.
Although the centre of the pizza looked soft due to the olive oil, the slices could be easily lifted and folded in my hand to eat. The tomatoes and the cheese flavours were delicious.
Next up was the Marinara pizza, which is made out of San Marzano tomatoes, baby tomatoes, oregano, garlic, basil and olive oil.
The garlic gave the Marinara pizza a more flavourful profile as compared to the Margherita.
The Diavola is a must-have for people who love spice in their life. For an idea of how spicy it is, Diavola literally means the Devil.
This spicy pizza is made out of Fior Di Latte (a type of soft cheese), beef pepperoni, spinach, parmigiano reggiano, chillies and olive oil.
The Diavola also comes with an extra habanero if it’s not spicy enough for you. The pizza’s great flavours are done right because they aren’t drowned out by the spiciness, which makes this an interesting pizza compared to the other two.
Granita and classic tiramisu. Image: Adeline Leong/TRP
We ended the night with desserts and had the classic tiramisu and granita. The tiramisu is made with chocolates from Chocolate Concierge, resulting in a delicious cake.
Meanwhile, the granita flavours are inspired by the spring season this month so the base is made out of oolong tea, mixed with passion fruit, and lemon.
The tangy and fresh flavours of the granita also serve as a good palate cleanser to enjoy the tiramisu flavour more.
The Verdict
Each pizza has its own rich flavours, but the Diavola has the most interesting flavour profile.
The Diavola has a combination of cut and fermented habanero, which is why you might feel it tastes a little similar to Tabasco.
It’s true that the light pizza dough is easy on the stomach and I didn’t feel bloated after eating so much food in one sitting.
The classic tiramisu is non-alcoholic, but they do have an alcoholic version on the menu too.
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by TRP (@trpmsia)

Round HappyMansion
Round Happy Mansion. Image: Adeline Leong/TRP
Address: Happy Mansion, BG8, Block B, Jalan 17/13, Seksyen 17, 46400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Operation Hours:Closed on TuesdaysMon-Fri: 12pm-3pm / 6pm-10pmSat-Sun: 12pm-10pm
Instagram: Round HappyMansion

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Lone Bank Robber Shot A Security Guard Dead And Injured Others In Puchong Prima

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A robber shot a security guard dead in front of a bank in Puchong Prima and ran away around 5.50pm yesterday, 11 March.

According to Harian Metro, four security guards were on the cash collection rounds at the bank. After collecting the money from the first bank, they arrived at the second bank to do the same.
Subang Jaya police chief Assistant Commissioner Abd Khalid Othman said three guards entered the second bank after withdrawing the cash while the driver waited in the van.
The three guards were in the process of depositing the money when the robber suddenly appeared. A struggle for the money bag ensued and a shot went off.
The 38-year-old suspect is believed to have used a pistol to shoot two guards in the ribs and spine. The suspect made his escape when he got a hold of a money bag.

The van driver managed to pull one of the guards who was shot in the back and drove about 1.5km away from the crime scene.
Unfortunately, the guard died in the van while the guard who was shot in the ribs was brought to the hospital for further treatment.
The police managed to track and apprehend the suspect an hour after the robbery. They found the suspect in a public area at Section 24, Shah Alam at 7pm.
The suspect had the money on him, but the police have not determined the remaining amount.
During the early investigations, the suspect brought the police to another location to recover the weapon he used to shoot the security guards.
Abd Khalid said the first bank has confirmed that their money has been accounted for while the second bank was still counting the losses.

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Malaysian Tourist Guides Face Uncertainty In A Post-Pandemic Era

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The tourist guide profession is one of the oldest, having been around for two and a half thousand years.

Today, tourist guides are one of the essential elements of the tourism industry’s success.
But the Covid-19 pandemic changed all that.
Two years of facing various challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic is not easy, let alone for tourist guides directly involved in the tourism industry.
Among them is senior citizen Wong Hing Tuck, for whom the pandemic has brought some new challenges, and he was unprepared.
Like the rest, he had to look for jobs to survive, and Wong ended up being a Grab driver.
The former chairman of the Kuala Lumpur Tour Guide Association said the industry had been affected since mid-February 2020 after the spread of the epidemic in China.
Following that, bookings for tourist guide services were cancelled at the last minute.
Beginning in early March 2020, licensed independent tour guides under the association no longer receive any assignments following the implementation of MCO nationwide. Former chairman of the Kuala Lumpur Tour Guide Association, Wong Hing Tuck, on Covid-19 causing tourist guides to lose income.
Whirlwind Changes
Wong added that before Covid-19, a freelance tourist guide could receive anything between five to seven assignments for a period.
The estimated income can be anything from RM4,000 to RM5,000 from these assignments.
But Covid-19 put an end to all that.

Former chairman of the Kuala Lumpur Tour Guide Association, Wong Hing Tuck, on the trials and tribulations of tour guides during the pandemic. (Video: Fernando Fong)
The limited movement of people and the absence of tourists due to the Covid-19 pandemic forced industry operators to downsize their operations.
Wong said it is not an exaggeration to say that the disruption of the pandemic has made everyone change their life routines.
tourist guides, in particular, saw their daily routine of welcoming tourists change utterly.
After many cancellations, especially by Chinese tour groups, tourist guides are out of work.
Government’s Additional Cash Aid Insufficient
Any effort initiated by the government is admired.
Still, one-off assistance of a few hundred ringgit, with several months in between, is undoubtedly not enough to support even the basic need of any family.
However, is this assistance sufficient to cover the life that may be affected for a month, three months, six months, or a year or may it continue longer?

Penang tour guide Philip Chai on the need for long-term and sustainable assistance for tour guides. (Video: Fernando Fong)
Also, tourist guides were burdened with issues such as:
Registered tourist guides not in the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) database.Data not updated.Lack of computer literacy.Licenses that have just expired and licenses that are in the process of being renewed.Licenses in the process of appeals or settlement of compounds.Other categories meant that many could not qualify for assistance.
Sembang kuat ni…..90% pemandu pelancong tak dapat lagi bantuan,bila tanya,suruh tunggu….Ok kita tunggu….— Tan ck (@ahtai66) May 15, 2020
Bantuan one-off pemandu pelancong pun masih lagi ada yang tak dapat 😌 aku lah antara yang xdapat tu!! https://t.co/PQRXghOU1D— NSMY (@MimieYuzi) May 14, 2020
How can such a thing happen when tour guides are registered with MOTAC, and the ministry should already have a list of tourist guides?
For the record, it is not easy to become a registered tourist guide because one must attend courses and pass exams to pass and get a license.
Worse still, some said they never received the tourist guide’s one-off assistance despite being eligible.
The affected ones said they had contacted MOTAC many times, but there was no response.
When checked, their names are still not on the record.
Wong said that under the Economic Stimulus Package announced in March 2020 by the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government, a one-off payment of RM600 would be given to tourist guides.

