Here’s How To Get FREE Taco Bell From 12 – 16 May Only!

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Hey, quick question. What are you having for dinner tonight?

Uhhh…
Haa see, all of a sudden your brain jem already. Don’t know what to eat or even where to go for dinner?
We actually have just the answer for you. “Coincidentally,” Taco Bell Malaysia is giving away free tacos for dinner from 6 PM to 8 PM this 12th – 16th May in all their 8 outlets in Malaysia!
What’s The Free Food?
In conjunction with their Tukar Ke Taco or Taco Swap Campaign, Taco Bell Malaysia is inviting fans to swap any of their ideas for dinner for a Taco Bell taco. Get a taco, burrito, wrap, quesadilla or other sets and get one free Crunchy Taco with it!

How To Get Free Food?
Just spend anything worth RM20 at their restaurants for dine-in or even take away and walk away with a free signature Crunchy Taco! With freshly fried corn tortilla as the shell, the free Crunchy Taco consist of seasoned ground chicken, lettuce, signature hot sauce and shredded cheddar cheese as their filling. Oh, we’re hungry already!
If you don’t know what to get, you can try their combo sets such as the Crunchwrap Supreme combo, 2 Taco Supreme Combo, Chicken Quesadilla Combo, 2 Kickin Chicken Taco Combo, Grilled Stuft Burrito Combo, Chickstar Combo and more. Each combo comes with side nachos or fries and a beverage all under RM20. You can also get a Bell Rice Bowl for that Malay palate.  Check their menu out here.
READ MORE: [Review] Ring-A-Ding-Ding! We Try Out Malaysia’s First Ever Taco Bell In Cyberjaya
Let’s Get That Free Food!
TIL Taco Bell has 8 outlets now. See, the more reason for you to try out their Mexican delicacies for fun! Check out their 8 outlets in the Klang Valley here.
So, still deciding on what to eat for dinner tomorrow? Nvm lah. Just taco it. Trade them sad and plain ideas of dinner for their flavourful tacos!
Check out their Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more details.

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Weak Earthquake Hits Kundasang, Tremors Also Felt In Ranau

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A weak earthquake, measuring 3.1 on the Richter Scale, hit Kundasang in Sabah at 7.27am today (14 August).

MetMalaysia said in a statement that the quake was detected 13km northwest of Ranau, Sabah, at a depth of 10km.

Tremors were also felt around Kundasang and Ranau. MetMalaysia said it would continue to monitor the situation closely.
Those who felt the tremors were also asked to fill in a survey in the link provided.
The last time an earthquake happened and tremors were felt in Kundasang was on 26 April 2022, based on a news report by The Star.

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MCO VS Japanese Occupation: 87-Year-Old Grandmother Compares Living Through Both

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Staying inside for days on end with restricted hours of being outside may be a new experience for many young Malaysians under the Movement  Control Order (MCO), but for the nation’s older ones, it’s history repeating itself.
For its 63 years of independence, Malaysia has never been under imposed curfew, but Malaya has during the Japanese Occupation.
87-year-old Wook Esah, from Kampung Mohd Noor in Batu Pahat, is one who survived the 3-year occupation that began in December 1942.
The Japanese Occupation of Malaya began in December 1942 when the troops invaded by bicycles. (Credit: The Star)
When World War 2 broke out, the Allied forces (UK, US etc) formed a blockade on Japanese occupied territories, severely restricting its access to supplies. As Malaya imported most of its rice requirements, which is a staple, this meant that food supply ran low and rice was rationed.
Speaking to Bernama, the octogenarian recalled the difficulty in finding food during the dark days.
According to Wook Esah, people had to get creative and fully utilise whatever was available – such as tapioca, which used to make everything.
Tapioca.(Credit: Healthline)
It was boiled, steamed in banana leaves, deep fried, made into cakes, fermented and even the leaves were boiled for consumption.
I’m sure everyone knows about this plant and its tuber. Normally people enjoy it as kerepek (chips) or boiled or fried, but not many know that the skin is edible, too.   During the Japanese Occupation, the skin was not thrown away like now but was turned into a main dish like masak lemak (a coconut milk gravy dish).Wook Esah to Bernama.
This resourcefulness has since translated into a similar self-sufficiency during the MCO. Wook Esah told Bernama that she has not ventured beyond her house compound throughout the MCO.
Tapioca leaves cooked in coconut milk aka pucuk ubi masak lemak.(Credit: kakishare.wordpress)
The grandmother of three has taught her children and grandchildren how to make full use of village vegetables and they now benefit from the vegetables and fruits they grow.
She does note that food supplies are more readily available in this situation that it was during the Japanese occupation.
However, the danger is just as potent.
If before this you could see the enemy, this time the enemy is more dangerous because it can’t be seen and my family will abide by the MCO rules until we’re completely safe from Covid-19. Wook Esah to Bernama.

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Source:
Japanese occupation survivor recalls curfew meal
The Japanese Occupation of Malaya: A Social and Economic History


Boss may “casually touch here & there” – Mâ€™sian shares nightmare personal secretary job description

Making dirty jokes and sexual innuendos tend to be quite commonplace in the working environment. Weâ€™re all adults and understand that itâ€™s just casual office banter.
So, when do these things cross the line and become sexual harassment?
Kayne Is Not Amused GIF from Notfunny GIFs

Here’s when:
Recently, a Twitter user shared the experience of someone coming face to face with blatant sexual harassment in the workspace.
The worst part was that the person hadnâ€™t even started working for the company yet.
According to the tweets, after applying for the position of personal secretary to the director of a company, the applicant received an email detailing her “job description”.
Picture credit: Twitter
The obviously corrupt work culture of the company was further highlighted by the fact that the HR department labelled the director who regularly sexually harasses his personal secretary as being an â€œopen-minded personâ€.
Apparently, the company has been doing this for several years now.

another victim from same company
THEY BEEN DOING THIS FOR AT LEAST 2 YEARS!!! 2 YEARS!!!! GOD KNOW HOW MANY VICTIMSSSSSS!! pic.twitter.com/cMe7TaEwax
â€” Hantu_Tahi (@yeeshan_13) November 8, 2019

And it appears that this practice is widespread.

Apprently many â€œbossâ€ like to â€œrequestâ€ like this….. pic.twitter.com/VwdaoyzraU
â€” Hantu_Tahi (@yeeshan_13) November 8, 2019

We canâ€™t decide which part of this is more offensive: the fact that the sexual harassment is widely known and accepted as part of the job descriptionï»¿, or the fact that agreeing to be regularly sexually harassed is awarded a higher salary.
This whole practice borders prostitution!
The Most Unacceptable Behavior Ive Ever Seen In My Life Frustrated GIF from Themostunacceptablebehavioriveeverseeninmylife GIFs

Currently, there are no specific laws in Malaysia that make sexual harassment a punishable crime.
Instead, sexual harassment is only discussed as something that happens in the workplace, and it is managed with the Code of Practice on the Prevention and Eradication of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace. Sexual harassment is also mentioned and defined in the Employment Act 1955.
However, the code and the Act merely lay out a guideline for companies. And it is completely up to the company to decide whether a complaint merits an investigation or action taken.

Picture credit: Imgflip

And some companies clearly choose to ignore it.

Statistics show that over one-third of Malaysian women have experienced sexual harassment.
Men arenâ€™t safe from this either. Although highly under-reported, the police recorded 257 reports of men being victims of sexual harassment between 2013 and 2017.
According to Deputy Minister Women, Family and Community Development, Hannah Yeoh, an online poll conducted by the ministry saw around 28,000 respondents admitting to having experienced sexual harassment.
As we mentioned above, there are no current laws that consider sexual harassment as a punishable crime.
Instead, such cases tend to be investigated under Section 509 of the Penal Code: Insulting the modesty of a person.

 Screenshot from Penal Code, Page 257

Meanwhile, the government is reportedly awaiting the results of an impact study which will reportedly serve as a guideline in drawing up the Sexual Harassment Act and in improving existing regulations.

You can check out the full thread on Twitter:

Got this from a Friend’s friend
so now employer can ask candidate is it ok the boss “casually touch you here and there”?@mkula @drwanazizah @hannahyeoh pic.twitter.com/1yFgnkW69X
â€” Hantu_Tahi (@yeeshan_13) November 5, 2019

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[Watch] Chocolate Heist By Couple In Johor Hypermarket, Male Suspect Barely Escapes Angry Crowd

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What is the most stolen item from supermarkets?

In a bizarre incident, a couple was foiled in their attempt to steal chocolates from a hypermarket.
Police arrested a woman believed to have tried to make off with chocolates and other items worth nearly RM1,000 in an attempted robbery.
The incident happened at a supermarket in Tebrau, Johor recently and had been widely shared on social media.

South Johor Bahru District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Raub Selamat said that the couple involved took some items from the supermarket shelves before leaving without paying at the self-service payment counter.
The complainant informed that he became aware of the incident at 7.15 pm, where a 31-year-old woman and her partner, a 33-year-old man, tried to steal the supermarket’s goods.South Johor Bahru OCPD Assistant Commissioner Raub Selamat said the couple is believed to have tried to leave without paying for the items they took.
The stolen goods were worth RM952.19 in total, among the items taken were various types of chocolates, vehicle hooks and mobile phone holders.
Fast And Furious
While trying to evade arrest by the public, the male suspect escaped by leaving the female suspect behind using a Honda City vehicle with registration number WD9391A.
Raub added that the male suspect who drove the vehicle in a hurry also hit a motorcycle and another car parked in the supermarket’s parking lot.

Further examination found that the local female suspect tested positive for methamphetamine and had three previous offences involving drug cases, she was remanded for four days.South Johor Bahru OCPD Assistant Commissioner Raub Selamat said the couple is believed to have tried to leave without paying for the items they took.
Meanwhile, the police are hunting for the male suspect, Muhammad Firdaus Shamsudin.
Muhammad Firdaus has 10 previous convictions for theft in buildings, drug abuse and criminal cases.

Raub also informed that the investigation regarding the incident is being carried out per Section 380 and Section 427 of the Penal Code.
Members of the public who have any information regarding the suspect are urged to contact the investigating officer, Sergeant Nuraziera Miersha Jamaludin, at 017-3498690.
Police checking some of the stolen goods, which included chocolates. (Pix: Facebook)

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Mâ€™sian cyclist shares crazy experience to become Asian King of Sprint with gold medal win in S. Korea

Malaysians have a very good reason to be proud today.
Our very own national track cyclist, Mohd Azizulhasni Awang
has just emerged as the Asian King of Sprint!