In January 2021, then Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said a one-off financial assistance of RM500 would be given to 14,000 tourist guides in the country.
Applications were extended until 15 March 2021 to ensure that eligible tour guides were not left out.
And then, in October 2021, under the 2022 Budget Initiative for Licensed Tour Guides, each of them would be given financial assistance of RM1,500, divided into two payments.
They would receive a cash payment of RM750 per month for two months (February and May).
However, tourist guides whose licenses had expired before or on 1 November 2021, and those who did not submit a license renewal along with payment of the processing fee before that date, were left out.
The handouts are subject to terms and conditions, which can be unfortunate for some tour guides. (Pix: Fuh.my)
This was followed by another RM500 one-off financial assistance to licensed tourist guides under the PEMERKASA+ 2021 Initiative in December 2021.
This financial assistance is only given on a one-off basis for each individual and is not given based on the number of license categories owned.
The assistance was to help the tourist guides resume their activities per the National Recovery Plan (PPN).
At the same time, Inap Desa (Homestay) operators received as much as RM1,800, while Spa and Foot Massage Centre (PUK) received as much as RM3,000.
A payment of RM9,000 was also given to Tour Guide Companies, Travel Agencies and Travelers (TOBTAB), and companies involved in Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) program.
Is Tour Guide A Good Career?
Wong, who has been a tourist guide for more than 30 years, said that most of the tour guides under the association are independent tour guides.
Their income is based on the assignments they receive.
The rest work under travel agencies with salaries paid regularly by their employers every month.
Wong hopes that every state government will find an approach to help ease the financial burden of affected tour guides.
Taking the example of the approach taken by Penang, Kedah, Johor and Sabah, Wong wants the respective state governments to provide special assistance for tourist guides.
Steps that can guarantee the survival of tour guides need to be discussed together between policymakers and those involved in related sectors. The importance of tour guides to the industry cannot be denied. Therefore, attention and consideration to this group is necessary and should also be given priority.Veteran tour guide Wong Hing Tuck on tour guides being among the leading players in planning the development of the tourism industry over the years.
For example, the Johor State Government announced in May 2020 a special incentive under its Economic Stimulus Package 2020 for the tourism sector.
It was announced by Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, Chairman of the Tourism, Youth and Sports Committee.
Johor distributed RM1,000 to 936 registered tour guides residing in the state of Johor, totalling RM936,000.
Tourism Is The Breadwinner For Many
In Malaysia, the tourism industry contributed 3.5 million job opportunities in 2018, 23.5 per cent of the total workforce.
Of these, there was a drastic increase in tourist guides.
In 1972 it was reported that there were only 567 tourist guides, which increased yearly until reaching 15,363 in 2018.
In Taman Negara, some 170 nature tourist guides lived in a difficult situation after they lost their source of income due to the lack of tourists.
Chairman of the Pahang National Park Nature Tour Guides Association, Mohamad Anas Zainudin, said that the situation has been happening since December 2019.
The arrival of tourists decreased and worsened when the Movement Control Order (MCO) began on 18 March.
The source of income for all tourist guides comes from the arrival of tourists. They depend entirely on the assignments given by travel agents and the resort and Mount Tahan climbing activities. They were stuck in a very dire situation.Chairman of the Pahang National Park Nature Tour Guides Association, Mohamad Anas Zainudin, on problems and challenges that adversely affect the tourist guides.
A tour guide taking visitors on a river cruise at Taman Negara in Pahang. (Pix: Fernando Fong)
Usually, the peak season is from June to September because of the school holidays in Malaysia and the tourist season in Europe.
But it did not happen for another two years due to the Covid-19 epidemic that has hit the whole world.
Many catch fish every day to feed their family.
Accordingly, he appealed to the government to channel aid to tourist guides who help the country promote the tourism industry to tourists coming from within and outside the country.

Meanwhile, tourist guides in Taman Negara said they had lost their income since the spread of Covid-19, followed by the MCO.
They depend entirely on his income as a full-time freelance tourist guide; if there is no task, then there is no income.
There have been no job offers for the longest time, and things only started to slowly improve after the Covid-19 travel restriction has lifted.
Things would take a while to return to normal even after the pandemic ended.
Expressing Gratitude
At the same time, tourist guides in the state expressed thanks to the Pahang government.
They are grateful to the state government and the Menteri Besar of Pahang, Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, for considering the plight of tourist guides and tourist boat operators who have been affected by the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic.
#kualatahan SERAMAI 193 pemandu pelancong dan bot penambang di Taman Negara Kuala Tahan menerima bantuan selepas pendapatan terjejas akibat penularan Covid-19. https://t.co/uJPMZBSa5e— Harian Metro (@hmetromy) April 16, 2020
In January 2021, the Pahang government, through Tourism Pahang, allocated RM270,000 to help tourist guides and tourist boat operators.
This donation’s total of 450 recipients includes 254 tourist guides and 196 boat operators.
State Exco for Tourism, Culture, Environment, Plantation and Commodities, Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin, said the aid amounted to RM600,000 by the end of 2021.
The donation recipients involved the National Park Nature Tourist Guide Association, the Pahang State Tourist Guide Association, the National Park Boat Operators Association, and the Tioman Island Tourist Boat Association.
Thinking Out Of The Box
After two years of losing their source of income, the government’s announcement of reopening the country’s borders on 1 April 2022 brought hope.
The government decided to open the borders as Malaysia entered the transition phase to endemic.
Among those who welcomed the new phase is Kuala Lumpur tourist guide Jane Rai.
Jane is the founder of Free Walk Kuala Lumpur Unscripted, a brand specialising in heritage walks in Kuala Lumpur.
Let’s explore Kuala Lumpur on foot! Reserve your spot at Free Walk Kuala Lumpur Unscripted FB Page. #freewalkklunscripted #cuticutimalaysia #cuticutikualalumpur #malaysiatrulyasia pic.twitter.com/99RyKzFLhq— P.098 Ruud Irwan 🗳 (@ruud_irwan) March 16, 2021
She said opening the Malaysian borders is good news for her and her fellow tourist guides, and she hopes to see international visitors on her walking tours.
We waited two years for the border to finally open. There is still hope for us to find sustenance.KL tourist guide Jane Rai on starting anew after the lockdown is over.
Jane said before the first MCO was announced in March 2020, her last tour group was European tourists.
Shortly into the MCO period, she decided to digitalise the in-person walking tours into a virtual version.
This has helped her generate income by promoting her virtual 360 tours when people cannot be on the street.
Tourist guide Jane Rai (left) giving a heritage talk at Petaling Street. (Pix: Fernando Fong)
While there was some aid from the ministry, she said many tourist guides have no source of income except for the ‘one-off’ assistance from the ministry.
This was because many relied on tours from local tour operators and online platform providers.
She said it is a burden as many tourist guides have no source of income except for a ‘one-off’ assistance from the ministry.
Helping Hand
In June 2022, the government agreed to extend the implementation period of license renewal fee exemptions.
The extension, which also applies to additional licenses, is for tour operators and tourist guides who use for license renewal until 31 December 2022, involving 3,419 tourism operator companies amounting to RM5.676 million.
MOTAC said the decision was based on the government’s concern for tour operators and tourist guides still affected by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The initiative is part of the support assistance from the government to help business continuity and help companies to get back up and continue their business post-pandemic.
With the extension, MOTAC hopes that qualified tour operators and tourist guides take this opportunity to enjoy the exemption.
From July 1 to December 31, 2021, the Tourism, Arts, and Culture Ministry (Motac) has extended the exemption period for license renewal fees as well as extra licenses for tourism businesses and tourist guides who applied for renewal.https://t.co/xTuhy9HxTi #tinmedia pic.twitter.com/1hb7XUMCiZ— TIN.MEDIA (@media_tin) June 22, 2021
Why Good Tour Guides Are Important
Despite the impacts of Internet on the tourism industry, tourist guides are still that all-important help for making memorable vacation moments.
Undoubtedly, some tourist guides are apprehensive that technology could ultimately replace the need to have a tourist guide altogether.
Still carrying old-school printed tour guides? Stop!✋Download your ‘pocket-travel companion’ when traveling across Malaysia. Simply let the app recommends. Discover fantastic things-to-do near you in a smarter way. Explore Malaysia like a pro.😎#MalaysiaTrulyAsia pic.twitter.com/wL9cBdRuMf— Malaysia Truly Asia (@TourismMalaysia) October 6, 2022
But at the end of the day, the tourist guide has several leading roles to play that no app could replace:
The instrumental role includes providing direction, access, security and safety,organizing, managing and controlling the group.
Tourists guides also decide on what the tourists should see and experience and otherwise.
Secondly, tourist guides play an interactional role, including managing relationships between locals and tourists.
OPINION Should visitors be forced to use tourist guides?.IN Malaysia, tour buses are licensed under bas persiaran (excursion bus) and must have a tourist guide on board when there are passengers, even if only one customer is travelling on the bus unless exempted by the (Motac) pic.twitter.com/sFdTd6wnTu— Aseanews Net (@AseanewsN) September 25, 2022
They partake in different cultures that lead to understanding the local culture andexperiencing the daily life of the host community.
From a social standpoint, tourist guides maintain cohesion within the group and provide entertainment and humour while ensuring the tour stays orderly.
From a communicative perspective, tourist guides provide information,knowledge and interpretation about different sites and information about the destination.
URGENT: We are looking for gay friendly tour guides in #Malaysia for #kualalumpur #penang and #MelakaPlease contact us asap via our website https://t.co/vG40pGb2tq pic.twitter.com/ivT6gjZobz— info@holidayhouseboys.com (@HHouseboys) July 14, 2022

This story was produced under the Uncovering South East Asia Covid-19 Financial Stimulus Fellowship Program of Kiniacademy in partnership with the Philippine Center  For Investigative Journalism and Tempo Institute.

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Lorry Driver In Johor Causeway Crash Has Outstanding Traffic Summonses

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The lorry driver who crashed into 11 vehicles on the Johor Causeway on Thursday, 7 July, had 33 previous summonses for various traffic offences.

The 34-year-old man also had six outstanding summonses and tested negative for drugs in a urine test.
The Star reported that the lorry driver had been remanded for three days. The remand order was issued by assistant registrar Melody Woon Sze Mun at the Magistrate’s Court.

On Thursday, a viral clip showed a lorry ploughing into a line of vehicles on the busy Causeway.
The mechanical fault, which was believed to have led to brake failure, caused the lorry to continue crashing into the vehicles before slowly coming to a stop.
The road mishap damaged nine cars, one van and a bus. It also caused two out of three lanes on the Causeway to be blocked.
Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) reported that the blocked lanes were cleared three hours later.
Fortunately, no lives were lost and no injuries were reported. The vehicles involved reportedly suffered minor damages.
READ MORE: [Watch] Lorry Ploughs Into 12 Vehicles On Johor Causeway, No Lives Lost

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Sneakerella – A Heartwarming Tale Featuring Sneakers Instead Of Glass Stilettos [Review]

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Sneakerella sounds exactly what you think it is. It’s a modern reimagining of the classic Cinderella story.

The story centres on El, a stock boy in a shoe store in New York City who’s also an aspiring shoe designer. His mother taught him everything he knows about sneakers.
Chosen Jacobs plays El. Image: Disney
Before anyone complains that it’s another ‘woke’ retelling of a classic tale, the love interest is Kira King, the daughter of a basketball star and sneaker tycoon.
El’s stepdad is busy trying to keep the store afloat while his selfish stepbrothers do anything to avoid work.
It didn’t take long for the stepbrothers to step all over El’s dream to make it as a shoe designer.
What to expect?
In classic Disney fashion, the film featured some musical moments. I liked that there was a mix of rap songs to carry the story forward other than the continuous use of dialogues.
The stepbrothers played their villainous roles to perfection and you can’t help but fault the stepfather for letting the bullying go on for too long either.
Lexi Underwood plays Kira King. Image: Disney
However, the thoughts of destroying the stepbrothers are quickly forgotten when El showed his creative shoe designs. Personally, I prefer the first pair he made (and no, it’s not fully shown in the trailer).
Unlike Cinderella, El is lucky to have a human best friend named Sami. Can you imagine having New York rats as friends? Without Sami, El wouldn’t have had the courage to accept his talent and take the risk.
Should you watch it?
I’m happy to say Sneakerella is one of the few good modern reimaginings of the tale of Cinderella.
I enjoyed seeing the heartwarming story unfold and it definitely reminded me of another classic film titled A Cinderella Story.
Devyn Nekoda plays Sami, El’s best friend. Image: Disney
That said, the film would appeal to tweens who are coming of age and dealing with sibling rivalry for sure.
For grownups, it might not be a film we could relate to anymore. You got to suspend disbelief and turn off your logical mind a bit.

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Malaysian Woman Holidaying In Cambodia Sold To Human Traffickers By Gang When She Wouldn’t Give Them Money

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A fun vacation in Cambodia turned into a nightmare for a Malaysian woman known only as Miss Qiu.

Miss Qiu travelled to Cambodia for a holiday on 23 July 2022. However, she was cornered by a group of Chinese nationals on 7 August while she was having dinner and was prevented from leaving.
The Star reported that no one came to her aid although she screamed for help. When the group failed to force her to transfer all her funds from her bank accounts to them, they decided to trade her off to human traffickers.
She was then sold to a scam call centre and forced to work for them.
Miss Qiu only managed to get in touch with Melaka MCA Youth chief Denis Lee Han Lim on 15 August when she was forced to quarantine after contracting Covid-19.
Upon obtaining her details, Lee quickly relayed the information to the office of Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng through social media on 21 August.
On 23 August, Miss Qiu informed Lee that she was finally rescued. She’s also currently helping the police with the investigation before returning to Malaysia.
According to Lee, Malaysians are in high demand by crime syndicates due to their proficiency in multiple languages.
Once forcibly recruited, they’re tasked to scam mostly Westerners.
It’s not the first time Malaysians have been scammed by human trafficking syndicates. They usually lure unwitting and desperate victims with the promise of high pay in a foreign land.
READ MORE: Two M’sian Teenagers Safely Return Home After Being Duped By “High-Paying” Job Scam In MyanmarREAD MORE: 14-Year-Old KL Boy Falls Victim To Job Scam And Nearly Trafficked To Thailand

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Female Circumcision In Malaysia Explained