Credit: @azizulawangofficial/Facebook

Azizulhasni aka The Pocket Rocketman bagged the menâ€™s individual
GOLD MEDAL at the 2020 Asian Track Cycling Championships (ACC) in South
Korea yesterday (21st October).
While Malaysians rejoice the Terengganu-born sprinterâ€™s incredible
win over Yuta Wakimoto of Japan, few actually know of the struggles to become
the worldâ€™s best.
Which is why Azizulhasni took to Facebook to share his crazy experience to becoming the Asian King of Sprint with his 10th Asian Title.

 View this post on Instagram

 ãƒ»ãƒ»ãƒ» Syukur Alhamdulillah . My 10th Asian Titles . Terima Kasih Isteri dan anak-anak tersayang @tyailyana , Amna Maryam, Amna Khadeeja. Ibu bapa dan keluarga mertua juga seluruh ahli keluarga. Terima kasih juga kepada semua penyokong yang sentiasa mendoakan kejayaan saya. . Tidak lupa juga kepada penaja-penaja rasmi saya iaitu . Cimb @cimbmalaysia AirAsia @airasia Daikin @daikinmalaysia . serta penaja-penaja lain yang sentiasa memberikan kepercayaan dan sokongan penuh kepada saya. . Kalau anda inginkan karangan tentang perlumbaan harini, taip NAK di ruangan komen. Terima Kasih. . . #teamazizul #azizulawang #teamcimb #cimb #forward #airasia #daretodream #allstars #daikin #daikinmy #daikinmalaysia #tumi #tumiglobalcitizens #nike #nikemy #oakley #oakleymy #ogk #ogkkabuto #wattbike
A post shared by  Azizul | Awang (@azizulhasniawang) on Oct 21, 2019 at 12:45am PDT

After losing the first round, Azizulhasni found himself drained and extremely fatigued.

 â€œBecause my body was full of lactic acid as a result of full on acceleration, I went straight to the toiled and puked everything out.â€
Azizulhasni via Facebook.

Credit: Astro Awani

Thankfully, fellow Malaysian cyclist Shah Firdaus Sahrom who happened to be in the toilet gave the exhausted athlete a helping hand.

â€œI tried to control my breathing and make every effort to recover. Keeping in mind, this time the battle was to take my 10th Asian personal title.
 Itâ€™s an achievement that no one else has claimed and most importantly, my personal dream and mission. I told myself, told my brain to not give up and not to let your enemies seize your dream away from you.â€
Azizulhasni via Facebook.
With renewed determination, The Pocket Rocket Man dove into the second round, calling it â€œreally crazyâ€.
To prevent Azizulhasni from rising to pole position, his Japanese
opponent carried a high pace from the beginning. He knew that the resilient
Malaysian athlete would try his best to overtake him.
But Azizulhasni was doing quick mental calculations on the track, strategising carefully on how to overtake Yuta Wakimoto.
Math Zack Galifianakis GIF from Math GIFs

Amongst the factors that he took into account were:

The increased wind drag from accelerating side by side.
Reducing bends to avoid slowing down.
Pedalling within the track lines to reduce the distance to complete each lap.

It worked and the national champ WON the second round
with a jaw dropping speed of only 9.824 seconds!
Azizulhasniâ€™s victorious second round led to a third
medal-deciding round where he pedalled with all his might to the top of
the podium and WON THE GOLD MEDAL!

Sprint cycling is no easy sport. As our Asian King of Sprint puts it, the riders go head to head and toe to toe with each other.

â€œI like saying the Sprint event is like Boxing. Because you and your opponent need to wrestle with each other using all their might and skills in their arsenal.â€
 â€œIn the world of speed and acceleration, you have to be a little crazy. And errrr, yes, I am crazy. But Iâ€™m only crazy when racing la.â€
Azizulhasni via Facebook.
We take our hats off to the Malaysian professional track cyclist who did the entire nation proud. His win is proof that hard work and determination pays off!
Check out his full racing experience post below:

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Japan’s Largest Bookstore Chain To Open In Pavilion Bukit Jalil

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Bookstores in Malaysia have been seeing a strong increase in visitors as there are newer, bigger, and more aesthetic shops popping up around the city.

Now, the latest one to land on Malaysian shores is Japan’s largest bookstore chain, Tsutaya Books.
This will be the international chain’s first store in the entire Southeast Asia, opening its wide doors in the newly-opened Pavilion Bukit Jalil.
What’s the difference?
Basically, Tsutaya Books in Pavilion Bukit Jalil is aiming to be more than just a place to buy books.
The 31,000 sq ft space will include a bookstore, café, specialised merchandise, and activity areas. Essentially, it would be a “curated lifestyle destination” firstly, so your non-book-reading friends and family would still be keen to visit with you.
Lots of space means lots of books.(Credit: Tsutaya Books)
In line with our vision to cultivate culture and lifestyle, we hope to create a space for families and children who love books, design, and art to grow, explore and thrive together at Tsutaya Books.Head of Tsutaya Books Malaysia Mr. Hideyuki Uemoto
Additionally, unlike other retail chains, every branch of Tsutaya Books are designed differently, even in Japan, such as the iconic T-Site at Daikanyama, Shibuya and Ginza Six in Tokyo.
Since then, both parent company TSUTAYA and Tsutaya Books have become an all-encompassing Japanese pop culture platform, operating in more than 1,400 branches around the world.
What to expect
Book-afficionados will be pleased with the wide variety of literary materials on-site, but probably even more pleased with expert staffers who are touted to provided personalised recommendations and assistance in genre-specific areas of interest.
And better yet, while you browse, you can leave your children in their dedicated space to encourage reading, with curated book selections on low bookshelves for young readers.
Low bookshelves, tables, and chairs for the little bookreader in your life.(Credit: Tsutaya Books)
Alternatively, leave your less bookish friends and family in the stationery and gift section, so they can buy beautiful stationery for you or pretty decor and fragrances for themselves.
Plus, if you can’t wait to read your new books, why bother with the journey home when you can crack it open and read at their in-store lifestyle cafe?
Tsutaya Books is aimed to open within the first quarter of 2022, but you can keep an eye on mall updates via their Facebook page here.

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Kelana Jaya LRT Train Collision: Early Reports Point To Human Error

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Initial investigation reports that the Kelana Jaya LRT train incident was caused by human error.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said early findings showed the hoaster (driver) of train was going the wrong way which caused the collision.
The train that was being test-driven was heading north when it was supposed to head south.
The train collision happened at 8:45pm on Monday (24 May) in a tunnel between KLCC LRT station and Kampung Baru LRT station.
213 passengers in the automated train 81 were injured including 47 who were seriously injured.
Earlier this morning Wee said that the special investigation committee will take less than two weeks to come to its initial conclusion.
READ MORE: [JUST IN] Train Collision On LRT Kelana Jaya Line Leaves 47 Passengers Severely Injured
READ MORE: Trains Are Back On Track On The Kelana Jaya LRT Line After Train Collision

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[Watch] Non-Muslim Volunteers Cleaning Up Masjid After Floods Make Malaysians Proud & Humbled

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Malaysians were proud and humbled by the selfless actions of a few non-Muslim volunteers who helped clean up a mosque in Klang, Selangor following the floods.

Videos originally posted by TikTokers Rejean Kumar and nallan.dh received so much love from the internet when they and several others were shown moping up the masjid’s outdoor prayer area and moving some furniture around to tidy up.
Bangsa india tolong bersihkan masjid dekat klang. 👍🏻Credit to : rejean kumar pic.twitter.com/w0Aq8N45d1— covid-19 cat 4 survivor 💪🏻 (@pecal23) December 22, 2021
Steady mat. Orang india join cuci masjid. Ini baru Malaysia. pic.twitter.com/5gbaem0HQ1— bil (@nabilnaafi) December 22, 2021
The clips also witnessed the group’s effort to purchase, deliver and distribute aid and supplies to flood victims who looked to be thankful for the help they received.
(Credit: rejean0810 via TikTok)
“Thanks a lot for your love and support, we will continue our service for the community as much we can #BangsaMalaysia,” wrote Rejean in one of the videos in response to the words of approval and encouragement coming from Malaysians from all quarters of cyberspace.
Many were delighted to see such humility and humanity shown by the volunteers in the spirit of a multicultural Malaysia.
Proud to be Malaysian. Thanks guys…— ismailyusof (@ismaily04093712) December 22, 2021
Some social media users also took to sharing other scenarios where non-Muslims volunteers were helping to prepare and give out carts full of stuff like sarongs and others to flood victims.
Same here tapi bukan dekat masjid. they saw us with a cart full of goods and helped us to pack oso. Thankyou abang2 econsave ❤ https://t.co/UakA0JOHg7 pic.twitter.com/HX0zj9S5sD— ◼ (@nainnazmi) December 23, 2021
Others were also thrilled to see how Malaysians were coming together to help each other in the wake of another public crisis.
This is Malaysia. United we stand to help each other. We are all Malaysian irregardless of race. So happy to see this. https://t.co/JFwgzeJsdK— Mr Ray (@MrRay69247489) December 23, 2021
Many were voicing their opinions on how homogenous our society really was in spite of the opposite image portrayed by some of the more bigoted sections of Malaysia.
This r the videos that shud be circulating all over the world.. for them to know wat Malaysia truly is .. not watever this politicians r trying to potray..— DR.V (@viknes79) December 22, 2021

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No More Racist Smiles: Darlie Toothpaste To Rebrand Chinese Name

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A leopard cannot change its spots, but a brand name certainly can.