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Why does female genital mutilation keep coming up as a headline in the news? And why won’t the government ban the procedure? The issue of female genital mutilation is surprisingly complicated in Malaysia.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a controversial topic due to the fact is has been labelled as a harmful practice that violates human rights, yet many communities that still implement it equate the procedure with religion and culture.
What is FGM?
(Credit: VICE)
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), FGM is all procedures that involve the partial or total removal of the external parts of the female genitalia, this includes any other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
WHO classifies FGM into 4 major types:
Type 1: the partial or total removal of the clitoral glans and/or the clitoral hood.Type 2: the partial or total removal of the clitoral glans and the labia minora and sometimes the labia majora.Type 3: the narrowing of the vaginal opening by either cutting and repositioning the labia minora or majora, or by stitching, sometimes with the removal of the clitoral hood and glans. This is also known as infibulation.Type 4: All other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, such as pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterising (burning) the genital area.
Types of FGM according to WHO. (Credit: R.AGE)
In all societies that practice it, FGM is a manifestation of deep-rooted gender inequality. It is supported by both men and women even when it is known to inflict harm on girls, usually without question, because the perceived benefits are considered worth the risk.
Communities that practise it believe that the procedure will control women’s sexuality, ensuring virginity before marriage, and obedience afterwards. Some also believe that the procedure increases male sexual pleasure and promotes hygiene and aesthetic appeal in women as the external genitalia are considered dirty and ugly and hence, must be removed.
Currently, the practice is most prevalent in African countries, with reports of it still being done in Middle Eastern and Asian countries as well.
(Credit: Development + Cooperation)
In Malaysia, a 2018 study found that over 99% of female participants surveyed (605 participants) had undergone FGM. Meanwhile, a separate study conducted in 2012 found that number to be 93% (of 1,196 respondents).
The Current Situation In Malaysia
Besides being prevalent, many Muslims in the country view FGM as a religious obligation, especially since it is apparently encouraged by religious authorities in Malaysia.
Several reports mention that the National Council of Islamic Religious Affairs (JAKIM) introduced a fatwa in 2009 stating that the practice is wajib (obligatory) for all Muslim woman, as long as a medical practitioner has deemed that it would not be harmful.
This view varies in each state based on the interpretation of the act by scholars and government officials. For example, the former mufti of Terengganu, Datuk Ismail Yahya says there are no religious texts supporting female circumcision.
The former mufti of Terengganu once served in the National Fatwa Council that issued the mandatory order on female circumcision in 2009. He was part of the minority who opposed the edict. (Credit: Al Jazeera)
In November 2018, Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad released a statement clarifying that the type of female circumcision practised in Malaysia is not FGM, but instead FGC, female genital cutting, or FC, female circumcision. The Ministry has supposedly also released a guideline to standardise the procedure.
Malaysia generally practices Type 4 FGM, the least invasive type which involves a needle prick to the clitoral hood of female babies as young as one or 2 months old. Once a drop of blood drips from the wound, the ritual is complete.
Several local NGOs are in disagreement about the matter. Sisters In Islam (SIS) have been very vocal in opposing the practice, stressing that the practice is not mentioned in the Quran and harmful towards women.
Local NGO, Sisters In Islam have been championing women’s rights for years. (Credit: FMT)
Meanwhile, Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (ISMA) and Wafiq (International Women’s Alliance for Family Institution and Quality Education) insist that there is a religious basis to female circumcision and that the way it is practised in Malaysia is not harmful.
Where does the practice come from?
According to the United Nations Populations Fund, the origins of FGM are unclear but known to exist before the rise of Christianity and Islam, and has been followed by many different societies across the ages and continents.
Some Egyptian mummies were reportedly found to have characteristics of FGM. Some historians also claim that there were communities in what is now known as Lebanon, Syria and Ethiopia who also practised circumcision in 5th century B.C.
Origins of FGM are unclear, but today it exists across many different types of communities. (Credit: Wikipedia)
In the 1950s, clitoridectomy was practised in Western Europe and the United States to treat perceived illnesses such as hysteria, epilepsy, mental disorders, masturbation, nymphomania, and melancholia.
Why FGM Is Linked To Islam
There are several reasons why FGM tends to get linked to Islam. One of the reasons is due to the Arabic word khitaan or khataan. Supporters of FGM have translated this word, which appears in several religious texts, as a word interchangeable for both male and female circumcision.
According to opponents of FGM, however, khitaan only refers to male circumcision, as the Arabic word for female circumcision is khifaadh.
Besides the word khitaan, there have also been several Hadiths which supporters of FGM claim prove the Islamic basis of FGM.
(Credit: ABC)
One Hadith commonly mentioned is the Hadith of Ummu-Attiya, although it has been declared daif (weak), it still tends to be mentioned. The Hadith relates that the Prophet told a woman named Ummu-Attiyah:
O’ Umm Attiyyah, ashimmi and do not exaggerate; as doing so will preserve the fairness of the woman’s face and satisfy the husband.
Supporters of FGM have taken the word ashimmi to mean “cutting a small part of the clitoris”, while opponents of FGM say that the word ashimmi has no such meaning, but instead can be translated to several things including “to massage with something soft like oil” or “to place one thing upon another”.
Another Hadith mentioned by supporters of FGM is the Hadith of Aisya, this Hadith is considered authentic and supporters of FGM use this Hadith as one of the strongest justifications for FGM. In this Hadith, the Prophet reportedly said:
If the two circumcisions (alkhitaanani) meet (il-tiqaa), then it is obligatory to take ritual bath (ghusl).
Many Muslim communities have started to ban FGM due to its harmful effects. (Credit: UNFPA)
Supporters of FGM take the term khitaan to generally mean circumcision and khitaanani to mean two circumcisions, for male and female.
A report by the United Nations Populations Fund states that Islamic scholars have concluded that this Hadith cannot be used as a basis of FGM because it actually discusses purification, not circumcision.
Besides this, Malaysian supporters of FGM also argue that FGM is obligatory under Shafii Islamic school of thought. On the other hand, opponents point out that scholars may have not been aware of the harmful effects of FGM due to the limit of scientific knowledge during the time of their verdict.
What Does The Science Say?
One of the ways a Mak Bidan performs FGM in Malaysia is using a bottle opener placed on top of a female infant’s genitals, then slice the exposed area using a blade cutter. (Credit: R.AGE)
The WHO states that FGM has no health benefits, and only harms girls and women in a variety of ways. All forms of FGM have been associated with health risks which increase with the amount of tissue damaged.
Immediate complications can include severe pain, excessive bleeding, infections, urinary problems, shock, and even death. While long term complications can include vaginal and menstrual problems, pain during intercourse, increased risk of childbirth complications and an array of other health risks.
In Malaysia, the procedure has been traditionally carried out by Mak Bidans, each one practising their own version of the procedure using everyday tools such as blade cutters and kitchen ingredients as antiseptic.
Traditionally, a Mak Bidan would perform the procedure. (Credit: R.AGE)
Since the fatwa issued by JAKIM in 2009, the practice is increasingly being performed by medical professionals in clinics who decided to conduct the procedure themselves to minimise health risks instead of leaving families to perform it outside of a safe environment.
However, Unicef insists that medicalising the procedure does not reduce the danger it poses to women, as the procedure still removes and damages healthy and normal tissue, as well as interferes with the natural functions of a girl’s body.
Even within medical communities, the way the procedure is carried out is not standardised. (Credit: VICE)
The danger of medicalised FGM was highlighted in the high-profile death of a 12-year-old girl in Egypt in January 2020 despite the fact that Egypt banned the practice in 2008.
Why Malaysia Hasn’t Banned The Practice
So far, there have not been any reports of Muslim babies undergoing the procedure facing any health complications. Some adult women who had FGM done as a baby say that the procedure does not have any effect on their sexual life.
While some doctors have decided to perform the procedure, there are many others who refuse and instead insist on informing parents of the harms associated with female circumcision.
Despite this, it seems that banning the practice might not be the best choice. Since it is still highly prevalent in the country, banning it could result in the practice going underground and becoming even riskier.

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So You Think You Know How To Cook An Egg?

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The humble egg is as versatile as the various ways to prepare it. For some, it has been a staple during the lockdown, eaten on its own or as an easy add-on to level up almost any food. Add it to a snack and it turns into a meal, add it to a meal and it can become a feast.

The humble boiled egg
A boiled egg, peeled or unpeeled, can be kept in the fridge for up to a week. Ready to be eaten as-is with a sprinkle of salt and pepper, sliced to be added to rice or noodles, or mashed as a filler for a sandwich.
It can also be a lifesaver when you’re hungry.
Everyone knows how to boil an egg, right?
The science
Adam Nieścioruk / Unsplash
A lot of people like their egg yolks runny and the egg whites firm. This is tricky to achieve, here’s why.
Egg whites begin to firm up at 60 degrees Celsius but will coagulate at 80 degrees. However, the yolk will thicken at around 65 degrees and firm up at 70 degrees. In other words, the egg yolk will cook before the egg white.
So, how do you deal with it? Keep the eggs in the fridge. Let them cool for at least overnight. This will cause the temperature of the yolk at the centre of the egg to drop. This way, when you cook it, the white of the egg, which is on the outside, will cook first, protecting the cold yolk which will cook slower.
About the size
Eggs come in different sizes. When looking at recipes online, they don’t always specify the size of the eggs they use.
Generally, Western recipes use eggs that weigh about 65g, which is a little larger than our L sized egg. Some Japanese recipes, especially omelettes, use LL sized eggs which are about 70g.
The size, temperature, and quality of the egg can influence the results of a recipe. So use the best eggs of the appropriate size that you can get.
The onsen egg
jojo (sharemyfoodd) ◡̈ / Unsplash
Similar to the Malaysian half-boiled egg, the Japanese hot spring egg is a soft runny egg that is perfect as a dip with toast, poured on hot white rice, or as a topping to a bowl of noodle.
Unlike half-boiled eggs which can be prepared using the half-boiled egg cooker, a properly done onsen tamago can be prepared without the use of any special gadgets.
However, there is a special technique to it.
First, boil a litre of water in a heavy saucepan. Once it is bubbling, remove it from the heat and pour in 200ml of cold water, straight from the fridge.
Estudio Gourmet / Unsplash
Next, lower four large cold eggs into the water, cover it, and leave it to sit for 16 minutes. Put too few eggs and it might overcook. Too many eggs and it may undercook.
The eggs have to be cold, else the yolk will congeal into a soft pearl while the egg white is still runny.
Take the eggs out when the time is up, set them aside for 5 minutes. The eggs will keep, in its shell, for a couple of days.
They can be eaten hot or cold with onsen tamago sauce, soy sauce, or on their own.
To reheat, just put them in boiling water for two minutes.
The soft boiled egg
Bogdan Vaskan / Unsplash
This delicious egg is a tricky one to make. But, with the right technique, it is almost fool-proof. Almost.
A well prepared soft boiled egg is easy to peel, has a firm white, a runny yolk. It is the basis of other egg recipes where you steep the egg like ajitama.
First put plenty of water, enough to submerge the eggs you want to cook, in a saucepan. Add salt and vinegar to the water, about a tablespoon of each into a litre of water. And turn on the heat.
While the water is boiling, puncture a hole at the wide end of each of the eggs. Use a pin, a thin metal skewer, or one of those egg piercers you can get at the Japanese thrift store.
These L sized eggs must be cold from the fridge.
Miki Fath / Unsplash
Once the water is bubbling, lower the eggs into the water and start the timer for 6 minutes. Adjust according to the size of the eggs you are using. Add more time for larger eggs, and less time for smaller eggs.
Stir the eggs in the water for the first minute to centre the yolk.
The hole in the eggshell will let the air bubbles out without cracking the shell. At the same time it will let the water, salt, and vinegar in, making the egg white congeal and the shell easy to peel later.
Lower the heat from a rolling boil to a simmer, to prevent the eggs from crashing into each other.
Anton Nazaretian / Unsplash
While the eggs boil, prepare an ice bath. Fill a large container with ice and water. It has to be able to submerge all the eggs.
The bath has to be cold to stop the cooking and release the egg from the shell. Add salt to the ice if you have to.
Once the time is up, dunk all the eggs immediately into the cold bath. Stir them for a minute.
Then leave them to sit for the same amount of time it takes to cook them.
If done right, these eggs will be soft, but easy to peel. Start by cracking the wide side of the egg with the hole in it on a flat surface.
The ajitama
Jason Leung / Unsplash
To make the soft boiled egg even better, steep the peeled eggs in stock with sweet and salty ingredients for at least three days.
For example, dashi (Japanese stock) with shoyu (Japanese soy sauce) and mirin (Japanese sweet sauce). Alternatively, you can use diluted thick Teriyaki sauce as the steeping liquid.
The result is called ajitsuke tamago also known as ramen eggs or marinated eggs. It’s savoury, soft, and the yolk will be thick like custard. Delicious.
READ MORE: Everything You Know About Eggs Are Wrong: 7 Facts You Need To Know.