Online publication Marketing Interactive reported that the famous Darlie toothpaste will have a new Chinese name starting March 2022.
Taiwan-based Hawley & Hazel, which owns the brand, will change Darlie’s current name in Chinese (黑人牙膏) to “Haolai” (好來) which reflects Hawley & Hazel’s name in Chinese.
黑人牙膏, which reads hēirén yágāo, literally translates to “black man toothpaste”.
Hawley & Hazel said the change is in accordance with Darlie’s brand mantra of “Good Things Come with a Smile”.
The mantra represents the company’s mission to help people exude confidence with more smiles.
A Darlie ad in China. (Source: Facebook)
Besides the name change, the brand will also use more stylish fonts while emphasizing the signature Darlie smile.
Hawley & Hazel said the rename will improve Darlie’s brand purpose in accordance with the company’s values.
Darlie’s English name will remain unchanged.
Darlie’s name and design changed over the decades. (Credit: Sinoplice)
Dark Matter
Before changing its name, Darlie was known as “Darkie”.
The word “Darkie” is very popular in America and Europe, referring to blacks.
This created tension among blacks at the time, as they thought it contained racist elements.
Not only that, the black man’s logo on the packaging was also changed to a more polite logo.
In fact, the name “Darlie” itself means “black person” in Chinese.

Following the change of name and logo, the toothpaste expanded its market to several Asian countries, including Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand where their names and logos are no longer considered offensive.
By 1989, their products had entered the Taiwan market 75%, Singapore 50%, and another 30%in Malaysia.
What’s In A Name
Hawley & Hazel marketed Darkie toothpaste as a parody of an American minstrel performer, Al Jolson, who was famous for his blackface performances.
Darky, or darkie, is a racist term used primarily in the Western World to refer to black people.
According to lexicographer Richard A. Spears, the word “darkie” used to be considered mild and polite, before it took on a derogatory and provocative meaning.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines darkie as an insulting and contemptuous term for a black person.
A Darkie ad. (Credit: SCMP)

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It’s Been One Year Since Malaysia’s First Covid-19 Case: Here’s Where We’re At Today

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It has been a full year since Malaysia’s first Covid-19 case and we can confidently say what a wild ride it’s been. In case you forgot, here’s how it went:

25 Jan 2020 – Malaysia’s first case, first wave begins
The first reported cases were in Johor Bahru involving a 65-year-old woman and two children – aged 2 and 11. The family was part of a group of 10 Chinese nationals from Wuhan who had flown from Guangzhou to Singapore on 20th January 2020, before entering Malaysia. One of their members had tested positive for Covid-19 in Singapore and was quarantined in the republic while the rest of the group travelled to Malaysia.
A total of eight positive cases were reported within 6 days, starting from the first case. All of these cases were imported from China.
3 Feb 2020 – first Malaysian tests positive
The first Malaysian testing positive for Covid-19 was reported on February 3, 2020; this person had a history of travel to Singapore for a business meeting, which was also attended by a delegation from China.
4 Mar 2020 – Second wave begins
A sudden significant increase in the number of positive cases was reported on 4th March 2020.
These new cases were found to have been in contact with Case 26, who had attended at least five different meetings or gatherings. The alarming high number of cases reported originated from the cluster of Case 26, with a history of travel to Shanghai, China. The cases reported within this period consisted of Malaysians.
11 Mar 2020 – Tablighi Jamaat becomes Covid-19 superspreader event
Tablighi Jamaat(Credit: Facebook via Free Malaysia Today)
The Tablighi Jamaat religious conference that took place at Masjid Jamek Sri Petaling from 27 February to 1st March 2020 became a Covid-19 super-spreader event that sparked the first wave of infections in Malaysia.
The religious gathering was attended by approximately 16,000 attendees, including about 1,500 from outside Malaysia. Attendees shared food, sat close together, and held hands at the event – causing Covid-19 to spread to other countries in Southeast Asia
The cluster was first detected on 11th March and infected a total of 3,375 individuals who attended the four-day tabligh gathering as well as their family members.
More than 100 cases were reported each day, with more than 50% of cases having a history of attending or contact with the new cluster from the religious gathering in Sri Petaling.
As of July 8, a total 42,023 samples were taken from the cluster, with 3,375 individuals testing positive for Covid-19 (38.9 per cent). A total of 3,341 individuals in this cluster recovered while 34 eventually died from Covid-19.
The country’s first largest and deadliest Covid-19 cluster, the Sri Petaling ‘tabligh’ gathering cluster officially ended on 8 July 2020.
17 Mar 2020 – Malaysia’s first Covid-19 death
Pastor David Cheng is nation’s first Covid-19-related death.(Credit: The Star)
David Cheng, a pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Kuching, started developing a fever and coughing on 7th March. The 60-year-old sought treatment at Sarawak General Hospital and died three days later on 17th March.
He is the first Malaysian to die of Covid-19. The pastor was part of the Good News Fellowship Conference cluster, related to a church conference on held from 26-28 February.
18 Mar 2020 – Malaysia goes into lockdown
The Movement Control Order (MCO) is implemented nationwide as Malaysia’s Covid-19 cases rise. The entire country goes into lockdown as mass contact tracing efforts take place.
7 May 2020 – Growing cases among migrant workers
(Credit: Malay Mail)
From 7 May to June 12, 2020 (37 days), the number of non-citizens recorded positive Covid-19 rose tremendously from 9 cases (daily cases) to 1413 – about 72% of the total positive cases recorded during the same period
Since early May 2020, there were also a growing number of new Covid-19 clusters created, involving different groups of migrant workers. These include, amongst others, four immigration detention centres’ clusters in Bukit Jalil, Semenyih, Sepang and Putrajaya, Pedas Linggi cluster which was found and announced on 2nd May 2020, cleaning company cluster on 29th May 2020; and several construction site clusters in Kuala Lumpur and Setia Alam (Selangor).
4 June 2020 – Jump to triple digit new cases after weeks of single digit sparked panic
The number of Covid-19 cases in the country jumped to 277 after weeks of single digit cases. Of this number, 271 cases were non-Malaysian citizens, including 270 cases from the Bukit Jalil Immigration Detention Depot. One other non-Malaysian case was from a construction site in Pudu.
July 2020 – Zero local transmissions
Credit: @kementeriankesihatanmalaysia/Facebook
Malaysia reported no local transmission of Covid- 19 and one imported case on 1st July. The new case is the lowest increase in daily cases since the second wave of infections began. Zero local transmissions were also recorded on 8th and 9th July.
The last time Malaysia recorded zero local infections was on 14th July.
Aug 2020 – Sivagangga cluster spreads across northern states
The Sivagangga cluster index patient casually sitting at his Nasi Kandar restaurant wearing a pink quarantine order wristband.(Credit: Twitter)
In August, Sivagangga cluster became one of the largest active clusters hitting Malaysia involving several states including Kedah, Penang and Perlis.
The Sivagangga cluster originated from Napoh, Kubang Pasu after an Indian man disobeyed quarantine order upon his return from Sivagangga, a town in Tamil Nadu, India.
The 57-year-old man, who is also the owner of the Nasi Kandar Salleh Restaurant was seen at his restaurant during Hari Raya Haji wearing a pink quarantine order wrist band and later tested positive for Covid-19 on 28th July. 45 positive cases were linked to this cluster.
19 Aug 2020 – Double whammy for northern states as Tawar cluster hits, D614G strain found
Credit: Malay Mail
While the origin is unknown, the spread of the Tawar cluster from Baling, Kedah is attributed mainly to the lack of safe physical distancing during a family gathering.
The Tawar cluster’s index case (Case 9,113), a 53-year-old man, had attended the funeral of a family member that saw 30 people in attendance. However, it is not known how he got infected.
The Tawar cluster in Kedah and Penang exceeded the 45 Covid-19 cases in the Sivagangga cluster in Kedah, Perlis and Penang.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) said it found the D614G coronavirus strain in the Tawar cluster. MOH stated it’s a possibility that the Tawar and the Sivagangga PUI clusters most likely originated from the same source.
11 Sept – Cases begin soaring
On 11 September, Malaysia’s new Covid-19 cases quadrupled from just 45 cases the day before, to 182 new cases the next day — of which 181 were local transmissions and one imported case.
This spike in new cases was caused by a few clusters: the Benteng Lahad Datu (LD) cluster in Sabah and two clusters in Kedah, which are the Sungai cluster and the Telaga cluster.
Sabah saw a sharp increase in cases since 7th September due to the Benteng Lahad Datu (LD) cluster. More cases were then traced at the Tawau prison – some 150km away – after several inmates with travel history to the Lahad Datu police headquarters tested positive.
The number of cases in Kedah shot up since 8th September, when the Sungai cluster in Kedah recorded a rise in Covid-19 cases. The cluster originated from a 39-year-old healthcare worker at a private medical centre who had infected her colleagues and family members.
20 Sept 2020 – Third wave begins, Sabah suffers
The Sabah state election was held on 26th September and since then, many of those returning from the state had tested positive for Covid-19.
The third wave is driven by cases from clusters in Sabah and Kedah, with Selangor also recording a notable increase in cases.
30 Sept 2020 – Prison-linked Tembok cluster ravages Kedah
A new cluster named Tembok cluster later emerged on 30th September following the death of a 46-year-old man who had worked at a prison in Alor Setar, Kedah.
A Covid-19 test after his death found the man to have been infected with the virus. Since then, the cluster recorded 1,334 cases, which at the time made up 96% of the total cases in the state.
1 Oct 2020 – All states record cases for the first time in months
Initially most of the new cases were contained within Sabah. However, following state elections there, new cases popped up across the country.
The Health Ministry reported that every 72 hours at least one new case was discovered in each state nationwide. The data showed that many of the cases detected in the previously green zone states had originated from Sabah.
5 Oct 2020 – Youngest death, new daily case record, Religious Affairs Minister tests positive
engin akyurt/Unsplash
Malaysia’s youngest Covid-19 death was a one-year-old girl from Sabah who died on 5th October 2020.
She was brought to the emergency department of Hospital Semporna on 1st October but her condition deteriorated and she needed breathing assistance. A test later confirmed she was Covid-19 positive.
That same day Malaysia also recorded 432 new cases, the highest daily increase since the pandemic hit the country. Kedah and Sabah recorded the highest number of new cases that day with 241 and 130 infections respectively.
Religious Affairs Minister Datuk Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri tested positive for Covid-19 on this day. He had travelled extensively in the 14 days before, attending events in several states including Sabah, Selangor, Kelantan, Terengganu dan Negeri Sembilan.
9 Oct 2020 – Most deaths since March 2020
Six Covid-19 patients died, the highest death toll in a day since 29 March when 8 patients succumbed to the virus. All deaths were from Sabah and half of them suffered from comorbidities.
Oct 2020 – Sabah turns red, Klang Valley joins

Covid-19 cases in Sabah continue rising and soon the entire state gets classified as a red zone. New records for highest daily cases continue to be made throughout the month, from 432 new cases on 5 Oct to a spike of 1,240 new cases on 26 October.
The Duchess of Kent Hospital (HDOK) in Sandakan, Sabah also worryingly revealed that some of their Covid-19 patients in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) are young with no history of chronic illness.
A total of 140 Covid-19 are also linked to several shopping malls in Klang Valley in October alone as the nation is hit by a third wave of infections.
By the end of October, Malaysia had 99 active clusters.
9 Nov 2020 – Second child dies from Covid-19
A one-year-old boy in Sabah becomes the second child to die of Covid-19 in Malaysia.
He also suffered from a hole in the heart, Downs syndrome and hypothyrodism.
Credit: Health Ministry (MOH)
12 Nov 2020 – Klang Valley surpasses Sabah with highest daily new cases
With 453 new cases on 12 November, the increase in Covid-19 cases in Klang Valley surpassed Sabah which saw 319 new cases.
13 Nov 2020 – New record with 12 deaths
Malaysia made a deadly record with 12 deaths due to Covid-19. Tragically, the death toll also included a 14-year-old boy in Sabah who suffered from hydrocephalus and tuberculous meningitis. All of the deaths reported were from Sabah.
23 Nov 2020 – New record in daily cases, mostly linked to Top Glove factory workers
Credit: Malay Mail
The Teratai cluster contributed the largest number of new positive cases on 23 November, with 1,067 out of 1,884 positive cases nationwide, a record high in Malaysia.
This cluster originated from Top Glove Corp Bhd’s worker dormitories in Meru, Klang, but spread beyond the factory worker’s circle, infecting individuals aged between two and 68.
25 Nov 2020 – Negeri Sembilan overtakes Selangor in highest daily cases
With 318 new Covid-19 cases on 25 November, Negeri Sembilan overtook Selangor with the higher number of new daily cases.
The high number of new cases in Negeri Sembilan was attributed to cases detected within prison clusters, particularly the Bakti Cluster which involves a prison in Seremban. The index case of the Bakti Cluster (Case 54,624) was an inmate who tested positive on 22 November during an entry screening in the prison.
30 Nov 2020 – Oldest man in the world dies to Covid-19 in Malaysia?
An elderly male in Sabah was brought into Hospital Tuaran already dead with his family claiming that he is 130 years old. This would make him the oldest person in the world, as well as the oldest person to die from Covid-19.
His age could not be independently verified as he did not have any identifying documents. The man was not Malaysian and believed to be stateless.
According to his family he actually died on 3rd November, but the death was only announced by the Health Ministry on 30th November.
Kes kematian 352 ialah kes BID melibatkan bukan warganegara yang tidak memiliki dokumen pengenalan diri. KKM mengambil kira pengakuan waris bahawa mangsa berumur 130 thn dan tiada sebarang penyakit. Rekod di balai polis juga menunjukkan mangsa berumur 130 tahun. TK. (admin).— KKMalaysia🇲🇾 (@KKMPutrajaya) November 28, 2020
10 Dec 2020 – Daily cases shoot past 2k mark
Malaysia recorded 2,234 daily Covid-19 cases on 10 December, breaking past 2,000 cases for the first time since January.
Selangor recorded the highest number of new cases with 1,428 cases – most of which were from Seruling Cluster and Hentian Cluster. Sabah came in second with 274 new cases, followed by Perak with 115 cases.
This record was broken quickly on 26 December with 2,335 new cases.
31 Dec 2020 – Year ends with new record high of daily Covid-19 cases
Daily Covid-19 cases shot up to 2,525 to reach a new record high. Days before, 2,335 new cases were reported a day after Christmas.
11 Jan 2021 – UK’s superspreading strain detected in Malaysia
The B117 Covid-19 strain, known as the UK strain, makes its way to Malaysian shores. It was detected in a Malaysian who travelled to the UK in December and tested positive on 28 December. The Health DG affirms that the strain has not spread within the country.
Jan 2021 – Daily cases cross 4k mark, deadliest month, MOH at breaking point
Credit: Noor Hisham Abdullah/Facebook
Malaysia’s Covid-19 numbers continue to climb as daily cases shoot past the 3k and 4k mark with the highest daily increase in cases recorded at 4,275 on 23 January.
22nd January also became the nation’s deadliest Covid-19 day with 18 more lives lost to the virus, raising the total number of deaths to 660.
Several cabinet members and politicians had also tested positive for the virus while the Health-Director General admits that MOH is at its breaking point.
Where we are today
As of 24 January 2020, Malaysia has a total of 183,801 reported Covid-19 cases where 141,446 patients had successfully recovered.
Sadly, Malaysia also lost 678 lives to the virus, with the victims including children, teenagers, young adults and the elderly.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah also revealed that a total of 71 deaths were recorded within the first 9 days of 2021, compared to less than 100 fatalities recorded during the first nine months of 2020.
With 41,667 active infections in the country one year after the first reported case and 5,000 daily new cases projected on the third week of February, it looks like things won’t be slowing down anytime soon.

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Source:
3 coronavirus cases in Malaysia include 2-year-old boy
Infamous Covid-19 'tabligh cluster' ends
COVID-19 outbreak in Malaysia: Actions taken by the Malaysian government
The outbreak of Covid-19 in Malaysia: Pushing migrant workers at the margin
Record high of 277 new Covid-19 cases, including 6 M'sians
Malaysia reports no local transmission of COVID-19, 1 imported case
COVID-19 Weekly Round-up: Zero Local Transmission In Malaysia
Kedah's Sivagangga cluster - what you need to know
Tawar, Sivagangga Clusters May Share Origin With D614G Strain: MOH
Tawar Cluster Of Unknown Origin Hits 55 Cases
Covid-19: No local transmissions for first time in over a month
Malaysia’s new Covid-19 cases soar to 182 — highest since June 4
Menteri lawat lima negeri, tiga masjid, tiga IPT sebelum sah positif
Covid-19: One-year-old girl youngest to die of coronavirus in M'sia
Top Glove-linked Teratai Cluster: Here's what you need to know
Malaysia ends 2020 with new record high of daily Covid-19 cases; Selangor shoots above 1,000 cases
UK Covid-19 strain found in Malaysia — Health D-G
Dr Noor Hisham expresses concern over increase in Covid-19 deaths


Kelantan Man Wants Customers To Feel At Home In The Public Loo

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Have you been disgusted by the sight of our public toilets at R&Rs and petrol stations?

This public toilet in Kelantan might change your minds about dirty and stuffy public toilets forever.
An 83-year-old gas station owner in Melor made his grand plan to make the best public toilet ever a reality.
Datuk Dr Ahmad Omar. Image from Kelantan Updates
Datuk Dr Ahmad Omar wanted to carry out his crazy idea to fruition in order to dispel the stereotype that public toilets are always filthy. The idea came to him when he had extra savings to spare.
To realise this ambitious venture, he poured in RM10,000 into the project and managed to outfit the public toilet at his petrol station with 35 items for customers to use and enjoy in the facility.
Among the items that can be used in the ‘heavenly’ toilet are a coffee machine, a television, a water cooler and even a vanity table.
And get this, the toilet is fully air-conditioned too!
You can make hot or cold drinks in here! Image from Kelantan Updates
The toilet is also decorated with gold décor, giving it a palatial feel and ambience.
According to Rileklah, the toilet is free for public use. Anyone who uses the toilet gets to enjoy discounts in Datuk Dr Ahmad’s petrol station store too.
“I was laughed at and criticised for my efforts but it didn’t break my spirit to complete building the public toilet so that the toilets here [in his petrol station] are more attractive,” he told Harian Metro.
Datuk Dr Ahmad also promised to keep the public toilets clean and has assigned a worker to watch over the items in the facilities.
So far, he said the public toilet isn’t short on visitors who stopped by to take pictures and videos.
Due to the quirkiness of this public toilet, it might become a tourist attraction for those visiting Kelantan soon.

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Covid-19 Media Coverage Is More Than Any Recent Outbreak But Is It Too Much?

https://www.facebook.com/informationisbeautiful/photos/pcb.10157864034138418/10157864031233418/?type=3&theaterhttps://www.facebook.com/informationisbeautiful/photos/pcb.10157864034138418/10157864031348418/?type=3&theater
Some people question: is Covid-19 getting too much media coverage?
After all, it’s similar to a flu (a comparison that even we here at TRP have made). Its fatality rate is markedly less than other viruses such as Ebola and SARS. Most people recover from it.

But the way the outbreak started had garnered wide-spread attention. Initial conversation around the novel coronavirus ranged from its origins in a Wuhan wet market to the racist backlash felt by Asians around the world.
This, coupled with the extensive use of social media, the many sensationalized aspects of the epidemic, and false news has led to extensive coverage of Covid-19 in all forms of media.
It was only later when more information was readily available that the world started to prepare prevention measures and guides on dealing with the epidemic.

Even then, the social stigma associated with Covid-19 is so high the World Health Organization had to release a guide to maintain factual and neutral when discussing the virus.
But is the Covid-19 simply media hype? Is it sensationalism? Is it fear-mongering?
The key things to note about Covid-19 is that it is a worry: a rapid human-spread virus that has no current vaccine is a call for us to take additional precautions.
Italy found out the hard way when preventive measures were not adopted, leading to the largest number of infected individuals outside of China.
Since 9th March 2020, Italy has effectively been shut down with no one allowed to travel freely without a pre-approved legally binding document.

https://twitter.com/flatheaddogfish/status/1237219477420294144

Yet the biggest problem with a lackadaisical attitude to prevention is the risk it poses to others.
During an outbreak, there is immense stress on hospitals. When large numbers of patients are diagnosed with the disease in a day, hospitals may not be able to cope.
Overseas, epidemiologists call for stronger cases of prevention to “flatten the curve” and avoid overwhelming hospitals. Slowing down the rate of an epidemic basically buys time for everyone.