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Food delivery riderâ€™s life-saving gesture on Subang Jaya road inspires Mâ€™sian man to offer reward

We see them zipping around, weaving in and out of traffic to
earnestly deliver sustenance to us hungry souls.

However, the contributions of food delivery riders can go beyond that as one Subang Jaya man discovered.
Facebook user Dgsw Goh took to the social media platform to share an encounter he had with a food delivery rider on the roads of Bandar Sunway in Subang Jaya.

Screenshot from Google Maps

While driving in heavy rain, a Foodpanda delivery rider suddenly braked in front of him.
There was a long metal pipe in the middle of the road, a clearly
dangerous hazard to vehicles-especially with the pouring rain obscuring vision
and slippery wet road.
Rain Driving GIF from Rain GIFs

The Foodpanda rider then picked it up and tossed it aside where it wouldnâ€™t cause harm.
It might have been an unremarkable moment for the rider, but
this selfless act made an impression on Goh who witnessed the entire thing.
Touched, Goh posted the tale on his Facebook page, and asked the internet to help him find the Foodpanda rider so that he could personally give him a reward for his thoughtful act.

â€œI am so proud of his character.â€ â€œThis humble man wants to meet the selfless rider and offer some little help to ease their burden.â€
Dgsw Goh via Facebook.
Equally touched, Facebook users spread his message with 2.3K
shares at the time of writing.

Screenshot from Facebook

As it turns out, his efforts worked!
Goh told TRP that he has found the kind rider.
Good Job Thumbs Up GIF from Goodjob GIFs

The young man is a student in Perak who comes to KL on
weekends to work as a food delivery rider.
Plans are underway for the two to meet next week and we will be sure to keep you updated!
Goh also told TRP that he chose to share this event to tell everyone that there are still many good people in Malaysia.
He also wanted to show people that incidents like this prove to him that Malaysia is the best place in the world.

via GIPHY

Are you inspired by this story? Then share the good word with your friends and family 🙂
If you have experienced something like this, let us know on TRPâ€™s Facebook, Twitter & Instagram!


Racial Discrimination: What Is It And Why Does It Matter?

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The 21st of March marks the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (or End Racism Day for short) and for 2021, the official hashtag is #FightRacism, and the theme is ‘Youth Standing Up Against Racism’.

The day is marked annually on the anniversary of a day the police in Sharpeville, South Africa, opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid in 1960.
Defining Racial Discrimination
The Oxford Dictionary defines Racial Discrimination as ‘the practice of treating somebody of a particular group in society less fairly than others’.
The Cambridge Dictionary defines Racial Discrimination as ‘unfair treatment of someone because of their race’.
According to the United Nation (UN)’s International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) racial discrimination is:
“Any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin; which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life.”
Photo by Artem Podrez from Pexels
Why is it important?
The UN General Assembly says that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and have the potential to contribute constructively to the development and well-being of their societies” and “any doctrine of racial superiority is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous and must be rejected.”
They are born equal in dignity and rights and all form an integral part of humanity. All individuals and groups have the right to be different, to consider themselves as different and to be regarded as such. However, the diversity of life styles and the right to be different may not serve as a pretext for racial prejudice.UN’s Declaration of Race and Racial Prejudice
In Sociology, Pluralism is a state in which all races and ethnicities are distinct, but have equal social standing. Not a society that’s colour blind per se, because people still have racial heritage that are recognised in society, but in terms of how social and economic resources are distributed, the colour of one’s skin plays no role.

Is Malaysia pluralistic? Opinions differ.
Malaysia is pluralistic by the letter of the law, as in the Federal Constitution, which forbids discrimination against citizens based on sex, religion, and race, yet in Article 153 of the Constitution, it also accords a “special position” to Bumiputeras (the ethnic Malays) and the indigenous tribes of Sabah and Sarawak in eastern Malaysia, where special privileges are to be provided in education, employment, and other areas.
The article is viewed as a sensitive matter by many, politicians on both sides, who are in favour or oppose it, are often being labelled as racist.
In his book The Malay Dilemma, ex-Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad touched on ‘genetic inferiority’ as the justification of Affirmative Action in Malaysia – Some have argued this as a position of ‘Positive’ Discrimination.
(Credit: TRP)
What does SUHAKAM say?
The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) commemorates the day and its theme of “Youth Standing Up Against Racism’ by recognising the increasing role of youth in society and in charting the future of the nation.
They warn that online technology as a mode of communication and dissemination of information has lead to social media misuse, for public shaming and attacks, racism and xenophobia targeting some ethnicities and nationalities.
The majority of social media users being youths, without proper guidance they run the risk of exacerbating racist and intolerant attitudes.
Image by Javier Robles from Pixabay
They also urge the Government to step up its efforts to implement policies and measures to counter hate speech and intolerance; and to provide open platforms for youths and various groups in society to discuss and address the issue of racial discrimination in Malaysia.
SUHAKAM also reiterates its call to the Government to accede to the ICERD as it will serve as a catalyst for more concerted effort to promote and protect human rights for all regardless of race, colour, descent, nationality or ethnic origin.
As the famous civil rights activist, Martin Luther King Jr once said ‘I look to a day when people will not be judged by the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character.’

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Malaysian Creative Industry Set For A Comeback With ‘Art In The City 2021’

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Without art, the crudeness of reality would make the world unbearable.George Bernard Shaw, playwright, literary critic, Nobel Prize for Literature
And unbearable it was for many whose livelihoods and sanity depended on the arts to get through the last year and a half.

But October is a good month because most of the country has moved to Phase 3 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) and that means Malaysia’s arts and culture industry is gearing for a major comeback.
Art In The City, And Our Hearts
The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac), one of the country’s renowned performing arts centres, was brought to life again yesterday evening (30 September) with Communications and Multimedia Minister (KKMM) Tan Sri Annuar Musa launching Art In The City (AITC) 2021.
(Credit: KKMM / Facebook)
The initiative, which runs from October to December this year, aims to jumpstart Malaysia’s arts and culture industry.
Expect a focus on an array of music, dance, craft, theatre, film dance, food, heritage and history with a diverse line-up of exciting forums, masterclasses, dialogues, product launches and exhibitions in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, as well as selected cities across Malaysia.

AITC 2021 is one of the Cultural Economy Development Agency’s (CENDANA) leading art platforms that engage with the public.
This year will have 9 main programmes and more than 100 activities.
Some highlights include:
Kuala Lumpur Creative Economy Forum (CEF), 14 October at 9:30 am via Zoom
A collaboration of celebrated local and international creative minds to connect for the future of Malaysian arts. Scheduled to attend will be Jason Bevan, the person behind the innovation and creativity process at Warner Bros. Studios, marketing legendary movies in EMEA from the Harry Potter/Fantastic Beasts Films and The Dark Knight trilogy to the Lego Movies.
Cendana Open Arts Classes, 29 October – 21 November via Zoom
A series of free weekend classes by renowned artists and gurus in Malaysia.
(Credit: AITC 2021)
Projek Light, The Light Project, 12 November – 12 March 2022
An art installation that aims to ‘light up’ the following six cities: Kuala Lumpur, Butterworth, Batu Pahat, Ipoh, Melaka, and Kuching. There will also be curated performances to inspire the nation, along with the arts and culture sector, with the message of hope and light to rise from the pandemic.
KLWKND, 25 – 28 November 20201, Kuala Lumpur
A 4-day festival across Kuala Lumpur with dance, music, workshops, talks, screenings, food experiences and more.
(Credit: AITC 2021)
For more information on AITC 2021, visit their website at https://baskl.com.my/aitc
A Revival of the Country’s Economy And People
With the launch of AITC 2021, 2,000 additional job opportunities will be created.
The ministry is committed to supporting wholeheartedly the arts and culture industry which plays an important role in the country’s economic growth.Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa via Malay Mail
Annuar also added that the government recognises the importance of arts and culture in revitalising the country, not only from an economic standpoint, but also from a people perspective.
Meanwhile, Cendana CEO Izan Satrian Mohd Sallehudin has lauded the government’s efforts to support the recovery of the arts and culture industry.