And clean your hands and phone regularly when using your mobile  Unless you absolutely have to donâ€™t visit your older rellies. Get them to stay inside and hunker down.Together we can #FlattenTheCurve pic.twitter.com/OWQwsuZqqy— david harding #FBPE #RemainerNow (@drdrdrh) March 11, 2020

Because the coronavirus is new, there is no known cure. Vaccines are being developed, but can take up to a year before it’s ready for the public. Which is why prevention is the only thing the public can actively do.
Luckily for us, Malaysia’s healthcare is solid and the Ministry of Health is already prepared for any eventual spike of Covid-19 patients. But our focus should still be on prevention.
Preventing the spread of Covid-19 is similar to the concept of herd immunity. Even if young healthy adults are able to recover from the virus, they can still easily spread it to those who won’t be able to recover.
Just one person can end up infecting a much larger group of people, as seen in Malaysia’s Case-26, who was also an unwitting victim.(Credit: Freepik)
However, by limiting the number of infected individuals in the first place, there will be less of a risk of infecting the high-risk population.
It’s already known that the virus is deadlier to the elderly, those with preexisting respiratory illnesses, and the immuno-compromised.
So to protect the vulnerable population of our society, everyone should practice preventive measures, not just those in the high-risk group.
While it is true that there are plenty of other diseases that are far deadlier, the media hype is a reminder for us to just do these easy preventive measures, because it’s the only thing we can do in the face of Covid-19.

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Govt Will Subsidise Covid-19 Screening Of Workers, Including Foreigners

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Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan announced that the government will be subsidising Covid-19 screening of workers through the Social Security Organisation’s (Socso) Program Saringan Prihatin (PSP) from 1st June onwards.
Malay Mail reports that employers can claim the RM150 subsidy per Covid-19 screening for workers who contribute to Sosco, including foreigners.
However, the PSP Perkeso subsidy programme is targeted at high-risk workers with priority to foreign workers in the construction and security services sectors in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur to break the chain of Covid-19 transmission.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan. Credit Yusof Mat Isa/Malay Mail
Saravanan explains that the decision was made following a discussion with the Health Ministry and Works Ministry. As such, the HR Ministry will increase the number of Covid-19 screening service providers.
Employers can send their workers to any clinic or hospital approved by the Health Ministry for screening.
However, the cost of Covid-19 screening for workers outside of the target group under this subsidy programme must be borne by employers.
More information is available at Socso’s Prihatin website (HERE).

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Source:
Prihatin Perkeso
Saravanan says govt to subsidise Covid-19 screening of workers; foreigners in construction and security sector given priority


Easily Tired & Short Of Breath Post-Covid? Doctor Shares ‘Deep Breathing’ Technique

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Are you one of those who are easily tired and often short of breath after being infected with Covid-19?

According to Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medical Officer, Dr Hadi Othman, these are the effects of the Covid-19 virus.
Former Covid-19 patients may experience post-Covid or Long Covid syndrome, in which symptoms persist for a period of more than 12 weeks.
According to a clinical study by the Ministry of Health (KKM), 66% of patients suffer from the post-Covid syndrome, and among the most common symptoms are:
FatigueCoughBreathing difficultiesDifficulty sleeping at night/restlessness
Overcoming Post-Covid Tiredness, Shortness Of Breath And Sneezing
According to Dr Hadi, post-Covid fatigue and frequent shortness of breath can be mitigated by practising proper breathing techniques or Deep Breathing Exercises.
Dr Hadi demonstrated the breathing techniques in a TikTok video which has since gone viral.
  @dr.hadiothman Sering Semput dan Letih lepas dijangkiti Covid??? #belajarbersama #tiktokguru #DoktorBius #icucovid #deepbreathing ♬ Primadonna – TikTokTunes & Sped Up
Deep breathing exercises can lessen feelings of anxiety and stress, which are common for someone who experienced severe symptoms or was admitted to a hospital.
Sleep quality may also improve with these breathing exercises.
The exercises can be started at home during self-isolation and easily incorporated into your daily routine.
Other Post-Covid Syndrome Effects
There are many symptoms you can experience after a Covid-19 infection.
A long covid is a condition in which a person feels the following symptoms 4 weeks and beyond after being positive for Covid-19.
According to Dr Erna Nadia, among the symptoms are:
Fatigue/tirednessCoughHeadacheBrain fog or difficulty concentratingShortness of breathNeed more effort to exerciseChest painFast/pounding heartbeatsJoint painStomach acheDiarrhoeaEasy feverEasy to grow rashes/hivesMood changesLoss of sense of smell/tasteChanges in the menstrual cycleIt’s easy to feel sick
Post-Covid syndromes. (Source: Bernama)
If you experience severe and prolonged symptoms after the Covid-19 infection, it is advisable to go to a nearby clinic or hospital for treatment.
Pesakit yang mengalami simptom COVID-19 berpanjangan (long covid) boleh mendapatkan rawatan di pusat rehabilitasi yang disediakan di fasiliti-fasiliti kesihatan yang disenaraikan. pic.twitter.com/bsbbom0XJX— KKMalaysia🇲🇾😷 (@KKMPutrajaya) February 16, 2022
Therefore, despite the nation entering into an endemic period starting 1 April, we must continue to maintain the standard operation procedure (SOPs) at all times.
READ MORE: Malaysia Enters Endemic Phase Starting 1 April, Eateries Open 24 Hours Again!

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Expensive Chicken? Here’s An Hen-semble Of Foods That Taste Just Like Em’

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Fried, roasted, steamed – everyone loves the savory taste of chicken. It’s probably one of the most versatile meats to use in cooking. However, the recent hike of chicken prices has been a growing cause of concern for Malaysians. With the prices of almost everything going up these days, it’s only normal for us to find easy substitutes for the things that we enjoy.

So with the prices of chicken hitting the coop, why not get creative and try out these alternatives that will (hopefully) curb your chicken cravings?
Tofu
If you’re familiar with plant-based alternatives, you’ll know that tofu is one of the most widely used meat substitutes.
(Credit: latesummerearlyfall/sweetsimplevegan via TikTok)
Extra-firm tofu is usually the best pick to substitute chicken meat. Remove excess moisture from the tofu by placing something heavy on top of it, like a cutting board and some books, and leave it for about 30 minutes before slicing them up to use in your cooking.
One of the simpler tofu recipes is just seasoning them with anything you like and pan-frying until it’s cooked. But if you wanna try something different, check out this easy cashew tofu recipe.
Mushrooms
Another tasty alternative to chicken are mushrooms, specifically monkey head or king mushroom, because they give out similar textures to chicken when prepared right.
(Credit: aisyajway/nom_life via TikTok)
Although mushrooms are not very rich in protein, they’re packed with vitamins and minerals such as selenium, zinc, vitamin B1, B2, B5, B6 and B12.
Check out this honey  ‘chicken’ recipe using monkey head mushrooms!
Cauliflower
Cauliflower is a pretty good substitute for chicken dishes because you can prepare them almost the same way as you would with chicken. Gobi Manchurian or Gobi 65 are basically just cauliflower substitutes for tasty chicken dishes widely served in Indian cuisines.
(Credit: foodiesfood_court/sruthisfoodstories via Instagram)
Despite the fact that cauliflower does not remotely look like chicken at all, they actually taste pretty good when prepared right, and you’d be able to enjoy all these delicious dishes even if you cannot find chicken for now.
Check out these recipes and make your own yummy cauliflower ‘chicken’ dishes!
Jackfruit
It might sound weird to think about replacing meat with fruit, but it’s actually pretty common in the West to use jackfruit as a meat substitute.
(Credit: NANKA via Instagram)
The hype is catching on locally, with Malaysian brands like Nanka coming up with plant-based meat alternatives using jackfruit as the primary ingredient.
Unripe jackfruits are pretty much tasteless until you add your own combination of spices to them. Nangka sayur, which is essentially the unripe fruit, can be found in fresh open markets and some Malaysians are already familiar with using this component of the fruit in their cooking.
READ MORE: TiNDLE Plant-Based Chicken – Did The Dishes Taste Good? [Review]
Plain flour and water
Turns out you can make your own fried chicken without any chicken at all.
A user on TikTok showed us how to use plain flour and water and turn that into crispy fried ‘chicken’. It sounds really weird but the results do look kinda promising.
Just combine plain flour and water, knead and rest the dough a couple of times, add your choice of seasonings and pan fry.
(Credit: futurelettuce/Tiktok)
Well, desperate times call for desperate measures I guess.
Which ones of these chicken substitutes would you try out?

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Malaysia: 2010 vs 2019

Itâ€™s hard to believe that 2010 was (almost) 10 years ago, and as the decade comes to an end, it seems as though everyone around the world has been hit with a wave of nostalgia.
Start of End ofthe decade the decade pic.twitter.com/KLKncLRaJMâ€” Fildza Daniel (@thefildzadaniel) December 11, 2019
Start of the End of the decade decade pic.twitter.com/ugcQRhUurbâ€” Yuna Zarai (@yunamusic) December 21, 2019
So as we usher in Wawasan 2020, let’s celebrate by looking at some of the country’s most eventful moments in Pop Culture and how Malaysia looked at the start of the decade compared to how it is now at the end of the decade.
Internet and social media
(Credit: Pocket-lint/Newscientist)
Malaysiaâ€™s viral landscape doesnâ€™t look like it did a decade ago. Back in 2010, smartphones, mobile browsing, and social media were still relatively new and TM just unveiled its UniFi plan that had the â€œbreakneckâ€ speed of 2Mbps. People were texting each other on their Blackberries or showing off their â€œnewâ€ touch screen phones while updating their statuses on their Facebook â€œwallsâ€.
Remember that annoying “Ping” function on Blackberry messenger?(Credit: Digital Spy)
Now at the dawn of 2020, Malaysia became one of Southeast Asiaâ€™s biggest social media consumers.
The countryâ€™s internet penetration rate as of 2019 was at 80% with Malaysianâ€™s spending an average of 8 hours a day browsing online and spending up to 3 hours daily scrolling through social media looking at dank memes and posting up videos on TikTok to become the next social media influencer with our 5G smartphones.
Please allow us to shamelessly plug our own Tik Tok account. LOL.(Credit: TRP)
Movies and cinema
(Credit: Wikipedia/Amazon)
Back in 2010, the popular pastime of â€œNetflix and chillâ€ was still unheard of, and Malaysians had to get their dose of cinematic entertainment the hard way; either by illegally downloading their favourite content online (which TRP does not endorse BTW), or taking a trip to the local cinema to catch the latest box-office movies.
And that year, millions of Malaysians were taken on an interstellar journey to a faraway planet dominated by tall, blue monkeys as James Cameron’s Avatar was the top-grossing movie of the year, making over RM30 million at the cinemas.
“Blue Face” was all the rage back in 2010.(Credit: Facebook)
Though online streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon has taken over the bulk of our lives in 2019, Malaysians still crowded the cinemas to witness the end of an era, as Avengers: Endgame brings a conclusion a spectacular 11-year saga between the forces of evil and earth’s mightiest heroes.
Malaysian Marvel fans assembling during the movie premier earlier in 2019.(Credit: Cyber RT)
The film became the highest-grossing movie of all-time in Malaysia and had a record-breaking collection of RM80 million in ticket sales.
(Credit: @BatikGirlFilm/Facebook)
2019 was also marked with great accomplishments for Malaysia’s very own visual animation scene with the international success of Batik Girl – animated film by The R&D studio about a young girl from Terengganu discovering the magic of batik – and the nomination of the Upin & Ipin movie for ” Best Animated Feature Film” at the 2020 Oscars.
Music
(Credit: Pinterest/Wikipedia)
Though we didnâ€™t have Spotify to jam to back in 2010, Malaysians were still rocking to some of the hottest and most memorable tracks of the time.
The world (Malaysia included) was partying non-stop to the sounds of Ke$ha with her hit song TiK ToK back in 2010 and heartbroken lovers everywhere were bleeding their hearts out to the tune of Need You Now by Lady Antebellum.
Now, our worst fears have been realised everyone is doing “finger hearts” as K-Pop has relatively taken over the Malaysian airwaves with Korean boy group, BTS became the â€œMost Streamed Artistâ€ on Spotify as of 2019.
Local Hip-Hop stars K-Clique.(Credit: Iluminas)
But looking closer at our local music scene, the end of the decade also saw the rise of local musical talents, with local MCs K-Clique becoming the “Most Streamed Local Artist” of 2019.
Food and drink trends
(Credit: Weekender)
Now, where would Malaysia be without our delicious and delectable foods, drinks and snacks? Even though Malaysia has gone through quite a culinary journey over the past 10 years, with our love for spicy foods and all things cheesyâ€¦
The abomination that is Pisang Goreng Cheese.(Credit: Cookpad)
But when it comes to the food item that defined both 2010 and 2019, none can take away our affinity for the sweet things in life, as the Bubble or Bobba Tea trend still remains on the taste buds of Malaysians at the end of the decade ever since the first Chatime burst into town in 10 years ago.
Now you can practically see a Bubble tea shop on almost every street corner, serving up Malaysian with a wholesome cup of diabetes-infused goodness.
Fashion and style
(Credit: Gossip Rakyat/Malay Mail)
Malaysiaâ€™s fashionistas have been hard at work keeping up with the latest fashion trends of the decade.
2010 saw the global phenomenon of the â€œHipsterâ€ sub-culture making its way into the Malaysian â€œmainstreamâ€ emphasizing an individualâ€™s style, authenticity and uniqueness in their everyday clothing.
Malaysian politicians reimagined and restyled in hipster clothing. (Credit: Aizat Paharodzi via Murai)
It seems like Malaysians everywhere were dressing in anything remotely “vintage” and almost every man would have an overly manly moustache.
Nowadays, “street style” has seemingly become the dominant fashion force of 2019 as trendy Malaysians flock online shopping stores to get the latest in athletics wear and indulge themselves in fancy, overpriced cool and, contemporary clothing.
What Malaysians were wearing at the 2019 KL Fashion Week.(Credit: L Officiel Malaysia)
Visual arts
(Credit: Lee Long Looi via Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers/ Fei Giap Chong via Pinterest)
With the advent of the internet and technological advances, 2010 saw the rise in interest towards Malaysiaâ€™s art scene when local artists began to shift away from more traditional mediums towards a digital canvas, showcasing and publicizing their works online directly to a growing audience.
The decade also saw talented Malaysian illustrators like Abam Apam and Ernest Ng and others making a name for themselves with their colourful art.(Credit: Twitter @RealAbamApam/Twitter @ernestngBRO)
And with the coming of the internet meme culture gnawing away at our brains. It seemed like every Malaysian had their fair share and contribution to the ever-expanding meme universe.
Malaysian memes FTW!(Credit: Twitter @Emo_Protestor)
Now at the end of 2019, Malaysians can freely explore the arts as galleries and exhibitions flourish accross the nation. While our cyberspace is flooded almost every day with wondrous creations made by numerous artists, illustrators, graphic designers, animators and of course your almighty meme lords.
Politics
(Credit: The Malaysian Times/ Mashables SEA)
Now we canâ€™t talk about the start and end of the decade without straying a bit into the political landscape of the country and how much things have changed since 2010.
The decade began with the Barisan National coalition still in power, and Malaysiaâ€™s 6th Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has just completed his first year in office, hot on the tail of realising the â€œ1Malaysiaâ€ dream of promoting national unity and transforming the country into a high-income, developed nation.
Former premier Najib Razak with his “catchy” slogan for 2019.(Credit: Lowyat)
Now 10 years down the road, our minds are set on â€œMalaysia Baruâ€ with the Pakatan Harapan government in the 2nd year of its tenure under the leadership of the worldâ€™s oldest head of government, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
The Malaysian Cabinet as of 2018.(Credit: Malay Mail)
While Najib Razak is in the midst of one of the countryâ€™s biggest political scandals, facing charges against abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering.
Najib Razak appearing outside court in 2019.(Credit: Malay Mail)
As Malaysia exists as a harmonious, multifaceted society, so is our exposure and experiences to the unique and beautiful elements of pop culture that is constantly evolving with the times.
Do let us know of some of your pop-cultural references of the decade that weâ€™ve might have missed.

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Third Phase STR Recipients Express Gratitude Over Monetary Assistance At BSN Melaka’s Main Branch

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Previously, Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the registration for the Rahmah Cash Aid (STR) was open from 1 March to 31 March 2023.

Many Malaysians rushed to register. It is also understood that this STR will benefit approximately 8.7 million people with an allocation of up to RM8 billion.

The Unity Government emphasizes the compassionate approach in defending the plight of the poor, especially the vulnerable and easily affected.
Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim

READ MORE: 2023 Budget: Up To RM2,500 Cash Aid For Households Earning Below RM2,500
For the record, the first phase of STR has already been distributed on 17 January 2023. The second phase was in April and then followed by the third phase on 26 June 2023.
Those who are eligible to receive STR are as follows:

Married couples or single parents who have children with a household income of less than RM5,000. Those under this category will receive between RM500 – RM2,500 based on the number of children they have.
Seniors without spouses aged 60 and over and without children with a household income of less than RM5,000. Those under this category will receive RM600.
Singles aged between 21 – 59 years old and disabled singles aged 19 to 59 years old with a household income of less than RM2,500. Those under this category will receive RM350.

BSN Melaka Branch Starts Distributing Rahmah Cash Aid Payments (STR) on 26 June 2023
Following the distribution of Rahmah Cash Aid (STR) that took place on Monday, the TRP team interviewed several STR recipients at the Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) Main State Branch in Melaka.
The recipients of STR aid began to show up at the Melaka State National Savings Bank in Jalan Munshi Abdullah last Monday morning.(Credit: Siti Murni / TRP)
The majority of the recipients expressed their gratitude for the help as it can reduce their burden at home to some extent, and some even wished to help family members.
Anuar Kasim, 57, an STR recipient explained that the assistance given can help his family and enables him to help other family members who are in need.
“With this money, I want to buy kitchen items and important daily items. And since Raya Haji is near, I can buy chicken and all the needs for the celebration later too,” he explained.
Anuar, who works as a contract worker, also expressed his gratitude to the government for the aid provided.
STR recipient, Anuar Kasim, 57.(Credit: Siti Murni / TRP)
Commenting further, another STR recipient, Affendy, 23, who works at Jonker Walk, hopes that this assistance would be continued by the government to help many more needy groups in Malaysia.
STR recipient, Affendy (right), 23. (Credit: Siti Murni / TRP)
Ang Ho Tong, 75, a senior citizen who is no longer working explained that this STR assistance allows him to buy necessities and kitchen items at home.
STR recipient, Ang Ho Tong, 75. (Credit: Siti Murni / TRP)
Another STR recipient who works as a panda mascot in the Red Building, Daud Rashid, 53, explained that this donation will be used for himself because the income obtained from his actual job as a mascot is often uncertain.
“If there is a job anywhere, I go,” he explained.
Daud at the same time also said that his average income as a mascot depends on the public’s contribution on that day.
Therefore, he felt that this aid greatly helps ease his burden.
STR recipient, Daus Rashid, 53. (Credit: Siti Murni / TRP)
“I just want to entertain the children even though there are individuals who take pictures with my mascot, but do not make any contribution,” he explained.
He also hopes that this assistance will be continued by the government so that he can continue living more comfortably after this.
STR recipients in rural areas including Sabah and Sarawak with or without bank accounts should also receive this payment aid on the same date. Those who do not have a bank account can make cash withdrawals at their nearest Bank Simpanan Nasional branches.
Checks on payment status can be done on the STR official portal.
For more info on the other Budget 2023 initiatives, click here.

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[Watch] Road Bully Smashes Car Window And Threatens Pregnant Woman, Gets Arrested By Kelantan Police

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A man who broke a pregnant woman’s car window with a knife and threatened the victim was arrested by the police in Nilam Puri in Kota Bharu on Sunday.

Acting Kelantan Police Chief Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun said, based on preliminary investigations, the incident was believed to be the result of honking which angered the suspect.
According to him, the 45-year-old suspect, who has seven previous records, including six related to drug offences, was arrested in a police raid at his house at 6.30 pm.
A knife believed to have been used in the incident was also confiscated.
The initial screening test was negative for drugs, but the suspect’s past record involved six drug-related offences.Acting Kelantan Police Chief Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun speaking to reporters at the Kelantan Police Contingent Headquarters.

He said the suspect was remanded for four days, starting from Monday until this Thursday, to assist in the investigation
The case is being investigated according to Sections 506, 279 and 427 of the Penal Code for making threats and mischief.
Road Rage
Since last Saturday, a video recording lasting two minutes and 16 seconds has gone viral on social media.
The video showed a man stopping a Toyota Vios car at a junction and going towards a Perodua Axia car that stopped behind his car.
The Perodua Axia was driven by the 35-year-old victim.
In the incident at 5.45 pm last Thursday, the suspect knocked on the car window using a knife, causing it to break and uttered threatening words.
Commenting further, Muhamad Zaki said that some individuals are too sensitive when on the road.
He reminded the public that they would not escape punishment if they are found guilty of threatening others.
If there is a mistake or dissatisfaction, report it to the authorities or have a discussion. This act of intimidation is something that should not happen anywhere.Acting Kelantan Police Chief Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun on settling traffic disputes amicably.

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Experts Urge Malaysia To Join Global Covid-19 Vaccine Access Plan – COVAX Before Deadline Ends

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Health experts are urging the Malaysian government to join COVAX – the global Covid-19 vaccine access plan, before its deadline on 18 September to ensure the country is involved in the global race to find a vaccine against the pandemic.

Described by the COVAX coordinator as an “insurance policy”, COVAX is a platform that will support the research, development, manufacturing, and price negotiations of Covid-19 vaccines from a wide range of candidates.
The COVAX facility will also monitor Covid-19 vaccines currently being produced to identify the most suitable candidate and help participating countries gain access to the vaccine as quickly, fairly, and safely as possible.
It is coordinated by the international vaccine alliance GAVI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness (CEPI), and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
So far, 78 nations, including Australia and the UK, have reportedly signed up with COVAX as a safety net in the event the vaccines separately backed by them in other bilateral deals fail to work.
Malaysia has up to September 18 to decide. This is a big decision for the rakyat and the country.Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society (MPS) president Amrahi Buang via CodeBlue
Amrahi Buang speaks at the Health Ministry’s town hall meeting on February 13, 2020, in Putrajaya on the Poisons (Amendment) 2019 Bill. (Credit: Facebook)
According to health experts, making such bilateral deals with other countries or depending fully on vaccines from particular manufacturers is risky.
This is because currently, no Covid-19 vaccine has proved its safety or effectiveness and these nations would definitely prioritise their own populations first once their vaccine is approved.
Speaking to CodeBlue, Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society (MPS) president Amrahi Buang said that Malaysia should seriously consider signing up with COVAX, unless the government can come up with alternative solutions.
According to Amrahi, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba recently stated that the government has no plans to join COVAX yet, adding that the government should state its reasons for the decision.
Malaysia is reportedly in talks with China over a potential agreement to ensure we have immediate access to an approved Covid-19 vaccine manufactured there.
However, former Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Dr Milton Lum pointed out that with China’s population of 1.3 billion and over 90,000 positive Covid-19 cases, it will be difficult to rely on their vaccine.
It will be political suicide for the Chinese government not to make the vaccine available for its population first.Former Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Dr Milton Lum via CodeBlue
Dr Milton Lum asking a question at the Malaysian Healthcare Conference 2019 in Kuala Lumpur on March 7, 2019. (Credit: Facebook)
Meanwhile, director of Universiti Malaya’s Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre Dr Sazaly Abu Bakar highlighted to CodeBlue that many factors have to be considered when choosing the right vaccine.
Cost-effectiveness, acceptability, target population, ease of deployment, storage needs, route of delivery, and potential long-term effects are just some of the things that come into play.
Currently, none of the current vaccines being developed have passed Phase Three of clinical trials yet. This means signing a direct deal this early would be a huge risk.

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Can Being Vaccinated Be A Job Requirement?

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According to Malaysian Employers Federation president, Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman, you might not even get a face-to-face interview if you are not vaccinated.

In an interview with The Star, Dr Syed cited Section 15 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994.
It shall be the duty of every employer and every self-employed person to ensure, so far as is practicable, the safety, health and welfare at work of all his employees.Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994. Part 4, section 15, (1).
This means it is in the best interest of the employer not to risk turning their workplace into a cluster. This can be done by implementing reasonable safeguards such as enforcing the SOP and not accepting anyone who is not vaccinated.
Can they force you to take the vaccine?
On the other hand, Labour and employment law expert Datuk Thavalingam Thavarajah in the same interview said that although employers can set vaccination as a pre-condition for new hires, they cannot mandate compulsory vaccination.
This is because employers need the consent of their staff to give them a vaccination and every staff still has a right to refuse the vaccination.
Of course, this also depends on the contractual terms and conditions of the employment.
But not everyone can get the vaccine.
While completing the Covid-19 vaccine doses is highly endorsed, let’s not forget one of the reasons why Malaysia aims to achieve an 80% vaccinated rate among its citizens.
Achieving herd immunity means we can protect those who cannot take the vaccine for one reason or another.
As Malaysian Association of Hotels vice-president CS Lim pointed out, setting the vaccination as a strict term may exclude people who cannot be immunised against Covid-19 due to a variety of reasons, which are not limited to medical conditions, from normal life.

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7 Mooncake Festival Facts You Probably Didn’t Know

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The Mid-Autumn Festival (aka the Mooncake festival) is upon us, which means lots of mooncakes to eat and lanterns to play with!
But the Mid-Autumn Festival, long steeped in history, has lots of fun facts you probably didn’t know…
1. Mooncakes helped lead a rebellion
According to legend, the government in the late Yuan Dynasty in China was cruel and oppressive. Zhu Yuanzhang, a rebel leader, wanted to launch an uprising, but soldiers would intercept all his messengers.
So Zhu Yuanzhang had the women in his village bake mooncakes with notes containing the date of the revolt in them, to be spread to the other rebels under the noses of the soldiers.
Credit: Pixabay
The rebellion was successful and the capital was taken over. That’s how the Ming Dynasty began.
2. Sarawak has an exclusive layer mooncake
The layer cake, Sarawak’s specialty pastry, has been made into mooncakes to celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival.
A Sarawakian baker was the first to merge the two popular treats. She also serves offers her mooncake in the traditional crust or the snowskin crust.
Picture credit: Maria Kek Lapis Facebook
3. Almost every society celebrates the harvest moon
The full moon in Autumn, also known as the Harvest Moon, is widely celebrated across the world as it is closely associated to a good harvest.
In Britain, the Harvest festival is traditionally held on the Sunday near the Harvest Moon and includes going to church.
Picture credit: Pixabay
In Iran, the Harvest festival is extravagant as taxes were collected and gifts were brought for the king.
In the Philippines, the ethnically Chinese community also play a gambling dice game known as ‘Pua Tiong Chiu’.
4. The rabbit on the moon was sent there as a reward
Have you ever wondered why there’s a “rabbit” on the moon?
Another legend states that 3 deities visited the earth as 3 poor, old people, begging for food.
Credit: Rumah No.2, Universiti Malaya/Facebook
A rabbit, who didn’t have any food, offered itself to the 3 deities and threw itself into their fire. The deities were so moved that they sent it to the moon as an immortal jade rabbit.
5. Carrying lanterns for the Mid-Autumn Festival is not a Chinese tradition
Lanterns are not part of the traditional Chinese celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Instead, this tradition is only practiced in Cantonese communities, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
(Credit: TRP)
Historically, the Baiyue people were in close contact with the Han (“Chinese”) people of Guangdong, Guangxi, and Vietnam. The tradition was shared in this area.
Later on, these Baiyue-Hans migrated to Malaysia as well, bringing their traditional lanterns with them.
6. Crabs were used to determine fortune
An old forgotten custom for the Mid-Autumn Festival included putting candles on the back of crabs and letting them loose in the yard.
Picture credit: Pixabay
If the crabs stayed within the compound, it meant that fortune would “stay” with the family. Young children would drive escaping crabs back into the yard to avoid fortune from “escaping”.
7. Lantern riddles were used to subtly criticize emperors
Lantern riddles are riddles, poems, or folklore written on a strip of paper and hung beneath lanterns during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

However, in ancient times, advisers to emperors would use the riddles to subtly suggest advice that the emperor may not like.
If a suggestion was taken negatively, the advisers would quickly interpret the riddles another way.

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TMJ Shows Interest In Spanish Football Club Valencia CF

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In recent postings on social media, Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has sparked chatter that he may be interesting in taking the reins of Spanish football club, Valencia CF.

On 2 March 2021, Tunku Ismail, often referred to as TMJ, uploaded multiple Instagram stories covering the history of the Spanish titan. The postings displayed great appreciation for the club, its history and lengthy list of victories.

TMJ, also the proud owner of Johor Southern Tigers (JDT), said he is looking to expand his empire and spread his wings though he did not expressly declare an actual bid on the club.
You need someone who knows about football, hungry for success, passionate and understands how big Valencia is as a club.Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim on Instagram
Tunku Ismail’s interest in foreign clubs had perhaps started as early as 2016, after paying a visit to the Mestalla, spectating matches against Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
The earliest connection seen between TMJ’s Southern Tigers and Valencia CF was in 2017, when the Spaniards announced a 3 year partnership with the Malaysian champions.
This partnership aimed to help JDT in all areas with Valencia’s methodologies and development philosophies.

The chatter had spread to Reddit, with hints of speculation on what is going on behind the scenes, while a majority of comments appear to be in favour of the Royal takeover.
Some of the comments also mentioned TMJ’s performance in elevating the current local champions, JDT, to the level they are now.
Since Valencia took on their first foreign owner in 2014, Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim, the club had done reasonably well with their latest victory in the Kings Cup last year.
About Valencia CF
Valencia, founded in 1919, is the third most popular club in the Spanish La Liga behind the legendary rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Currently valued at €408 million (RM2 billion), the club’s history is covered in victories having won the La Liga 6 times, Copa del Ray 7 times, Supercopa de España once and Copa Eva Duarte (predecessor to the Supercopa de España) once.
Where they were not crowned champions, they were almost always runner up.
(From left) Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim and TMJ.
The titan also has numerous international victories and honours ranging from the early 1960’s to the early 2000’s. Among their notable players who played key roles in the club’s glory were David Albelda, Pablo Aimar and Waldo Machado da Silva.
Singapore’s Straits Times reports that since Lim’s acquisition of Valencia in 2014, the club had qualified for the Champions League 3 times and reached the Europa League semi-final.
Valencia has been through 8 different coaches in Lim’s 6 year reign, including former Manchester United star Gary Neville, with each of the coaches unable to lead the club to its former glory.

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Michelle Yeoh’s Oscar Win Triggers Argument Among Malaysian Advertising Firms

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Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh’s Oscar win has drawn praise, admiration, and also criticism from the people back home in Malaysia.

Granted, her public support for former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in 2013 during the 13th general election won her no favour among some Malaysians, especially amidst the 1MDB controversy.
One of the biggest critics of Yeoh’s Oscar win was author and former journalist Kee Thuan Chye.
On Facebook, Kee wondered why Malaysians were so ecstatic about Yeoh winning the Oscars when the country did nothing for the actress.
Yeoh started her roots in the acting and film industry in Hong Kong. Kee also questioned what the actress did for Malaysia and whether she helped the local film industry grow.
He also claimed that Yeoh’s partner, Jean Todt, reportedly got a piece of land on an island off Terengganu and received a staggering million-ringgit fee as Malaysia’s tourism ambassador.

Coming to Yeoh’s defence was Tan Sri Vincent Lee Fook Long, a veteran in Malaysia’s advertising scene. Lee is the group executive chairman of Foetus International Sdn Bhd, a one-stop centre for advertising, marketing communications, public relations and event management.
He’s also the founder of Naga DDB, an advertising agency that has been around for more than three decades.
Lee said Yeoh worked hard for her career and has helped Malaysia by being its tourism ambassador years before.
When Lee asked Yeoh for help, she allegedly said yes without hesitation because “we must all help the country” and “it’s a national service.”
Lee added that together with Naga DDB, they started the Malaysia Truly Asia campaign and Yeoh didn’t receive a single cent to help the country.
He also pointed out that just like all of us, Yeoh didn’t know then that Najib was involved in the 1MDB case, and she made the mistake of supporting him for the general elections.
Although Yeoh’s Oscar win is a difficult topic for Malaysians to navigate, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) plans to make Yeoh their tourism ambassador instead.

It opened a can of worms
Lee’s claim that Naga DDB came up with the Malaysia Truly Asia tagline was refuted by a marketing agency called Integrated Strategic Communications (ISC) International.
According to ISC International’s statement, the agency was contracted by Tourism Malaysia from 1999 to 2010 to be the sole agency to conceive, develop, produce, launch and roll out the iconic and multi-award-winning “Malaysia Truly Asia” campaign.
The campaign was carried out during four contract periods, covering the tenures of at least four Tourism Ministers – Datuk Seri Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir, Datuk Seri Leo Michael Toyad, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, and Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
Founder and CEO of ISC, Austen Zecha, took the drama in stride and said, “So much fuss about a non-issue, really. But why bring in a Malaysian icon’s name to buttress and perpetuate an industry lie?
He continued, saying, “In essence, fact is fact, truth is truth, but why would another agency founder again bring the bizarre false claim about having started, Malaysia Truly Asia, in a story about Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh’s incredible Oscar win?”

The drama goes way back
Somehow, this drama unearthed an alleged bribery case that happened between ISC International and the Malaysian Tourism Ministry in 2011.
According to reports, ISC International withdrew its bid to renew its contract with the Tourism Ministry after they were asked for bribes in exchange for the deal.
In a press statement, ISC International rebutted then Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen’s denial of ambiguity in the tender process for the advertising and promotions contract, worth RM381 million.
Zecha claimed that he and his deputy were jointly approached by the client (Tourism Ministry) on 19 January 2011 for a 50 % rebate or an annual share of the firm’s income from the account.
In exchange, ISC International will “re-win” another three-year Tourism Malaysia contract for the Europe, North America, and Oceania tender.
This proposal led ISC International to withdraw its tender on 26 January 2011 with its founders, shareholders, directors and management agreeing that the whole thing was a grave insult.
The proposal also cast further suspicion regarding the ambiguity of the whole tender process.
Zecha reiterated that ISC International did impeccable work for the Malaysia Truly Asia campaign since 1999.
He also alleged that it had been told by the ministry that it could only bill Tourism Malaysia RM3 million in 2009 and 2010 for its previous three-year contract for Europe, which was actually worth RM18 million annually.
Zecha asked whether the Treasury would allow for such hidden “Direct Bookings” and Treasury-registered companies to be short-changed on contracts’ worth.
At the time, he also placed scrutiny on Ng’s involvement in the issue. Zecha said Ng’s remarks in Parliament contradicted her earlier statement that she was unaware of the five companies that were each awarded three-year contracts totalling RM381 million or RM127 million per year.
The five recipients of the tenders were Naga DDB for the Asean market with a contract value of RM25 million a year, SMASCOM & Designs Sdn Bhd for East and North Asia (RM25 million), Sen Media Sdn Bhd for South Asia, West Asia and Africa (RM26 million), M&C Saatchi Sdn Bhd for Europe, America, Oceania (RM21 million) and Impact Creations for domestic and events (RM30 million).
It turned out that Ng knew at least two companies that were awarded the contracts. Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi asked in Parliament whether the five contracts were awarded through the use of political connections.
One of the companies was Impact Creations Sdn Bhd, believed to have been selected because Juni Ewe, the managing director of Impact Challenger Sdn Bhd (allegedly related to the first company), is a friend of Ng’s.
Ooi also asked whether Naga DDB Sdn Bhd was given the contract because the founder and executive chairman, Lee, was also the executive deputy chairman of the MCA-owned Star Publications.
ISC’s complaint about the tender process led the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to raid the offices of Impact Creations and the Tourism Ministry.

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3 Orang Asli detained in Perak for stopping loggers at Sg Papan

It took many years, but the plight of the Orang Asli have
finally reached the ears of urban Malaysians.
From mysterious illnesses to birth control and conversion controversies, it’s clear that this group has been battling many enemies just to get their basic rights.

via GIPHY
However, it looks like the battle wages on as news of a blockade
at Sg Papan/Kg Air Laba by the Temiar people which led to police detaining three
of the Orang Asli spread on social media.

Picture Credit: COAC/Facebook

The Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC) took to Facebook on Saturday (20th July) to share what was happening in the forest of Sg Papan/Kg Air Laba where the Temiar people faced off with loggers.

Their blockade was breached around 10 am with loggers and
police on site.
Three villagers were then handcuffed and detained for
attempting to stop the loggers and brought to Gerik.

 Picture Credit: COAC/Facebook

Gerik police said that the three men; Jamal bin Endi, Mohd Nazerin bin Dahadu and Zaiman bin Long, were taken to the district police station for documentation purposes.
According to the COAC Facebook post, the villagers demanded that the loggers show their permits after they saw a couple of bulldozers attempting to ram through the blockade last Thursday. A verbal spat ensued and both parties threatened to make police reports.

Picture Credit: COAC/Facebook

The next day, police arrived and there was a standoff, but
the State Director for JAKOA-Perak happened to make a planned visit on that day
and intervened.
With JAKOAâ€™s help, the Temiar representatives met an officer
of the Perak Forestry Department who told them that such logging permits were â€œrahsiaâ€
(secret).

Picture Credit: COAC/Facebook

Unable to proceed any further, the villagers returned to the
site of the blockade. The next day, the â€œarrestsâ€ happened.
The Star reports that Gerik police said that they received two reports from the logging company last week, unhappy about the blockades built by the Orang Asli at Kampung Sungai Papan and near the Air Chepam Forest Reserve.

â€œAll three parties held a meeting but the Orang Asli insisted that the forest land there was their ancestral land and said that they would continue defending the blockade.â€
“The workers again tried to demolish the blockade. About 25 orang asli also created a human blockade to stop the workers.”
Superintendent Ismail Che Isa, Gerik OCPD via The Star.

Picture Credit: COAC/Facebook

The action of the police in handcuffing the Orang Asli was rebuked by P. Waytha Moorthy, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, who said that Orang Asli customary land rights surpassed the right of state governments.

â€œTime and time again the highest court in Malaysia has recognised the Orang Asli customary land rights as superior and supersedes the right of the state governments under the Federal Constitution.
These are defenceless people who are only protecting their customary land by putting up blockades. They donâ€™t deserve to be arrested in protecting their rights.â€
P. Waytha Moorthy, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department via The Star.
Puan Seri Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil, Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia (Peka) President was also highly disapproving.
The Star reported that she chided the state government for issuing permits to loggers and developers despite knowing that the Orang Asli will defend their ancestral lands.

Picture Credit: COAC/Facebook

According to COAC, the Sg Papan/Kg Air Laba blockade still
stands, despite the almost daily attempts by loggers to dismantle it.
The latest update by COAC states that the loggers together with the police and forestry department visited the blockade yesterday and took pictures and measurements of the logs.


There’s No Proof Of Covid-19 Vaccine Queue-Cutters Based On Investigations, Says Health Minister

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There’s no evidence on the queue-cutting issue for Covid-19 vaccines based on the investigations made by the Health Ministry, said its Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba.

Based on an interview with Malay Mail, the Minister said that the vaccines were given to those who were supposed to get them.
So, I deny there was queue-cutting. What happened was, after investigations, I found that those who were supposed to be vaccinated did not turn up or did not come on time as they should. The issue is that when we open a vial, six people need to be vaccinated at one go. During registration some of them were there and when it was time to be administered, they were not. So we were forced to find others at that time to avoid wasting the vaccine. That did happen, but we still gave the jabs to frontliners. Not those who were accused of getting it because of their connections.Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba
He said that it was given to frontliners who were present at that time instead.
The alleged queue-cutting issue sparked an uproar among the online community who were questioning the Ministry over who were supposed to get vaccinated first.
Touching on government officials getting the jab, Dr Adham said that state executive councillors, elected federal and state lawmakers as well as senators were listed as frontliners.
Seeing that it’s a serious issue, the Minister said he has ordered the Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah and all state health directors to investigate any claims on the matter.
The frontliner list, which includes government officials, was previously announced by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who is in charge of Malaysia’s vaccine roll-out.
Garis Panduan Penetapan Senarai Barisan Petugas Hadapan Bagi Program Imunisasi COVID-19 Kebangsaan. pic.twitter.com/JFj38p5yNf— Khairy Jamaluddin 🇲🇾🌺 (@Khairykj) March 1, 2021
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry (MOH) yesterday warned its employees against making distasteful comments online or face the consequences.
In a statement released online, MOH reminded staff of their work and social media ethics when faced with allegations that healthcare professionals and frontliners were going public with concerning information on the National Immunization Program (NIP) and its procedures.
READ MORE: MOH Tells Staff To Be “Polite” Online Or Face The Consequences Amid Vaccine Queue-Jumping Claims

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