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23 April Fixed For Ramadan Crescent Moon Sighting

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The date for sighting the crescent moon marking the beginning of Ramadan has been set on Thursday, 23 April 2020, which will be equivalent to day 29 Syaaban 1441 Hijrah on the Islamic calendar.
The Office of the Keeper of the Rulersâ€™ Seal said in a statement today (17 April) that the moon sighting will be conducted at 15 specific locations nationwide during the movement control order period.
According to the statement, the Council of Rulers have agreed to use the Rukyah and Hisab method of determining the beginning of the fasting month.
Those 15 determined locations are:
Pontian Kecil, JohorKompleks Falak Al-Khawarizmi, Kampung Balik Batu, Tanjung Bidara, MelakaTelong Kemang, Port Dickson, Negeri SembilanBalai Cerap, Selangor, Sabak Bernam, SelangorPantai Pasir Panjang, Mukim Pengkalan Baru, Manjong, PerakPusat Falak Sheikh Tahir, Pantai Aceh, PenangMenara Alor Setar, KedahBalai Cerap KUSZA, Mukim Merang, Setiu, TerengganuMenara Bangunan SEDC, Kota Baharu, KelantanTeluk Bandung, Kuching, SarawakBalai Cerap Al-Biruni, Tanjung Dumpil, Putatan, SabahBukit Pelindong, Kuantan, PahangTingkat 13, Menara Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kampus Antarabangsa, LabuanMenara Kuala Lumpur, Kuala LumpurKuala Sungai Baru, Simpang Empat, Perlis

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Former Prime Minister Insists He Isn’t Racist, Netizens Think Otherwise

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Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has shared a series of tweets online slamming Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy for criticising him over the use of the word “foreigners”, however, netizens are not happy.

In a Twitter thread, the twice ex-PM wrote that Ramasamy was annoyed that he (Mahathir) still distinguished the descendants of migrants from China and India as ‘orang asing’ or people of foreign origins.
It is not me, but they themselves who wish to identify themselves as of foreign origin. It is they who identify themselves as Malaysian Chinese or Malaysian Indians. Malays identify themselves with this country, Malaysia, in being Malaysian.Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad
He continued to say that while his ancestors originated from India, he however, does not call himself a Malaysian Indian.
I am a Malay in the sense that my home language is Malay and my culture is Malay. The constitution says that a Malay is a person who habitually speaks Malay and practises the Malay ‘adat’ (customs) and is a Muslim.Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad
Further defending his views, Mahathir said it was not racist for a Malay to speak about his own race.
When Malays speak about Malays, they are not being racist. They are the nationals of this country. Anywhere in the world, when nationals speak about themselves, they are not being racist. The British people talk about their problems and are not accused of being racist.Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad
Additionally, he also wrote at length about vernacular schools and about the medium of teaching, claiming that some quarters rejected the idea of putting vernacular and national schools on the same campus and made comparisons with other countries and highlighted the cultural backgrounds of some world leaders.
As expected, his tweets received flak from netizens of all backgrounds, with many calling him racist and asking him to stop tweeting.
Twitter user @DiyaSeesGhosts said:
By your logic, anyone can be a “malay” because it was listed in the constitution. Fine. Sure. But will you give them the same privileges malays have then? You said a few characteristics of a true Malaysian, what about orang asli and Sarawak/sabahans? Are they not Malaysians?@DiyaSeesGhosts via Twitter
Moreover, she said while it is expected of the non-Malays to call themselves Malaysians, they are still treated as third class citizens.
From the name calling to unfair treatment to racist threads like this is CONSTANTLY being made. So tell me, would you still call yourself a Malaysian if you’re not treated like one?.@DiyaSeesGhosts via Twitter
Also sharing his views was co-founder of youth group Undi18, Tharma Pillai who tweeted:
Almost 100 years of being alive and this man still remains insecure about his race. Decades of terpaling Melayu politics, just to cover his insecurity. Could have just gone for therapy instead of ruining the country.Co-founder of youth group Undi18 Tharma Pillai
Twitter user @RnaudBertrand added that he personally believes that what annoys Mahathir most is what he finds most attractive and unique about Malaysia, which is its multiculturalism.
Personally what annoys him is what I find most attractive and unique about Malaysia: its multiculturalism. Few countries in the world – especially in Asia! – have this great mix of cultures without forcing assimilation. Not enforcing a national identity is Malaysia’s identity!@RnaudBertrand via Twitter
If you’ve come across the former Prime Minister’s tweets, what are your thoughts on what he’s said?

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BookXcess opens new ‘underground’ bookstore in Setia Alam

Great news bookworms, thereâ€™s a brand new bookstore in town!
BookXcess just opened its 8th outlet at the Sunsuria Forum mall in Setia Alam.

(Image Credit: TRP)

From the people who brought you the Big Bad Wolf book sale and Malaysiaâ€™s largest 24-hour bookstore, comes another whimsical hangout for all you book lovers out there.
The unique store takes on a â€˜book tunnelâ€™ theme.
Located on the lower ground level of the outdoor mall, the aesthetically pleasing shop looks like it came straight out of the pages of one of the many books on its shelves.

 (Image Credit: TRP)

Visitors are welcomed by a towering circular bookshelf and a spiralling staircase leading to the underground bookstore.
Dig your way through the storeâ€™s decent collection of books for all ages. From art and design to literature, fiction and non-fiction titles, to childrenâ€™s books and graphic novels.

 (Image Credit: TRP)

Take a chill pill and cosy up at the many available work stations and reading corners around the store or simply curl up with a good book at the shopâ€™s instore Wolf Cafe.

(Image Credit: BookXcess)

And for those with kids, the store features a rather magical children’s section complete with a mini-maze for young minds to explore and expand their interest in reading.
Celebrating the launch of the new store, BookXcess will be treating visitors to special discounts for its opening weekend from 31 October – 3 November.
Enjoy up to 80% savings on your book purchase along with other free goodies.

(Image Credit: Instagram @bookxcess)

Get 20% off all non-promotional books and store items.

(Image Credit: Instagram @bookxcess)

And 50% off coffee and tea at the in-store cafe.

(Image Credit: Instagram @bookxcess)

So if you are looking for an alternative book store to fulfil your literary cravings, BookXcess will be open from 10 am to 10 pm every day.
If youâ€™d like to find out more about BookXcess new store, the promotions theyâ€™re having as well as their other outlets around the country, just head on over to their official website, HERE.

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Health crisis brewing in Kuala Koh Orang Asli community

Over the weekend, news of the Batek Orang Asli villagers mysteriously falling ill and dying in Kuala Koh spread like wildfire over social media.

“Kampung ini ada 223 penduduk dan 57 ketua isi rumah. Bagaimanapun, lebih separuh daripada kami kini sedang bertarung nyawa.”
This story shocking. 13 orang asli Bateq (+ a 1-year-old child) has died. Why isn’t this is an emergency already?
Pls retweet. This needs to be viral. https://t.co/ulJkZbem8e
â€” Majidah Hashim (@majidahhashim) June 8, 2019

Initial news reports indicated that the villagers were falling sick since the beginning of Ramadhan and they suspected it was due to the contamination of their water source.
According to interviews with the villagers, this is the worst illness theyâ€™ve ever faced with 14 deaths since the month of May.
Picture Credit: UAB College of Arts & Sciences
Cause of their deaths were widely reported as tuberculosis (TB), which led to an outpouring of concern and worry for the nation’s natives.
The Kelantan Health Department and Malaysian Health Ministry (MOH), have, however, finally come out with statements to clarify situation. Hereâ€™s what’s been confirmed so far:
1. The Batek Orang Asli people in Kuala Koh are infected with mystery lung infections
The Batek villagers exhibit common symptoms which included fever, coughing and breathing difficulties.
Picture Credit: Berita Harian Online
2.After the initial outbreak, 29 people were sent to clinics and hospitals for examination and treatment
According to the statement dated June 8th by the Kelantan Health Department, 3 babies, 10 children and 16 adults were transferred to healthcare facilities with the aid of the Orang Asli Development Department (JAKOA).

Laporan berita ini kurang tepat. Hanya 2 kematian disahkan kerana jangkitan kuman pada paru-paru (Pneumonia).
Rujuk kenyataan rasmi Jabatan Kesihatan Negeri Kelantan untuk maklumat tepat.
Terima kasih. @DrDzul @DGHisham @501Awani pic.twitter.com/NbQkF8Kgjs
â€” KKMPutrajaya (@KKMPutrajaya) June 9, 2019

3. Medical tests reveal that the infections are NOT TB, but the main suspect is pneumonia
Though both are infections of the lung, TB can be misdiagnosed as pneumonia. In this case, the clinical symptoms and mode of infection indicate that it may be pneumonia.

Symptoms of PneumoniaPicture Credit: Ministry of Health Malaysia

Pneumonia is the inflammation or infection in the lungs usually caused by bacterial infection, virus, fungus or parasites. It can also result from exposure to chemical or physical substances. Symptoms of pneumonia includes cough, chest pain, fever and shortness of breath.
4. Only TWO, not 13 villagers have died in the past month
Only two deaths from the Batek village were reported at the Kelantan Health Department. Post-mortem reports from Hospital Gua Musang reveal that the cause of deaths were from pneumonia.

ï»¿Picture Credit: Ministry of Health Malaysia

5.  More Orang Asli with breathing problems have been identified and sent to health clinics for examination and treatment
A total of 155 Batek Orang Asli villagers have been screened with 83 people detected with symptoms of breathing difficulties.

Picture Credit: Kickstory.net

Those who present symptoms are currently being treated in outpatient clinics, Hospital Gua Musang, Hospital Kuala Krai, Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II and Orang Asli Health Home (RIKA).
6. Contact with the Batek Orang Asli tribe is now restricted
Dr Zaini Hussin, Kelantan Health Director, has called for restricted contact between the Batek Orang Asli villagers and outsiders to prevent further spread of pneumonia infections.
Picture Credit: Malay Mail
The Batek tribe is known to be shy of outsiders has also made news in the past for a mysterious skin infection that hit them in their teens.
This delicate situation is still unfolding as the Ministry of Health quickly moves to resolve the health crisis faced by the Batek tribe.


Here’s A Pro Tip To Help You ‘Bear’ With Raising Food Prices

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Is Malaysia’s ongoing food inflation deflating your e-wallets?

The Department of Statistics reported that food inflation has recently risen by 4.1% compared to last year and that around 89.1% of food and beverages sold across the country have increased in price.
The price of everything from meat, poultry, seafood, vegetables, and even dairy products have soared between 3% to 10% this year, and economists predict that things are only going to get more expensive in the days to come despite the government’s efforts to control em’ with targeted subsidies and other measures.
Even the cost of shipping has jumped in recent months and added to the total of the rakyat’s meal expenses.
(Credit: lookstudio via Freepik)
In times like these, it’s no wonder that some of us are tightening our belts in spite of being as hungry as a panda bear. 🐼🥴😭
But what if there was a way for you to let your appetites loose and still enjoy delicious meals and stock up the panty at affordable prices, and savour more than just deserts?
Bear your way through the food panda-monium
With foodpanda’s stu-panda-ous “pandapro” subscription plans, users can satisfy their cravings at home, shop for groceries and supplies, and even save up when dining out with loved ones for as little as RM4.90 a month.
Sign up for a pandapro subscription today and enjoy unlimited savings with 12x free deliveries in 56 major cities across the country with a minimum order of RM25, 20% discount vouchers to shop at pandamart, and 20% off when ordering food, freshly brewed coffee and drinks at 20,000 selected restaurants near you.
pandapro subscribers also get to tantalise their taste buds and save up to 25% when dining in at your favourite eateries nationwide.

On top of that, foodpanda will be giving away two months’ worth of subscriptions in rebates and a RM50 voucher to 4 million lucky users this July for your food orders and grocery shopping.
There are three all-inclusive plans to subscribe to with pandapro that’ll fit any budget and lifestyle. And with each tier, you’ll reap the benefits of enjoying even more discounts as you spend:
A one-month subscription plan at RM8.90 to enjoy 70% off spendingA six-month subscription plan at RM6.90 per month to enjoy 77% off spendingA 12-month subscription plan at RM4.90 per month to enjoy 84% off spending
It takes bear minimum effort!
Subscribing to pandapro is as easy as 1, 2, 3:
Step 1: Toggle the top left menu on the foodpanda mobile app and tap on “Become a pandapro” subscriber.
Step 2: Tap “Select Plan”, and pick your desired subscription package, then tap on “Subscribe now”.
Step 3: Tap “Confirm and subscribe” and presto! You’re now officially a pandapro subscriber and get to enjoy great savings on your ex-panda-tures.
Once your payment is successful, you’ll stand a chance to receive the two months’ subscription rebate and RM50 voucher in your “Vouchers” menu within a couple of days.
All you need to do is apply for the RM8.90 rebate and RM50 voucher when subscribing to pandapro, and check in on the app every day to see if you’re the lucky winner of this panda-tastic prize.

Download the foodpanda app through the Apple App Store, Google Play or your devices’ app gallery, or visit their official website for more information.

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What’s the deal with RFID and why should I care?

After some back-and-forth (and lawsuits) between CIMB and Plus, both companies recently announced an agreement allowing drivers to use RFID to pay tolls.

The new toll payment service will be facilitated by Touch nâ€™ Go Sdn Bhd (TNG) through the TNG RFID tag.
The hope is that RFID will replace the current and somewhat dated Touch n Go card.
So what does this mean for drivers?
You can link the tag to your preferred bank accounts, credit cards, debit cards or the Touch n’ Go e-wallet.

How do you use it?
You need to install the RFID sticker to either the windscreen or headlamp of your vehicle.
To install it, you need to go to an RFID Fitment Centre.
They’ll put a sticker on you headlight which, unfortunately, you canâ€™t do it by yourself because the tag needs to be verified which might be quite cumbersome for some because you need to go to their centres to do that.
Picture Credit : KLGadgets TV
The tag is unique to each vehicle and is embedded with a radio frequency chip.
As the vehicle passes through the toll, an overhead scanner reads the radio-frequency from the RFID tag and charges the toll fare.
But if you don’t feel like putting the sticker on your car, you can also use SmartTAG which functions similarly, or better yet, there are cars that have that built-in, so you don’t need to go through the whole process at all.
Those things have been around since foreverPicture Credit: Malay Mail
Where can you use it?
It will be available in 10 open system toll plazas at PLUS expressways by January next year.
Open system toll plazas are defined as a system where the toll fare is a fixed rate based on vehicle class.
As for all 83 closed system toll plazas on the PLUS expressways, it will be available by April of next year.
Closed-system toll plazas are defined when the vehicle enters the highway and the toll rate is based on the vehicle class and distance traveled upon exit out of the highway.
But again, if you want the boom gate to open without opening the window, thereâ€™s always Smart Tag which has been around, for ages.

What is RFID?
RFID is short for â€œradio-frequency identificationâ€ that refers to a technology where digital data is encoded in RFID tags or smart labels and is captured by a reader.
This information is transmitted via radio waves from the tag to the reader.
It is similar to barcoding in that data from a tag or label are captured by a device that stores the data in a database.

RFIDs were first patented in 1973 by Mario W. Cardullo received the first U.S. patent for an active RFID tag with rewritable memory on January 23, 1973.
Other than passports, RFIDs are also used in credit cards, access cards and many more.

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Say Goodbye To FarmVille, Our Teenage Game Is Leaving Facebook Forever At The End Of 2020

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In the early days of social media and Facebook, things such as “poking” a friend, having conversations on friends walls and sharing your FarmVille progress were ubiquitous.

As we’ve said goodbye to “poking” and lengthy wall conversations, now it’s time to say goodbye to FarmVille as the popular game will cease to exist forever on 31 December 2020.
Credit: FarmVille/Facebook
Parent company Zynga explained that the shutdown is due to the game running on Adobe Flash, which will no longer be supported by browsers and Facebook.
FarmVille was the first farming game to be built and uses old technology which is no longer supported. Farmville runs on Adobe Flash and from December 31st Adobe Flash and games running on it will no longer be supported by browsers and Facebook. That is why we had to take the tough decision of shutting down Farmville.Zynga
But the news hardly comes as a big surprise to tech enthusiasts as both Adobe and Facebook had announced earlier that they will completely stop supporting Flash after December 31st.
Web browsers including Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox and Apple’s Safari have also announced that they will be dumping Flash support by the end of this year.
So it was only a matter of time before Flash-dependent games such as FarmVille met their digital demise.
Credit: FarmVille/Facebook
According to The Verge, the game had 10 million daily active users in less than two months after its launch in 2009. At its peak popularity, 30 million people played FarmVille daily.
For the games fans who still remain true, Zynga assures that FarmVille will remain playable right up to the end on 31 December 2020.
Other versions of FarmVille, such as Farmville 2, Farmville 2: Country Escape, Farmville 2: Tropic Escape & Farmville 3 are not affected by this, so the magic is not entirely gone.
Until then, we’ll continue harvesting our crops and hoe-ing around online.

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Source:
Important Announcement
FAQ - Farmville Sunset
The original FarmVille on Facebook is shutting down at the end of the year
Popular Facebook Game FarmVille Will Shut Down On December 31


Is Malaysia Ready For PrEP Treatment? Healthcare Professionals Clash In Views

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Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a medication used to prevent HIV transmission through sex or injection drug use.

PrEP is available in two forms: pill or injection. According to the CDC, there are currently two pills approved for use as PrEP named Truvada and Descovy, and one injection (shot) named Apretude.
Each medication or treatment comes with its own requirement and side effects, depending on the individual or patient.
The use of PrEP is said to be able to reduce the risk of contracting HIV from sex by about 90% when taken according to prescription.
In Malaysia, the Health Ministry (KKM) is carrying out a pilot project using PrEP in several hospitals to assess its effectiveness and safety in reducing the risk of HIV infection.
Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the pilot project was necessary before it can be certified by KKM for public use.
READ MORE: MOH Will Provide Free HIV Prevention Medication
Is Malaysia ready to introduce PrEP?
However, conservative views and stigma regarding the disease in the country have long hampered the access of PrEP to affected Malaysians.
There have been worries that with the availability of PrEP, some people will actively engage in unprotected sex.
Universiti Sains Malaysia Medical Professor Dr Rafidah Hanim Mokhtar’s recent comments during a discussion about the readiness of Malaysia to implement PrEP treatment sparked an online debate over the matter.
During the live debate, Dr Rafidah alleged that the availability of PrEP treatment in Malaysia will encourage ‘risk compensation’ or fear that people will engage in condomless sex.
Para panel sudah bersedia untuk memulakan wacana berkaitan PrEP: Tanggungjawab, pencegahan penyakit HIV. Sekiranya tidak berada di studio Sinar Harian, anda boleh menonton wacana secara langsung di https://t.co/hvLnIZXceH pic.twitter.com/JaWBeBydt2— JEJAKA Health (@JEJAKAHealth) December 27, 2022
She also claimed that people become homosexuals because they were disowned by their families and sexually abused.
Dr Rafidah also voiced her worry that PrEP could increase and encourage homosexual lifestyles.
In response, KKM’s Head of HIV Sector Dr Anita Suleiman said medical professionals should ensure fair treatment for all patients regardless of their background.
Dr Anita said the PrEP treatment is not a long-term treatment and patients can stop taking it if there are no more risks present.
Give them a chance to prevent themselves from being infected. Be fair to them.KKM’s Head of HIV Sector Dr Anita Suleiman
Give them a chance to prevent themselves from getting infected. Be fair to them. – Dr. Anita— JEJAKA Health (@JEJAKAHealth) December 27, 2022
President of Yayasan AIDS Malaysia (MAF) Prof Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman voiced similar sentiments and said there’s no way people will turn homosexual the minute they take PrEP.
Prof Adeeba said it’s also stigmatising to say people get HIV due to unnatural sex. She also corrected Dr Rafidah’s earlier statement and said that gay men get depressed and do drugs because their families and society rejected them.
She explained that PrEP needed to be given to homosexual couples because they’re already at a higher risk of contracting AIDs.
Prof Adeeba further explained that such a narrow stigma prevents the people who needed help from getting the help they need.
The prevention of getting the help they need is what drives these people to depression and suicide.
She added that no one is making right (menghalalkan) what is wrong but there can be no discrimination in medicine and no preventing patients from receiving the treatments they need.
We have to try from every angle. Don’t object something that’s proven to prevent people from falling ill.President of Yayasan AIDS Malaysia (MAF) Prof Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman
But they (homosexual – MSM) are the very people who need to get prevented from getting HIV. – Prof. Adeeba— JEJAKA Health (@JEJAKAHealth) December 27, 2022
It’s stigma that kills. Kita ada rawatan yang amat baik tetapi kerana wujudnya bantahan-bantahan seperti ini menyebabkan mereka tidak tampil dan ada antara mereka yang mendapat kemurungan dan suicidal kerana disingkir oleh masyarakat. – Prof. Adeeba— JEJAKA Health (@JEJAKAHealth) December 27, 2022

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This Chinese Covid-19 Vaccine Will Be First To Undergo Final Stage Trial In Malaysia

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Malaysia’s endeavour with the Covid-19 vaccine marks another milestone as MyEG signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical to conduct phase 3 clinical trials of Zhifei’s Covid-19 vaccine in Malaysia.

Zhifei is currently one of the five Chinese companies conducting phase 3 clinical trials of the Covid-19 vaccine in various parts of the world.
In a statement released today, MyEG explained that it will assist the Chinese biopharma company in obtaining the Malaysia Islamic Development Department (JAKIM) halal certification for its Covid-19 vaccine that will be exclusively distributed in Malaysia for a three-year period.
MyEG also explained that this Phase 3 trial will make Zhifei’s Covid-19 vaccine one of the first to undergo this final stage trial in Malaysia under the supervision of the Health Ministry.
In return, Zhifei will provide the necessary materials, guidance and investigational vaccines for the final stage trial in Malaysia.
The Chinese company will also provide materials for both emergency and official use of the Covid-19 vaccine in Malaysia, as well as clinical data reports and World Health Organization (WHO) certification.
Upon successful completion of the Phase 3 trials, MyEG will be the sole distributor of the vaccine in Malaysia.
Malaysia’s Covid-19 vaccine plans
In November, the government signed an agreement with Pfizer – an international pharmaceutical company – to get 12.8 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine for Malaysians beginning January 2021.
(Credit: Sky News)
It is reported that the Pfizer vaccine is enough for 6.4 million Malaysians or around 20% of the population – which plays into the government’s plan to vaccinate 60% of the population, while the rest will be protected via herd immunity.
Children and teens aged 18 years and below, as well as individuals with immune system disorders will not be given the Covid-19 vaccine.
READ MORE: Malaysia Not Giving Covid-19 Vaccine To Children, Depending On Herd Immunity Instead
Credit: Choo Choy May/Malay Mail
Amidst allegations that Malaysians are being used as “lab rats” for vaccine trials, Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah explained that Malaysia’s Public Covid-19 Vaccine Programme is based on the “Five P” framework:
Registration (Pendaftaran)Supply (Pembekalan)Distribution (Pemberian)Monitoring (Pemantauan)Evaluation (Penilaian)
Dr Noor Hisham assured that the Covid-19 vaccines, as well as all medications, need to go through a stringent vetting process before being approved for the rest of the human population.
READ MORE: No, Malaysians Aren’t Lab Rats For Covid-19 Vaccine. We Actually Have A Plan

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Source:
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING MY E.G. Services Berhad ("MYEG" or "the Company") - Memorandum of Understanding entered between the Company and Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd
MY E.G. SERVICES BERHAD [REGISTRATION NO. 200001003034 (505639-K)] (“THE COMPANY”) - MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ENTERED BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND ANHUI ZHIFEI LONGCOM BIOPHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD.