Hate Sitting In Traffic? Check Out These Alternative Routes When You Balik Kampung For Raya

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In preparation for the Hari Raya week, the Public Works Department (JKR) has suggested alternative routes for families making their way home to help relieve the traffic on the main roads.

Do check out the alternative routes before you balik kampung with the family.
North Zone
From Jalan Teluk Intan – Changkat Jong (Hotel Grand Court) via Jalan Padang Tembak to Kampung Gajah/ Ipoh and Bidor/ North-South Highway (Exit 128 Sungkai)
From Gopeng/ Tol Simpang Pulai to Sungai Siput/ Batu Gajah
Laluan Alternatif Jalan Persekutuan dan Jalan Negeri bagi ZON UTARA (1/2) Sempena Aidilfitri 2022Muat turun dokumen pdf himpunan laluan alternatif bagi Jalan Persekutuan dan Jalan Negeri di seluruh negara:https://t.co/xkMy4lsdXV pic.twitter.com/5A7LSLCxeI— JKR Malaysia (@JKRMalaysia) April 28, 2022
From Tol Kuala Kangsar via Kuala Kangsar to Sungai Siput/ Ipoh
From Kuala Kangsar via Jalan Gerik-Kuala Kenderung (A170) & Jalan Bendariang-Bersia Lama (A171) to Jeli/ Kelantan or via Jalan Gerik-Ulu Kenderung (A169) to Kupang/ Kedah
Laluan Alternatif Jalan Persekutuan dan Jalan Negeri bagi ZON UTARA (2/2) Sempena Aidilfitri 2022Muat turun dokumen pdf himpunan laluan alternatif bagi Jalan Persekutuan dan Jalan Negeri di seluruh negara:https://t.co/xkMy4lsdXV pic.twitter.com/Wr8P9ptdm6— JKR Malaysia (@JKRMalaysia) April 28, 2022
Central and East Zone
From Pantai Remis/ Tol Ijok via Kuala Selangor to Sabak Bernam/ Teluk Intan
From Bentong via Raub to Kota Bharu
From Gua Musang via Kuala Krai to Kota Bharu
Laluan Alternatif Jalan Persekutuan dan Jalan Negeri bagi ZON TENGAH & ZON TIMUR (1/3) Sempena Aidilfitri 2022Muat turun dokumen pdf himpunan laluan alternatif bagi Jalan Persekutuan dan Jalan Negeri di seluruh negara:https://t.co/xkMy4lsdXV pic.twitter.com/EBLF0GmaxD— JKR Malaysia (@JKRMalaysia) April 28, 2022
From Chukai via Kampung Ibok to Kuala Terengganu
From Tol Ajil (LPT2) via Hulu Terengganu to Kota Bharu
From Tol Kuala Terengganu (LPT2) to Kota Bharu (Jalan Pantai)
Laluan Alternatif Jalan Persekutuan dan Jalan Negeri bagi ZON TENGAH & ZON TIMUR (2/3) Sempena Aidilfitri 2022Muat turun dokumen pdf himpunan laluan alternatif bagi Jalan Persekutuan dan Jalan Negeri di seluruh negara:https://t.co/xkMy4lsdXV pic.twitter.com/aNHQ9MoH65— JKR Malaysia (@JKRMalaysia) April 28, 2022
From Besut to Kota Bharu/ Tok Bali
From Pantai Remis/ Tol Ijok via Kuala Selangor to Sabak Bernam/ Teluk Intan
Laluan Alternatif Jalan Persekutuan dan Jalan Negeri bagi ZON TENGAH & ZON TIMUR (3/3) Sempena Aidilfitri 2022Muat turun dokumen pdf himpunan laluan alternatif bagi Jalan Persekutuan dan Jalan Negeri di seluruh negara:https://t.co/xkMy4laD6n pic.twitter.com/9cqQuzZbOS— JKR Malaysia (@JKRMalaysia) April 28, 2022
South Zone
From Seremban via Jelebu to Karak
From Jempol/ Kuala Pilah to Karak, Temerloh & Muadzam
Laluan Alternatif Jalan Persekutuan dan Jalan Negeri bagi ZON SELATAN (1/2) Sempena Aidilfitri 2022Muat turun dokumen pdf himpunan laluan alternatif bagi Jalan Persekutuan dan Jalan Negeri di seluruh negara:https://t.co/xkMy4lsdXV pic.twitter.com/9j1VDnGA3K— JKR Malaysia (@JKRMalaysia) April 28, 2022
From Tol Ayer Keroh to Bandaraya Melaka
Connecting to Muar, Segamat, Kluang, Pontian via Batu Pahat
Laluan Alternatif Jalan Persekutuan dan Jalan Negeri bagi ZON SELATAN (2/2) Sempena Aidilfitri 2022Muat turun dokumen pdf himpunan laluan alternatif bagi Jalan Persekutuan dan Jalan Negeri di seluruh negara:https://t.co/xkMy4lsdXV pic.twitter.com/uV1WZkJT8E— JKR Malaysia (@JKRMalaysia) April 28, 2022
JKR has also taken steps to improve the road safety such as lowering the speed limit on Jalan Persekutuan from 90km/h to 80km/h throughout the Ops Bersepadu period.
To find out more info on the steps taken by JKR to make sure the journey home is as smooth as possible, please visit JKR’s website.
If you’re in any trouble on the road, the emergency numbers are also listed on JKR’s website.
Have a safe trip home!
If you’re not packed yet, TRP has you covered. Here’s a checklist to go over to make sure you don’t forget anything!
READ MORE: Before You Go Back For Raya, Are You Sure You’re Prepared? Here’s Your Balik Kampung Checklist!

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Gone Too Soon: Young Hockey Trainee Dies From Brain Haemorrhage

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Teenage hockey goalkeeper Bill Wolfson Lianie’s sudden death yesterday (6 November) shocked and saddened the hockey community.

The 14-year-old Sarawakian boy was a trainee in the national hockey development programme (NHDP).
He complained about feeling uneasy after taking his bath and collapsed in his room at the Perak National Sports Council hostel around 7am.
According to Free Malaysia Today, a post-mortem revealed that he died of a brain haemorrhage.

It was Bill’s dream to play for the national team, according to Malaysia’s longest-serving hockey goalkeeper S Kumar.
Kumar said he took a liking to the happy boy whom he first met at the goalkeeping skills clinic he conducted.
Bill realised his biggest dream to take a picture with his idol Kumar on Saturday before passing the next day.
Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) deputy president S Shamala said she couldn’t imagine what Bill’s mother must be going through.
I can’t imagine what the mother, whose life story would break your heart even more, must be going through. The words ‘deepest condolences’ to his mother cannot really express the magnitude of exactly how we all feel.Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) deputy president S Shamala
Fans, players and hockey officials observed a one-minute silence for Bill before the match between Malaysia and South Africa at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup yesterday.

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24 Finalists Will Be Contending For The Mr World Malaysia 2022 Title This September

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For those who didn’t know, Mr World and Mr Universe are two different things.

Mr Universe is an international bodybuilding competition done by the National Amateur Body-Builders’ Association (NABBA). It is now called the Universe Championships.
Mister World on the other hand is a male beauty pageant sponsored by the Miss World organization. It is included among the two largest male beauty pageants in the world in terms of the number of national-level competitions.
We have a Mr World too
And to compete in Mister World, Malaysia has done a national competition to pick our nation’s most desirable man in a series of tasks and rounds.
After various rounds of preliminary activities such as physical challenge, a fashion and beauty regime, and a culinary course to showcase the embracement of modern masculinity, Mr World Malaysia 2022 has picked 24 successful finalists from all around the nation.
(Credit: Universal Music Malaysia)
Presented by Universal Music Malaysia (UM), the competition aims to unearth new talents and diversify UM’s talent management portfolio under Celebrity360 (talent arm under the company), and eventually pick a winner to represent Malaysia for Mr World 2022 competition to be held in the United Kingdom later this year.
We are excited to reveal very young and talented candidates from a very diverse background including from Sabah and Sarawak. Universal Music Malaysia hopes through projects like Mr World Malaysia, we are able to strengthen our business portfolio and offerings whilst scouting for new talents in a different segment. Kim Lim, Managing Director, Universal Music Malaysia
From Penang and Kedah to Sabah and Sarawak, the 24 finalists are picked among diverse background portfolios such as a doctor, dentist, pharmacist, actor, chef, entrepreneur, barista, fitness trainer and many more.
(Credit: Universal Music Malaysia)
To even be in the finalist spots, various Malaysians auditioned last May at Universal Music Malaysia in Petaling Jaya. They all meet the four criteria of the competition which are:
Single Malaysian MalesAged between 18 – 35Has a minimum height of 170cm Exudes the charm and personality of a true Malaysian man
If you wanna get close and personal to these 24 charming men, there’s a meet and greet happening this 28th of August at Pavilion Bukit Jalil. There’ll be lots of activities there including a chance to win a pair of tickets for the final gala event, scheduled to happen in September.
So, who’s your favourite Mr World Malaysia this year? Go check them all out here.

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Australia Is Now Back Open For Malaysian Tourists & Travellers!

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According to the Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, Justin Lee, starting 21 February 2022, all fully vaccinated visa holders can now travel to Australia without an exemption. This includes both tourists and business travellers.

This simply means that fully vaccinated Malaysians can reunite with their long missed families and friends in Australia and continue long-awaited plans to visit Australia’s best tourist spots.
(Credit: @AusHCMalaysia / Twitter)
However, as exciting as this may be, COVID-19 measures should also be paid attention to in order to avoid unwanted outbreaks. Hence, before confirming any travel arrangements, the traveller must ensure that they have read and complied with all the requirements for vaccinated travellers entering Australia.
People who do not meet Australia’s vaccination requirements for international travel would need an exemption or be under an exempt category. Such exemptions can be checked here.
Quarantine & Post-Arrival COVID-19 Tests
For quarantine purposes, travellers need to comply with the requirements of the states or territory they’re arriving to or planning to go to. Some require quarantine for fully vaccinated travellers and some don’t.
States/Territory that require quarantine:
Victoria – Quarantine until receiving a negative test result for vaccinated travellers (do RAT or PCR test 24-hours upon arrival). 7 days quarantine for unvaccinated travellers. Queensland – Quarantine until receiving a negative test result (do RAT or PCR test 24-hours upon arrival), 14 days quarantine for unvaccinated travellers.West Australia – 7 days for vaccinated travellers (do RAT or PCR test 24-hours upon arrival). 14 days quarantine for unvaccinated travellers.South Australia – Quarantine until receiving a negative test result (do a PCR test only within 24 hours upon arrival), 14 days quarantine for unvaccinated travellers.New South Wales – Quarantine until receiving a negative test result for vaccinated travellers (do RAT or PCR test 24-hours upon arrival), 7 days quarantine for unvaccinated travellers.Australian Capital Territory – Quarantine until receiving a negative test result (do RAT or PCR test 24-hours upon arrival). Complete a mandatory quarantine period at the port of entry for unvaccinated travellers.
States/Territory that do not require quarantine:
Northern TerritoryTasmania
The rules of quarantine and post-arrival testing requirements differ according to State and Territory governments so make sure to check the rules of the destination you’re going to. For example, in some territories, you can’t simply go to high-risk territories like childcare centres or hospitals for 7 or 14 days upon your arrival there.

 Moreover, those wanting to travel there must hold a valid Visa. Visa applications are recommended to be lodged at least one month before travelling.  Because of COVID-19, visa processing times have been affected and applications may take longer to finalise. To know more details about travelling to Australia, visit here.
So for those Malaysians waiting so long to reunite with their families in the Aussie, now you can start to make plans. Enjoy your trips!

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A National Rural Broadband Solution That Is Not A Part Of Jaringan Prihatin

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MEASAT, yes the folks that launched the satellites that made ASTRO possible are turning some of their attention to consumer broadband.

CONNECTme NOW is a high-speed satellite broadband service that provides internet access to communities in rural, remote, and difficult to reach areas that are not covered by 4G or fibre connectivity.
We are proud that we have managed to install more than 2,000 CONNECTme NOW sites to date – including 1,183 sites in Sarawak and 243 in Sabah, serving over 200,000 broadband connections nationwide. Building on this momentum, we hope to raise this number to 300,000 connections by the end of this year.Yau Chyong Lim, Chief Operating Officer of MEASAT.

The system uses a Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) and High Throughput Satellite (HTS) technology.
CONNECTme NOW lets users access the internet through Prepaid Access Code (PAC) vouchers, with no contract or fixed monthly charges, putting power and control in the hands of users.
We also supported vaccination efforts in Sabah, where we sponsored broadband data offered through our CONNECTme NOW service at vaccination centres in the Kota Kinabalu region serving remote communities, covering close to 2,000 people.Ganendra Selvaraj, Associate VP of MEASAT

However, when asked if CONNECTme NOW is a part of Jaringan PRIHATIN, provision of subsidies for subscriptions to telecommunication services or the purchase of mobile devices, he said no as it is not a part of the twelve telcos in Malaysia that participated.
Following the success of CONNECTme NOW in Malaysia, MEASAT aims to take this service and technology internationally to our neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia, expanding to connect their unconnected populations.

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Indonesian Flight SJY182 Jakarta-Pontianak Missing, Debris Found In Water

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Indonesian aviation authorities lost contact with domestic flight Sriwijaya Air Flight 182, which took off from the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta at around 3.30pm (Malaysia time) on Saturday, 9 January 2021, en route to Pontianak.

Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS), in a press conference, said they have found debris in the water between Pulau Laki and Pulau Lancang which is likely, but not confirmed, to be from the plane.
Deputy for Operations at BASARNAS, Major General TNI Bambang Suryo Aji said the water there is between 20 and 23 metres deep.
He said search and rescue efforts could continue through the night, though this depended on the feasibility of conducting such efforts in the dark.
Flight tracking website Flightradar24 tweeted that the flight lost more than 3,000 metres of altitude in less than a minute four minutes after taking off.
This is what we know about Sriwijaya Air flight #SJ182 based on ADS-B data.Route: Jakarta to PontianakCallsign: SJY182Aircraft: Boeing 737-500, PK-CLCTake off: 07:36 UTCHighest altitude: 10,900 feetLast altitude: 250 feetSignal lost: 07:40 UTChttps://t.co/fNZqlIR2dz pic.twitter.com/CPzFJdsuJZ— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) January 9, 2021
Sriwijaya Air said there are 62 people – consisting of 50 passengers (40 adults, 7 children and 3 infants) and 12 airline staff (6 of which were on active duty, the other 6 as passengers) – onboard the flight which is a 27 year old Boeing 737-500.
Media Statement: Informasi Penerbangan Sriwijaya Air SJ-182 pic.twitter.com/6TwW1iMglm— Sriwijaya Air (@SriwijayaAir) January 9, 2021
According to the Malaysian Embassy in Indonesia, no Malaysians are on board the flight. Indonesian authorities have also said that all those on board are Indonesians.
Credit: Flightradar24
The Jakarta – Pontianak route usually takes 90 minutes.
The Boeing 737-500 is a twin-engined short-to-medium-range narrowbody airliner with a maximum capacity of 132 passengers produced by the American manufacturer Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

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Johnson & Johnson Will Stop Selling Talc Baby Powder In US & Canada After Years Of Being Sued By Consumers

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It’s official, the multinational pharmaceutical heavyweight Johnson & Johnson will stop selling their talc-based Johnson’s baby powder in the United States and Canada following years of lawsuits and consumer fears that the product might cause cancer.
Though steadfast in denying the cancer links to its talc products in and out of the courtroom, the company has spent years of litigation and paying billions of dollars in compensation.
According to The Guardian, Johnson & Johnson announced that this move is a part of a broad reassessment of its consumer product portfolio. The company said demand for talc-based baby powder in the US has been declining.
Retailers will continue selling existing inventory, but Johnson & Johnson will focus on cornstarch-based baby powder in the North American market. The company says it will continue selling the talc-based baby powder in countries where there is significantly higher consumer demand.
The talc Johnson’s Baby Powder is currently listed on the company’s Malaysian website. In the product description, it is stated that the talc products are made using U.S. Pharmacopeial (USP) grade talc to meet the highest-quality, purity and compliance standards. It also says that the talc is tested to ensure that it is asbestos free.
Johnson’s Baby Powder listed on the Johnsons & Johnsons Malaysian website.
Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based products have been mired in controversy for years as the company is brought to court over allegations that the products were contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen.
Last October, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulators found trace amounts of asbestos in the product. The company then voluntarily recalled 33,000 bottles of talcum powder “out of an abundance of caution”.
In a statement, the company said it remained steadfastly confident in the safety of their talc-based Johnson’s Baby Powder, citing the support of  independent scientific studies by medical experts for decades.
Johnson & Johnson also points out that all guilty verdicts passed against the company have been overturned.

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No, Telekom Malaysia Isn’t Actually Involved In Sale Of Menara TM

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When the iconic Menera TM was announced for sale, many netizens were taken by surprise.

Telekom Malaysia (TM) has resided in Menara TM since the tower was built, becoming an iconic landmark in its own right strategically located right next to Federal Highway.
READ MORE: “Let’s Make An Avengers Tower!” Netizens Joked After Menara TM Is Put Up For Sale
However, it turns out that TM the company does not actually own Menara TM the building.
The Menara TM
In fact, in a press statement, TM clarified the situation, noting that TM is merely a long-term tenant of Menara TM and not the owner.
The owner of Menara TM is actually Menara ABS Bhd, which is the party behind the sale of Menara TM.
As for why Menara TM is named after its tenant and not its owner, it turns out that it’s pretty common for key clients to have naming rights during their lease.
For example, Menara Standard Chartered (MSC) is named for its key tenant, Standard Chartered Bank, but the bank does not own the building and instead rents it together with other companies.
Telekom Malaysia DOES Have Their Own Property
Telekom Malaysia does own property of their own. The company has noted that they are in the process of relocating their corporate offices to their own buildings, including TM Annexe 1 and TM Annexe 2 as well as their properties in Cyberjaya.

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“No means NO”- Mâ€™sian authorities take smoking ban seriously by enforcing fines, even to foreigners

If you thought being a tourist would exempt you from this countryâ€™s rules, you thought wrong.
Yesterday (August 6), three foreigners (among eight) were slapped with notices by the Environmental Health Department for smoking in Tawau airport.

(Pic Credit: NST)

According to District Environmental Health officer Rahman Sampe, smoking is prohibited in airports under the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004.
A compound of RM250 can be slapped under Section 32B to those guilty of this offence.
Pauly D – Jersey Shore GIF from Jerseyshore GIFs

On a separate note, deputy health minister Dr. Lee Boon Chye reminded smokers earlier this week that the law prohibiting smoking in eating premises will start being enforced this month.

Individuals who are caught smoking in eateries can be fined up to RM10,000 or jailed not more than 2 years.

Whereas food premises who fail to comply with these rules can be fined up to RM3,000 or sentenced to jail not more than 6 months.

This action is taken after a  6-month grace period was given to smokers and food premises to get used to this law.

(Pic Credit: meme)

Dr. Lee also promoted the free Quit Smoking Clinics offered by the government.
Currently, there are 731 government clinics (KK) and 46 hospitals offering the Quit Smoking campaign.
Find the nearest government facility to you here.

(Pic Credit: quick meme)


Selangor to Proceed With E-Bazaar Ramadan Despite Government Ban

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Despite the federal governmentâ€™s announcement to essentially cancel 2020â€™s Ramadan bazaars, of any kind, nationwide due to the ongoing Movement Control Order (MCO) and the overall Covid-19 pandemic, Selangor will be going ahead with plans to host its very own online e-bazaar.
Selangor Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said that the bazaar-ban made by the government only applies to the countryâ€™s Federal Territories.
The state government believes that its e-bazaar could adopt the same operations procedure undertaken by restaurants that are currently allowed to operate during the MCO.
According to the minister, Selangorâ€™s e-bazaar would have a limited menu of a selection of food stalls and will follow strict guidelines to ensure public safety.
(Credit: Victor He/Unsplash)
Though authorities are still drawing up plans for the online market, the state would apply a â€œcentral kitchenâ€ system where traders would essentially be located in one spot and have meals and products delivered to customers via delivery services and riders.
All logistical needs for the e-bazaar would subsequently be taken on by the state government.
The state had so far determined 15 locations to be turned into central kitchen stations and promised more details on the e-bazaar in the future.
Meanwhile, local traders are voicing their support for the nationwide Ramadan bazaar ban.
(Credit: NST)
According to the Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman Traders and Hawkers Association, though the cancellation of this yearâ€™s bazaar would inevitably affect their income, it was better to be cautious of the current situation and abide by the rules set by the experts.
While business owners from the Federal Territories Hawkers and Petty Traders Association of Malaysia (GPPPKM) felt that opening up bazaars during the pandemic not only poses huge risks to public health but would also affect their businesses as fewer people are expected to venture out and spend during the lockdown season.

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Source:
This Year's Bazar Ramadan Is Officially Canceled
MB: Selangor Ramadan e-bazaar still on, FT Minister's announcement only for Federal Territories
Traders support Ramadan bazaar ban


Meet Msia’s First All-Female Antarctic Exploration

Make way Elsa, cuz these Malaysian â€œice queensâ€ are here to claim the throne!
Malaysiaâ€™s first All Women Expedition to Antarctica (AWETA) has officially set foot on the frozen continent on Sunday (December 22).
AWETAâ€™s four-woman team is made up of 31-year-old pharmacist Nurul Atiqah Tamarun, 33-year-old Ministry of Home Affairs officer Salehah Abu Nor, 34-year-old army corporal Siti Jumaidah Bensali, and polar adventurer, Dr Sharifah Mazlina Syed Abdul Kadir who is the team leader and pioneer of the antarctic mission.
Dr Sharifah Mazlina (right) together with Siti Jumaidah Bensali, Salehah Abu Nor and Nurul Atiqah Tamarun.(Credit: Facebook via All Women Expedition to Antarctica – AWETA)
Hand-picked by Dr Sharifah herself, the team had been training for the mission since 2017.
The team prepping for their treacherous trip.(Credit: Facebook via All Women Expedition to Antarctica – AWETA)
The expedition team is set on a month-long journey from December till January 2020 to explore the South pole and retrieve a time capsule which has been buried in the Antarctic snow for 14 years by Dr Sharifah during her first solo mission to the icy continent.
First Asian woman to explore the Poles
A legend in her own right, Dr Sharifah is credited as the first Asian woman to have ever journeyed to both the South and North pole.
FUN FACT: The Arctic is another name for the North Pole and the Antarctic refers to the South Pole. The Arctic is ocean surrounded by land while the Antarctic is land surrounded by ocean.
The 54-year-old adventurer made her first solo trip to Antarctica in 2004, where she boldly ski-sailed for more than 1,000 km across the icy planes.
Dr Sharifah in her ski-sailer and a sled full of supplies.(Credit: Tokoh)
Then in 2007, the daring doctor made yet another record-breaking journey exploring the freezing Arctic North Pole on foot.
Footage from Dr Sharifah’s solo track accross the Antarctic.(Credit: Screenshot via YouTube @AWETA 2019)
The frozen frontier
Antarctica is a land of extremes. Since it was first discovered in the 1800s, Antarcticaâ€™s vast territory has been primed for human exploration and globally recognised as an area for scientific research.
Antarctica and its main inhabitants, penguins.(Credit: melissa2760 via Pixabay)
Known as the coldest place on the planet, temperatures on this icy continent can plummet to -97Â°C with chilling winds blowing across its frozen, desolated land at up to 200km/h.
The continent has piqued the interest of the scientific community over the past few years as the global Climate Crisis is currently melting the regionâ€™s ice at an unprecedented rate.

If you’d like to find out more about AWETA’s journey through the frozen Antarctic, you can check out their official Facebook page for the expedition’s mission updates, or send them your love through the comments on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.


Relying On Youths Won’t Win Seats, Says Dr M On Syed Saddiq’s New Party

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It’s going to be difficult for Syed Saddiq’s new party to win seats at the general election by relying solely on the youth, said Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said that despite being a large demographic, it wouldn’t necessarily translate into success at the polls as a constituency is made up of more than just young people.
Although the youth is a very big portion of the electorate, it is not enough for the people just to win because they have the support of the youth. In any constituency, there will be old people, there will be young people. We are going to appeal to the young people as well. If he appeals only to young people, it is difficult for him to succeed.Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad via FMT
Despite the statement, he welcomes the move made by Syed to create his own party, especially if it aims to bring down corruption.
But we are a free country, he wants to do things on his own. He used to be a strong supporter of Pakatan Harapan (PH) but now he feels he needs to break away from us. So, we have a good relationship with him. We have no problems if the objective is to fight corruption and things like that.Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad via FMT
Meanwhile, Syed Saddiq took to social media to respond to the former Prime Minister, saying that the party is for all Malaysians.
Terima kasih Tun.Kami terima kritikan dengan hati yang terbuka.This is a party led by Youths FOR ALL MALAYSIANS.Majoriti yang akan memimpin adalah golongan teknokrat, profesional, usahawan, Petani moden, civil society leaders dllWe may be Young, but we love Malaysia 🇲🇾💪🏻 https://t.co/YnDljlVAtU— Syed Saddiq 🇲🇾🌺 (@SyedSaddiq) September 3, 2020
It was previously reported that the former Youth And Sports Minister dismissed joining Mahathir’s new party, Pejuang, but will instead form his own political party which will be multiracial and youth-driven.

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432 New Covid-19 Cases, Breaking Previous Record Again

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Today saw 432 new cases in Malaysia, of which 429 were local transmissions and only 3 were imported cases.

This brings the number of total active cases up to 2,336. 57 patients recovered today.

Terkini #COVID19Malaysia 5 Okt 2020Kes sembuh=57Jumlah kes sembuh= 10,340 kesKes positif= 432(kes import=3, kes tempatan=429)Jumlah positif= 12,813 kesKes kematian= 0Jumlah kes kematian= 137 kesKes dirawat di ICU= 32 kesBantuan Alat Pernafasan= 8 kes pic.twitter.com/gThN1iuy4g— KKMalaysia🇲🇾 (@KKMPutrajaya) October 5, 2020

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Singapore Looking To Gradually Reopen Borders With Malaysia

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Singapore will take a cautious approach in allowing for cross border travel with Malaysia as the city state is looking to employ preventive measures such as contact tracing and Covid-19 tests.
The country’s Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said the borders would likely to be opened gradually to reduce infection risks.
I do not see it possible to have a big bang complete, no holds barred, no restrictions, no tests (approach) ― I think that would be unwise. But we can open up in steps, have the appropriate measures to test people, contact trace people because when you open up, your risk (of infection) will inevitably increase.Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan via Malay Mail
Malaysia has recently eased restrictions on its borders to allow for those in Singapore and Brunei to travel into the country.
Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said nationals from both of these countries won’t need to undergo the mandatory Covid-19 screening and 14-day quarantine upon arrival but is only limited to Singaporeans and Bruneians who are currently residing in their home countries.

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Government Wants 0.02% Online Shopping Tax To Pay For Better Services For The Rakyat

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The government plans to tax Malaysian online shoppers.

Reportedly, the Communications and Multimedia Ministry is discussing to introduce a 0.02% service charge for purchases made on online shopping platforms such as Lazada, Shopee, Zalora, you name it…
Its Deputy Minister, Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin, was quoted as saying that funds received from the tax would be channeled towards developing Malaysia’s communications infrastructure and improving the country’s cybersecurity.
He said that such a tax would ultimately serve as an alternative revenue source for the government to provide better services for the rakyat.
Zahidi explains that a 20 sen service charge would be included for online purchases below RM200 and would increase for purchases above RM1,000.
The Deputy Minister said that the proposed online shopping tax would differ from the previously introduced 6% Goods and Services Tax (GST) which came into implementation in 2015, only to be replaced later by the 6% Sales and Service Tax (SST) in 2018.
Currently, Malaysian consumers are already paying a 6% digital tax for foreign online services like Netflix and other platforms.
Read more: How The 6% Digital Tax Is Going To Affect Your Favourite Online Services

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Source:
KKMM cadang caj 20 sen bagi pembelian dalam talian RM200 ke atas
Kerajaan cadang perkenal caj 0.02% bagi pembelian atas talian
SST ditetapkan pada 6 peratus bagi perkhidmatan, 10 peratus untuk jualan


Valentine’s Day: New Survey Finds Baby Boomers Tend To Feel More In Love Than Millennials

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A new survey has found that while Millennials are more likely to be satisfied with their romantic or sex life, Boomers are those who most tend to feel loved.

According to Ipsos’s Global Love Life Satisfaction survey, feeling loved is more common among Baby Boomers (80%) than it is among Generation X (75%), millennials (76%), and Generation Z (76%).
Millennials are most likely to be satisfied with their romantic or sex life (68%), compared to Gen X (62%), Gen Z (59%), and baby Boomers (61%).Ipsos Global Love Life Satisfaction survey
Besides that, the study also found Malaysia to be one of the countries with couples who are most satisfied with their relationships.
According to its findings, 90% of Malaysian couples said they are satisfied with their relationship with their spouse or partner.
The survey which was released ahead of Valentine’s Day also added 80% of Malaysians say they are satisfied with feeling loved while 57% say they are satisfied with their romantic or sex life.
A total of 32 countries were included in the survey among 22,508 adults aged from 18 to 74 from Dec 22, 2022 to Jan 6 this year.
Additionally, Malaysia joins Indonesia (94%), Netherlands (94%) and Thailand (90%) with couples satisfied with their relationship with their spouse or partner.
However, the lowest levels of satisfaction were reported by couples in Italy (76%), South Korea (73%) and Japan (70%).
On average, the survey said only 14% of couples say they are not very or not at all satisfied with their relationship with their spouse or partner.
Across 32 countries, on average, more than four in five people who are married or have partners (84%) say they are satisfied with their relationship. Three in four (76%) said they are satisfied with feeling loved, while only two in three (63%) say they are satisfied with their romantic or sex life.Ipsos Global Love Life Satisfaction survey
Notably, at a global level, it can be said that there is no significant difference in how satisfied men and women are with their love life.
Men and women in a relationship are nearly equally likely to be satisfied with their spouse or partner (85% for men and 83% for women), with their romantic or sex life (63% for both), and with how much they feel loved (75% for men and 76% for women).
What about you? How do you feel about your partner?

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For 40 Years, A Meat Cartel Has Been Selling Fake Halal Beef Mixed With Horse & Kangaroo Meats In Malaysia

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An underground “meat cartel” which had been operating for the last 40 years was exposed for distributing fake halal beef as well as passing off horse and kangaroo meat as beef.

READ MORE: “Meat Cartel” Selling Repackaged Fake-Halal Frozen Meats Busted In Johor
According to the New Straits Times (NST), the cartel’s “business model” involves importing non-certified meat from countries like Brazil, Bolivia, Canada, Colombia, Spain and Mexico, before repackaging it with forged halal documentation and selling it to suppliers and stores across the country.
The cartel were said to have also imported horse and kangaroo meat besides low-quality and diseased meat products.
These products would then be mixed with real, halal-certified beef to avoid detection – only to eventually end up on some poor soul’s plate.
Malaysians who caught word of the story took to social media to voice their disgust over the chilling news.

https://twitter.com/ayshardzn/status/1341214085237489664

Netizens were also baffled that the criminal organization managed to survive for so long.

40 years… of fake halal meat wow https://t.co/NGWC2TUyPE— semi hiatus (Neon) that geo grandpa jual mahal (@GeraiNeon) December 22, 2020

Sources told NST that the cartel managed to operate and profit for many years because it had paid off the authorities to look the other way. Corrupt senior officials from at least four government agencies were accused of accepting money and sex to let product enter the country without inspection.
Authorized meats
Malaysia only authorized the imports of halal meat products from countries such as Australia, Argentina, Brazil, India, South Africa, Pakistan, Japan, New Zealand and the United States. This process is managed by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) and the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS).
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (MAQIS), Malaysian Customs Department and port police are tasked at gatekeeping products and supplies that enter the nation’s ports before it eventually goes to market.

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Source:
“Meat Cartel” Selling Repackaged Fake-Halal Frozen Meats Busted In Johor
Cartel crackdown: Neither beef, nor halal
Meat cartel 'bribing government officers'
Meat import to Malaysia only from abattoirs approved by Veterinary Dept, Jakim, says deputy director


The 9 struggles of online shopping in Malaysia

11.11 is right around the corner and that means online shopping… lots of online shopping.
1. Going over budget in the blink of an eye
Who invented the “recommended for you” tab? Let me tell you ah, these recommended products have cost me an embarrassing amount of money.

Actual picture of me adding things into my shopping cart ALL THE TIME.(Picture credit: Unsplash)

2. Additional shipping costs
When “free shipping” actually means “free shipping only if you spend RM200 in this one store”.
3. The promo code doesn’t work
It says here that to use the RM5 voucher, I “need to be a new customer” with “minimum RM500 purchase” which is applicable “with purchases from this store only”. Oh also look, it’s expired.
You Broke The Code Friends GIF from Youbrokethecode GIFs

4. When your payment just says “processing”
So did the payment go through or not?? Am I going to get my stuff or will my card still be charged??
5. The waiting
So if I bought the item at 11.30pm does that mean I can get it immediately the next morning or nah??
6. The missed delivery note at your doorstep

Woi jangan main-main!(Picture credit: TRP)

What do you mean missed delivery? I was home all day waiting for the doorbell to ring!
7. Actually picking up the package at the post office
And the post office is so far and only open when I’m at work. Then the postal office employees have to find my one parcel in a sea of hundreds. Aiks!
8. Excitement extinguished by disappointment
Wait… I ordered this in blue, not red!
Disappointed Hercules GIF from Disappointed GIFs

9. Acceptance
Considering that most of the items bought were on sale, it’s okay lah. But look, there’s another sale starting again next week…

Have you added all your 11.11 shopping deals to your cart? Let us know what you’re most excited for on our Facebook,Â Twitter, andÂ Instagram!


Tengku Zafrul: 42% Of EPF Contributors Have Less Than RM5K In Account 1

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Data from the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) has revealed that 32% of EPF contributors have an average of just RM1,000 balance in their Account 1. Whereas, 10% of contributors have RM5,000 balance.

This means that a total of 42% of contributors have an average of RM5,000 and below in their EPF Account 1.
Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz disclosed the data during an interview on TV3 last night regarding the Budget 2021. He was answering a question on whether the government would allow contributors to withdraw funds from their EPF Account 1 to help them stay afloat during the Covid-19 pandemic.
READ MORE: Let Rakyat Withdraw From EPF, Use Their Retirement Funds To Save Country’s Economy
Credit: Sayuti Zainudin/Malay Mail
Previously, contributors were allowed to withdraw from their Account 2 during the first economic stimulus package, under the i-Lestari Account 2 Withdrawal Scheme. The scheme allowed them to withdraw RM500 per month for 12 months, or up to RM6,000 in total.
FYI, Account 1 holds 70% of a contributor’s savings and has always been designated as savings for retirement, while Account 2 holds 30% of savings and is meant for discretionary withdrawals.
READ MORE: Reduced EPF Contributions & Monthly RM500 Withdrawals But Not Everyone Is Happy
He said that as per October 2020, as many as 4.7 million contributors participated in the scheme, resulting in a total of RM11.1 billion being withdrawn from EPF Accounts 2.
Now, Tengku Zafrul said the government is listening to the people’s plight and wants to give contributors who are financially struggling due to the pandemic, such as those who have recently lost their jobs, a chance at targeted withdrawals from their Accounts 1 as well.
Credit: Hari Anggara/Malay Mail
I have discussed with EPF today, and they promised to announce who would be eligible for withdrawals, and how they might go about it. My advice to EPF was to expand (the eligibility criteria), I announced during the tabling that 600,000 people will benefit.Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz
However, considering the fact that almost half of the contributors have less than RM5,000 balance in their Account 1, Tengku Zafrul said these are some of the structural issues that need to be addressed.
In September, EPF Operations Division Deputy Chief Executive Officer Datuk Mohd Naim Daruwish revealed that as many as 54% of contributors aged 54 and above didn’t have enough savings in their accounts to retire.
READ MORE: More than 50% Of EPF Contributors Don’t Have Enough Savings To Survive After 55
You can watch the full interview below. Tengku Zafrul starts talking about the EPF issue at minute 25:44.

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50-Year-Old Ancestral Home Swept Away By Flood: Only The Staircase Remains

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A family was left with only a staircase after their ancestral home was swept away by the flood.

Rodia Mahfuz, 56, said her parents’ ancestral house at Batu 18 in Kampung Jawa, Hulu Langat, was destroyed by water due to the recent heavy rain.
Rodia was quoted by Berita Harian as saying that the house was inhabited by her eldest sister, Rohana Mahfuz, 75.
All that’s left after the flood. (Source: Facebook)
Rohana had informed her that the water level started to rise in the house, at about 12 midnight on Saturday night.
Following the rising water level, the villagers advised Rohana to vacate the house and take shelter in the house of a close family member.
Rodia, who has six siblings including those living in Salak Tinggi, Bangsar and Melaka, said her eldest sister lives alone in the house ever since their parents died.
Fortunately, last night, my sister was able to go out by car to a relative’s house near the area. However, documents such as identity cards, furniture and other items could not be saved due to the severe flooding.Rodia explaining her elder sister’s situtation.
When You Gotta, You Gotta Go
Rodia got the information that the house was swept away from another family member at 10 am on Sunday morning.
She asked relatives near the area to inspect the house and they later confirmed that it had been destroyed with only the stairs standing.
Rodia said the house had suffered severe damage due to floods 30 years ago but was never destroyed until it was finally swept away this time.
Nevertheless, she is thankful that no lives were lost.
Fortunately, there are neighbours who always care, they helped my sister to leave the house before it is too late.Rodia expressing thanks to good samaritans.
Wet, Windy And Flood-filled
 Some were forced to spend the night in their cars as the roads to their homes were flooded. (Source: Facebook)
Heavy rain since Saturday morning and high tides had caused several areas in Selangor to be inundated by floods.
Livelihoods were thrown into chaos as people struggle to save themselves while public infrastructures were also affected.
READ MORE: Air Selangor Shutdowns 2 Water Treatment Plants Due To Flood
Government assets and agencies such as the Fire and Rescue Department, Royal Malaysian Police, and Malaysian Armed Forces are being deployed for the evacuation of victims and distribution of basic necessities.
At the same time, Air Selangor has been instructed to provide mobile water tanks at temporary evacuation centres.
Members of the public who need help can contact the Selangor State Disaster Management Unit at 03-50350920.

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Don’t Worry! Health Ministry Says Biscuits Are Safe To Eat

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Previously, a report by the Hong Kong Consumer Council’s CHOICE magazine claimed that 60 biscuit products contained the contaminants acrylamide and glycidol.

The list included brands such as Hup Seng, Jacob’s and Julie’s biscuits which are manufactured in Malaysia. The Ministry of Health (MOH) has released a statement to say that Malaysian-made biscuits are safe to eat.
According to International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), acrylamide and glycidol are carcinogenic. Acrylamide is a contaminant that can be produced during food processing or preparation but the amount can be controlled through the selection of raw materials and proper process.
MOH’s Food Safety and Quality Division has been monitoring the biscuits since 2015.
The Division reports that the biscuits in the Malaysian market show an average level of acrylamide at 246 microgrammes per kilogramme, which is below the benchmark set by the European Union (EU) Commission Regulation’s at 350 microgrammes per kilogramme.
The same Division has also done a risk assessment on acrylamide and glycidol and found that the health risk from both contaminants is low from biscuit consumption.
More information regarding acrylamide can be found at Food Safety and Quality Division’s official Facebook page.
Consumers can reach out to the State Health Department, the closest District Health Office or via https://moh.spab.gov.my/eApps/system/index.do if there are any issues regarding food safety.
Earlier statements from Jacob’s and Hup Seng can be read below.
READ MORE: Malaysian Biscuit Brands Say Their Products Are Safe, In Response To Hong Kong Report

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Netizen hilariously celebrates PTPTN ‘Duit Raya’ refund

A responsible Malaysian, Faiz Bahruddin, shares his joy on Facebook after PTPTN told him he overpaid his loan.
He had even started thinking about all the things he would buy with all that extra cash.

(Screenshot via Facebook)

via GIPHY
It all started mid last year when he conveniently used his EPF (Employees Provident Fund) to pay off ALL his PTPTN loan.
Yes guys, he paid off all his loan with PTPTN.

via GIPHY
His travel ban was lifted.
Life was fine and dandy.

via GIPHY
Then earlier this month, a year later after paying his debt, Faiz received an email from PTPTN.

  (Pic Credit: Facebook)

Today, he finally DM-ed PTPTN on Twitter asking them on the amount of money that PTPTN actually â€˜owedâ€™ him.

 (Pic Credit: Facebook)

 (Pic Credit: Facebook)

Any guesses how much he will be getting back?

 (Pic Credit: Facebook)

(Pic Credit: Facebook)

Well as they say, every cent counts.
Though, we don’t think he can buy a pair of Raya shoes with that much money. 😅
When we asked, Faiz told TRP that he doesn’t regret asking back RM0.01 as he feels that it is his right.

For all of you who would also like to try your luck, here is the link for you to check if you have paid an excess to PTPTN.


Baby’s Age And Weight The Most Important Factors When Choosing A Car Safety Seat

From 2007 to 2017, Malaysia recorded 1,559 deaths of children aged under 10 years old from road accidents.
Correctly securing your baby in a car seat has been shown to reduce the risk of death by 71% for infants, 54% for children between 1 and four years old, and reduce the need for hospitalisation by 69% for children below for years old.
To reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries in Malaysia, the government made the use of child car seats compulsory on 1st of January 2020, in line with the United Nations (UN) regulations.
Car Seat Drifting GIF from Carseat GIFs
However, enforcement will not begin straight away and drivers will not be penalised for the first six months.
Buying and installing a car seat for your baby can feel like an expensive hassle, but the truth is, ensuring your babyâ€™s safety is an obvious priority for all parents and car seats are proven to save lives.
This easy and comprehensive guide will help you choose a suitable car seat for your child without driving yourself crazy.
Now, when choosing a car seat, you only need to consider three things:
Your babyâ€™s ageYour babyâ€™s weight and heightWhether the car seat meets safety standards
Happy Sleepy GIF from Happy GIFs
Age
There are typically three types of car seats: rear-facing, forward-facing and booster seat. Which one you buy depends largely on the age of your child.
For newly born babies to children aged 2 use a rear-facing car seat.
For children aged 2 to 4, use a forward-facing car seat.
For kids aged 4 to 8, use a booster seat. Be sure to always place the booster seat in the back seat.
Children above 8 years old should be kept in a booster seat until they are big enough to fit seat belts properly.
The three types of car seats. (Credit: safekids.org)
Weight and Height
The three different types of seats also have weight and height limits.
In rear-facing seats, your childâ€™s weight and height should not be higher than 13kg and 83cm.
In forward-facing seats, weight and height limits are between 9 – 18kg and 71cm and above.
In booster seats, weight and height limits are 15 – 25kg and 100cm and above.
Weight and height limits according to type of car seat (Credit: MIROS)
To determine if your child fits the seat belt, check the position of the straps.
The lap belt should lay across the lower belly above the upper thighs – not on the stomach. Meanwhile, the shoulder belt should lay across the chest – not the neck.
As a general rule, all children below the age of 13 (or shorter than 135cm) should ride in the back passenger seats because airbags can seriously injure or even kill young children sitting in the front passenger seat.
When you have more than three kids riding in your car, itâ€™s best to place the eldest in the front passenger seat.
How to prioritize where your children should sit in the car (Credit: MIROS )
Evaluating car seat quality
Certification
According to Malaysian transport rules and regulations, all car seats sold in Malaysia must be certified according to UN R44 and R129 regulations.
In order to ensure that parents are able to determine certified products, MIROS has made sure that all UNR certified products bear an E-mark sticker and a QR code label.
This E-mark should be displayed on the car seat when you buy it. (Credit: MIROS)
The E-mark sticker is designed to help parents identify which car seats are certified.
Meanwhile, the QR code label will have the seatâ€™s certification details, instructions for installation and recommendations according to the weight and height of your child.
This QR code label will have more detailed information about the car seat. (Credit: MIROS)
For more information about this, you can download the guidebook developed by MIROS called Buku Garis Panduan Kerusi Keselamatan Kanak-kanak di Malaysia (Guidebook to Child Restraint Systems in Malaysia).
Preloved items
Although buying a second-hand car seat may seem like a good way to save money, MIROS recommends that parents buy new car seats instead, unless you know the accident history of the used seat.
A used car seat can be unsafe if it has been in a crash, is missing parts, labels or instructions, if the manufacturer issued a safety recall and the seat has not been fixed or if the seat has passed its expiration date.
Example of a preloved car seat being sold online for a reduced price (Credit: Shoppee)
Yes, you read that right. Car seats typically expire after about six years from its date of manufacture.
If youâ€™re wondering why itâ€™s because the seats are mainly made of plastic.
Since car seats basically live inside cars, the extreme temperature changes in your vehicle (cold air-cond and heat from the scorching Malaysian weather) takes a toll on the plastics and causes them to break down and become brittle.

As you can see, getting a car seat for your child can be quite simple and you donâ€™t have to burn a hole in your pocket because expensive doesnâ€™t necessarily mean safe.
We hope this guide helped you, Goodluck!
Have any other questions about car seats? Ask away on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!


Netizens Fear The Coming Of The “Courthouse Cluster” Following Najib’s Solidarity Gathering

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The mob of #bossku supporters massed at the KL courthouse in solidarity of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s trial on Tuesday (July 28) is raising concerns among Malaysians.

As the whole country focused its attention on the proceedings of the country’s most controversial court case, people can’t help but call the mass gathering of people, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, a huge red flag.
Taking their anxieties to social media, netizens laid their criticisms that the event was against “new normal” standard operating procedures (SOP).
People pointed out that the crowd of supporters can be seen ignoring social distancing rules, with some of them not even wearing face masks.
67 yr old Najib Razak has arrived as supporters cheered . Many are kept outside Duta court complex as only those with valid passes are allowed in. Social distancing is non existence . Many aren’t even wearing masks 😷 #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/Vvex7331u7— Melissa Goh (@MelGohCNA) July 28, 2020
Politik tu politik la juga. Harap YB @IsmailSabri60 dan @DGHisham tegur sikit mereka yang tak ikut SOP KKM dan tak amalkan social distancing di Mahkamah KL pagi ini pic.twitter.com/RLEJ3rFLsK— Asrul Muzaffar🇲🇾 (@asrulmm) July 28, 2020
Netizens have even taken to giving the crowd grim nicknames like the “makhamah cluster” or courthouse cluster, fearing a spike in coronavirus cases in the coming days
Cluster Mahkamah is coming soon 😭— Ash (@Sahimun) July 28, 2020
Cluster Mahkamah? Cluster Najib? Cluster Bossku?— Shan (@ShanilK99) July 28, 2020
The event reportedly even has public officials worried, with the Health-Director General Datuk Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah himself expressing grief over the day’s turnout.
Sudah terang lagi bersuluh setiap hari Kementerian Kesihatan mengingatkan rakyat Malaysia untuk patuh kepada SOP untuk penjarakan selamat sekurang-kurangnya 1 meter, memakai pelitup separuh muka dan kerap cuci tangan. Sedih bila melihat keadaan begini tiada kawalan kendiri.— Noor Hisham Abdullah (@DGHisham) July 28, 2020
It is said that over 1,000 people had gathered from as early as 6 am to show support for the former premier.
Apparently police had warned the attending crowds to abide by Covid-19 guidelines, but from the looks of it, we could probably take a guess on how things went.
Following the trial, Najib was convicted of seven criminal charges involving abuse of power, breach of trust, and money laundering.

Catch more updates by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Source:
Netizens cry foul at lack of social distancing outside KL court
Police warn Najib supporters to maintain social distancing
[UPDATED] Ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak Found Guilty On All 7 Charges In SRC Trial
Ramai bimbang 'kluster mahkamah', polis ingatkan penyokong Najib tentang penjarakan sosial


[Watch] Disabilities Are Not A Barrier, OKU Entrepreneur Goes Viral For Doing Business On TikTok

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The social media is abuzz with a TikTok user known as Khairul Anissa Mat Samsuddin who is selling cosmetics on the platform despite being visually impaired.

The 32-year-old woman was quoted by Kosmo as saying that despite being born with vision problems since childhood, she is not surrendering to her fate.
Anissa wants to prove that despite being disabled (OKU), she is still determined to earn an honest living like everyone else.
The mother of two from Klang is actively selling various types of products, from health food to beauty.
  @anisa_samsudin Ok ke tak? ke comot hahaha 😂😂😂 #magiclipsticknurraysa #nurraysabeauty #produkmuslim #mesrawudukmesrasolat #fypシ ♬ Intan Payung (feat. Noraniza Idris) – Bunga
I don’t want to sit around doing nothing while hoping for sympathy and compassion. I want to prove that even if I don’t see it, inshaa Allah with the right effort, there will be success.Khairul Anissa Mat Samsuddin on being be independent as a disabled person
However, Anissa did not deny that because of her shortcomings, she continued to be judged with a skeptical view.
Some doubted my ability to sell this and that. Sometimes I feel like crying and leaving the business world.Khairul Anissa Mat Samsuddin on being looked down upon
There Is No ‘No’ In Her Dictionary
However, Anissa refuses to give up and she does not want to complain.
In fact, she believes in strengthening herself to prove that she can also do fine just like other normal people.
At one time, she managed to register sales of RM1700 within two weeks.
Anissa described the feat as an encouraging and satisfying experience.
Anissa sells various products, from health food to beauty. (Source: TikTok)
According to her, she was originally born normal but 10 months later she was afflicted with eye cancer and lost her sense of sight.
Netizens praised her for being determined and willing to put in the effort to achieve something.
Some wished Anissa all the best in her business, while others praised her for being beautiful in her own way.

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Meet the 12-year-old Malaysian boy who runs his own petting zoo

So, what were you doing when you were 12?
Most probably, awkwardly facing the complexities of pre-teen life, crying over your Hogwarts letter that never came and slightly stressing over UPSR. But definitely not being a business owner, right?

via GIPHY
 Meet Mirza, the 12-year-old boy who runs his own petting zoo.

 View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pettopia MY (@pettopia.my) on Apr 5, 2019 at 1:10am PDT

Pettopia My, his hobby-turned-side-hustle got quite a lot of attention on social media when his uncle shared Mirzaâ€™s special talent on Twitter.

So proud of my 12yo cuzzin mirza. He starts with a hedgehog when they multiply he starts to sell them. He now owns around 30species including rabbits,tarantula,reptiles and starts a small compony pettopia. He brings em to birthday parties and have a petting zoo! instant hit! pic.twitter.com/tsyADWJBPC
â€” Dr ib shah | ayiem (@ib_shah) June 8, 2019

According to the tweet which has garnered nearly 6,000 shares, Mirzaâ€™s love affair for wildlife began with a hedgehog. When they started multiplying, he began selling them and soon started a petting zoo service.
Mirza currently owns around 30 species of animals including rabbits, tarantula and reptiles. He brings them to birthday parties for kids to pet and play with.
Besides the petting zoo service, Mirza and his younger sister Misha also make educational videos on their exotic animals.

 View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pettopia MY (@pettopia.my) on May 7, 2019 at 1:23am PDT

He also has his own blog, Pettopia by Mirza, where he shares interesting facts and information about his pets. He started the blog to encourage and educate people to love, not fear, all sorts of animals especially reptiles.

Picture Credit: Screenshot from Pettopia by Mirza

Inspired by this spunky little kid, The Rakyat Post caught up with Mirza to find out more about his pet project.
Mirza has always had an easy connection with the little creatures
A naturalist and animal lover since he was young(er), Mirza started bonding with animals when he was just a year old!

Picture Credit: Pettopia by Mirza

He has been collecting exotic pets since 2016 and is also quite a fearless kid.

 View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Reptiles by Mirza (@reptilesbymirza) on Apr 5, 2019 at 5:11am PDT

He currently cares for some pretty scary-sounding creatures like Madagascar Hissing Roaches, Ball Phython, Tarantula, Chinese Water Dragon and Leopard Gecko.

 View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Reptiles by Mirza (@reptilesbymirza) on Nov 30, 2018 at 4:56am PST

His petting zoo business started by accident
Friends of his mother loved his collection of animals and asked if he could bring them to their kids’ parties as a mini petting zoo.

 View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pettopia MY (@pettopia.my) on Dec 16, 2018 at 6:04am PST

Soon after that, requests started pouring in as friends spread the word and pictures of his petting zoo appeared online.
Although Mirza loves teaching others about his pets, he only
does it on weekends and school holidays as the 12-year-old boy is still studying.

 View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pettopia MY (@pettopia.my) on Mar 19, 2019 at 3:51am PDT

His animals are a family affair
â€œI try to balance school and my hobby, but I cannot do it
alone,â€ says Mirza. He gets plenty of help from his parents and sister in caring,
feeding and cleaning the animals. â€œItâ€™s family time for us,â€ he says.

 View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Reptiles by Mirza (@reptilesbymirza) on Jun 4, 2019 at 8:04pm PDT

The family together with their collection of reptiles, mammals, birds, amphibians, insects and arachnids have been causing excitement at birthday parties, school events, private functions and shopping malls as well.

 View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pettopia MY (@pettopia.my) on Mar 17, 2019 at 1:02am PDT

While this is just a fun project for Mirza, he dreams to continue caring for animals by being a veterinarian with his own animal hospital.

 View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pettopia MY (@pettopia.my) on Apr 2, 2019 at 11:52pm PDT

He also hopes to one day have his own zoo or animal sanctuary to share his love and knowledge of the animals to the world.
Check out more about his animals on the Pettopia My (@pettopia.my) and Reptiles by Mirza (@reptilesbymirza) Instagram pages.


Teacher Struggles to Teach High-Level Math Problem To Third-Grade Students

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Mathematics has always been challenging for many students, but even teachers seem to struggle to teach young minds high-level thinking skills.

Mohd Fadli Salleh, an internet celebrity teacher, recently took to Facebook to share his struggles teaching high-level math problems to his third-grade students.
According to Mohd Fadli, he spent nearly an hour explaining two math problems to 38 students, but only four students understood the concepts.
The first math problem required the students to list the number of people who visited a fruit fest over three days.
The second problem involved calculating the number of pearls in a box.
Mohd Fadli, known for speaking out about issues in the education system, described the problems as “super high level” for third-grade students.

Mohd Fadli believes that the Malaysian curriculum and syllabus are good and comparable to developed countries, but certain conditions must be met to be effective.
He suggested reducing the number of students in the class, increasing math learning time from 5 hours a week to at least 10 hours, and improving school facilities and infrastructure.
Calls For Adjustments To The Syllabus And Teaching Methods To Improve Student Performance
The post has sparked heated discussions among netizens, with many parents agreeing with Mohd Fadli’s views.
Some have shared their struggles with teaching their children at home, while others have pointed out that students need to develop high-level thinking skills in addition to answering direct questions.
The level of mathematics syllabus in elementary schools has been a concern for many teachers and parents, with some rural students losing interest in mathematics due to its difficulty.
Mohd Fadli’s post highlights the need for a more effective curriculum and teaching methods to ensure students can master high-level thinking skills and succeed in their studies.
Aku geleng2 kepala kalau tengok buku teks matematik sekolah rendah. Kita memang boleh faham tapi nak sampaikan ilmu dekat usia 12 tahun dan ke bawah dan juga kosa kata yang terhad sebab they are still young, SUSAH MAT. HAHAHAH. Satu kelas 35 orang pulak tu. Haok https://t.co/atnj8GTl4w— XYZ 🦊 (@Fxxxx0000) October 15, 2022

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You May Be Able To Check If A Forwarded WhatsApp Message Is ‘Fake News’ Soon

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WhatsApp is upping the ante in the fight against fake news as they are testing out a new feature that lets users check the validity of a viral message that they’ve received.

How it works is that you can quickly perform a web search by tapping a magnifying glass button in the chat for a message or image that you’ve received for a quick fact check.
Picture Credit: WhatsApp
For now the option will be available for users in:
BrazilItalyIrelandMexicoSpainUKUS
There’s no news yet on whether the feature will make it here in Malaysia but it’ll sure come in handy here as there are a lot of unverified messages floating about online.
WhatsApp has been trying to curb the dissemination of fake news as the company imposed a “forward” limit on messages earlier this year.

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75 Covid-19 Deaths Recorded In Malaysia Yesterday, Highest Since 2021

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75 people in Malaysia reportedly died from Covid-19 yesterday (28 February).

Of the 75 deaths, 20 were classified as brought-in-dead (BID) cases.
According to Malaysiakini, this is the highest number of deaths in a single day since 28 October 2021 when 95 fatalities were reported.
The state with the highest death toll was Selangor with 22 deaths. This is followed by Johor (13), Sabah (11), Kedah (7), Perak (7), Kelantan (3), Melaka (3), Pulau Pinang (3), Terengganu (2), Negeri Sembilan (1), Pahang (1), Sarawak (1) and Kuala Lumpur (1) respectively.
No deaths were reported in Perlis, Putrajaya and Labuan.

Yesterday’s numbers also show that there were 23,100 new cases (2,802 local cases and 298 imported cases).
And as of yesterday, the cumulative number of active cases in Malaysia was 293,423 with 96% of patients under home quarantine.
Additionally, around 3,467 people are admitted to Covid-19 Low-Risk Quarantine and Treatment Centers (PKRC).
Meanwhile, 7,881 patients are hospitalized with 361 of them in intensive care (ICU).
On the fortunate side, the number of recovered patients are 30,624 for yesterday, higher than the number of new cases.
Meanwhile, the nation’s infectivity rate or R0 is 1.03.

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TUDM Personnel & Trainer Killed In Gemas Grenade Explosion

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The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) confirmed that two people died while one was injured during weapons training at the Basic Grenade Training Site in the Syed Sirajuddin Camp, Gemas, yesterday (25 June).

Previously, Bernama reported one student from the Sendayan Air Base Institute of Administration and Studies died during a grenade explosion at 12.10 pm while undergoing support weapon and hand grenade training.
The 22-year-old student from Lenggeng, Negeri Sembilan was a student of the defence assistant enhancement course class 1 Series 78/23, named Lieutenant Mohd Iqmal Masdi.
According to Harian Metro, the explosion was believed to have occurred in a bunker, involving two other trainers at the scene.
The two injured trainers, identified to be Corporal Mohd Syuib Bidin and Corporal Khairulzaman Lokman were sent to Segamat Hospital, Johor for further treatment.
Unfortunately, 33-year-old Corporal Syuib was declared dead at 5.45 pm by medical personnel at the hospital due to his major injuries.
Currently, 35-year-old Corporal Khairulzaman who is from Kluang, Johor is in stable condition.
The news was confirmed by Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) yesterday on their social media accounts.

Defence Minister sends condolences
Earlier today, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan expressed his condolences to the families of those who were killed.
“My condolences to the families of the late Corporal Mohd Syuib Bidin and Lieutenant Mohd Iqmal Masdi.
“The soldiers fell during training to defend the country. May the family members be given strength and perseverance in accepting fate,” he wrote in a Facebook post.
Meanwhile, RMAF has contacted the next of kin of those involved and handed the case to the police, adding that they would set up an Investigation Board to find out the cause of the incident.
RMAF also urged all parties not to speculate until the investigation process is complete and to respect the sensitivity of the families of the personnel involved.

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Did You Know That Nasi Kandar Literally Meant Rice Carried On A Pole?

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Are you a fan of Nasi Kandar? Although it is found in every state in Malaysia, they say that the best and original ones are from Penang.

READ MORE: Malaysians Say Food Is Penang’s Best Feature – Penangites Agree, But Also Disagree
Hailing from Indian Muslim traders from southern of India, this largely influenced traditional Indian cuisine is basically steamed rice with several Indian curries and side dishes.
The Story Behind It
The history of this dish is interesting as the word ‘kandar’ refers to the rice that rests (mengandar in Malay) on the shoulders of the vendors.
Credit: VitDaily, Affendi Yahya / Pinterest
From the 19th century, Penang was an established international port at the northern strait of Malacca. There, India-Muslim (Mamak) immigrants roamed the port and streets selling their cuisine to labourers working there.
Also, since the 1930s, these Mamak hawkers would sell their food by walking from house to house balancing the baskets on seven feet long wooden sticks on their shoulders. At the end of each pole were pots containing plain rice on one end and curry dishes on the other.
Credit: Siakap Keli
The rice peddlers would usually come to the jetty, stayed in a spot with stools and chairs and served the labourers cheap, fast and heavy meals during breakfast to get them energized for the day.
The original menu of a Nasi Kandar during those times were only fried fish, okra and fish curry in a bed of rice all costing 5 cents a plate.
Evolution Of Nasi Kandar
Fast forward to now, this humble dish is known to be a staple food in Malaysia served at Mamak stalls or restaurants.
Method Of Serving
Nasi Kandar evolved from being carried on poles to being sold on bikes and eventually being served in a physical store.
There’s a mural outside the Hameediyah restaurant showing a man carrying his Nasi Kandar on a bicycle to sell to intrigued customers.Credit: Amir Yusof / CNA
Perhaps after a tiring amount of effort carrying these dishes on poles and moving by foot, the sellers moved to use a transport to carry the dish around town. Previous owners of Hameediyah would cycle around Georgetown to sell Nasi Kandar as depicted by a mural featured in their chain of stores.
After some time, owners have obtained permits to operate in stalls and restaurants. Customers would have to go and find the dish in one place instead of the other way around, previously.
Menu
Evolving from just a rice dish with fish curry and okra, a Nasi Kandar restaurant sells various types of gravy and side dishes with ‘kuah campur’ (mixed gravy) or ‘kuah banjir’ (flooded gravy) now.
For the menu, you can choose plain rice or biryani rice to go with any protein like chicken, beef, fish, squid, prawn and veggies like okra and mixed cabbage. You can also pair it with a side of salted egg, boiled egg and papadam.
Credit: @hazwanhfiz, @BetoAzhari / Twitter
There would be long queues around famous Nasi Kandar restaurants during peak hours of the day like lunch and dinner. Some of the stalls open from the morning too as Nasi Kandar can also be a heavy breakfast meal like it used to be in the days.
Nasi Kandar Beratur, living it up to its name with long queues. Credit: @KL_Reporter / Twitter
Price Hike
Although it used to cost 5 cents per plate and served to labourers back in the days, now, it can be quite expensive for us Malaysians.
READ MORE: Pelanggan Minta Maaf Tularkan Isu Sotong Goreng Tanpa Penjelasan Sebenar
A plate of Nasi Kandar with rice and chicken can cost below RM10. But if you’re fancy and like a lot of side dishes like squid (the holy grail of expensive charges at Mamak restaurants), fish, okra, eggs, papadam and more, you gotta be prepared to spend around RM15-RM20 for a plate.
It could cost more, it could cost less, depending on which kind of restaurant and places you go to.
So there you have it, the history of Nasi Kandar. Next time you go to buy Nasi Kandar, ponder the fact that the rice that you’re eating used to be carried on a pole and only costs 5 cents!
READ MORE: 14 Top Foods To Try In Each & Every Malaysian State [Part 1]

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Malaysian Fugitive ‘Fat Leonard’ Arrested At Venezuela Airport

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A Malaysian defence contractor, Leonard Glenn Francis aka Fat Leonard, has been apprehended by Venezuelan authorities today.

According to Malay Mail, he was arrested as he was about to board an aeroplane for another country believed to be Cuba at the Simon Bolivar International Airport.
Venezuelan authorities were made aware that he was on the run by Interpol.
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Interpol Venezuela (@interpol_venezuela)
Fat Leonard, who ran a military contracting firm Glenn Defense Marine Asia from Singapore, was under house arrest in San Diego.
He pled guilty in 2015 to bribing US Navy officers with cash, gifts, and sex workers in exchange for classified information about where ships were scheduled to dock.
With the information, he reportedly persuaded these officers to divert other US-based vessels to his ports so he could overcharge for fuel, supplies and other services.
As a result, he reportedly swindled the navy out of at least US$35 million in overcharges.
READ MORE: Malaysian Businessman ‘Fat Leonard’ In US Navy Graft Scandal Is On The Run
Due to health issues, he was placed on house arrest in 2018 under the supervision of Pretrial Services, a federal agency in the US that keeps an eye on defendants who are out of custody until sentencing.
The Penang-born businessman’s sentencing had been set for 22 September. His sentencing date has been put off for years in exchange for his cooperation with US federal prosecutors who continued to build cases against several other individuals involved in the scandal.
On 4 September, he cut off his GPS anklet and went on the run. The police personnel discovered his escape while performing a welfare check on him.

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11 Johorians caught recording Endgame

As an initiative to prevent spoilers, the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP) took some preventive measures.
They conducted several random raids in Johor yesterday.
Although there were rumours of people getting caught, KPDNHEP says they have yet to make any arrests.
Only warnings were issued to 11 individuals who tried to record clips of the movie.
Pic Credit: Medium
So watch out guys! You don’t know if there might be a raid near you!
Sourced via:1. MyMetro, April 25, 2019 (Padah rakam Avengers: Endgame)


Malaysian Man Makes Over RM30K As Personal IKEA Food Runner After Switching Careers Due To MCO

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2020 has been rough for everybody, but despite the lockdowns, economic slowdown and not to mention the mental breakdowns, there are those who still managed to survive this weird year with some triumphant achievements.

One Malaysian in particular captured the attention of his fellow netizens for not only running a successful business but also satisfying Klang Valley’s cravings for Swedish treats during the long Movement Control Order (MCO) period.
On a viral Twitter thread showcasing Malaysians and their personal accomplishments for 2020, Joe, from Cheras, Kuala Lumpur shared his experience of managing a small business delivering IKEA Restaurant food items, briefly, during the MCO.
Craving meatball, chicken wing & karipap IKEA tak? HahaMeh Joe hantarkan tp HANYA untuk yg dlm delivery area sahaja (follow thread ni). Nak order, DM joe korang area mana (cont.)… pic.twitter.com/V1vpGwxZ10— 1MillionJoe Store 🇲🇾 (@myjoe_) April 5, 2020
From online seller to personal shopper
In his post, Joe tells of how he had set up a “personal shopper” business delivering IKEA speciality items such as its famous meatballs, chicken wings, those huge egg-stuffed curry puffs and other delicious snacks between the month of March and May.
Making up to 100 deliveries a day, Joe said that he had started out his entrepreneurial endeavor after weeks of staying at home because of the lockdowns, and what began as a solo-gig soon turned into a team job as orders started piling up.
Sharing photos of trolleys full of IKEA delights, Joe says that he faced many challenges through the months, from his motorcycle breaking down to weathering many stormy days to bring the folks in KL their meals.
He also shared how he got to know the friendly staff at IKEA Cheras – where he makes his purchases – who even gave him free milk and chocolate when he visited.
myjoe_/Twitter
Speaking to TRP, Joe said that when the Covid-19 pandemic first began, he was forced to temporarily close down his online business on Shopee and in turn started his short-term delivery service employing some of his friends and social media followers to share the bounty.
Joe said that he and his team of up to 10 people collected more than RM30,000 in earnings through the business before returning to their normal lives as MCO restrictions loosened.
Joe writes that he’s thankful to have been able to provide for himself and his colleagues during the enduring Covid-19 lockdowns.
You can read up on the whole thread, HERE.
from this to thisJadi runner IKEA dan collect more than RM30k during PKP in March. Creating jobs kepada lebih 10 orang waktu rmi yg terpaksa duduk rumah xboleh kerja. https://t.co/t4uF0aES5M pic.twitter.com/LUHhIClLjv— 1MillionJoe Store 🇲🇾 (@myjoe_) December 13, 2020
Enjoy more of Malaysian mini-accomplishments throughout 2020 on Twitter.
Tahun ni achievement paling best , start jualan sehari 1 parcel , n then now alhmdulilah ❤ pic.twitter.com/A2DMzRQkQf— dinosaur 🦖 (@danielafiq9____) December 13, 2020

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Your Boss Can’t Force You To Take Annual Leave For Coronavirus Quarantine

As the Covid-19 outbreak continues in nations around the world,
there is growing concerns over the uptick of cases in South Korea, Japan, Iran and
Italy.
In Malaysia, local coronavirus cases include Chinese tourists and Malaysians whoâ€™ve visited China, Italy and Japan along with a trainee nurse who was exposed to a patient.
As a precautionary step, many Malaysian companies are instructing employees who have been to affected countries such as China, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea, to undergo self-quarantine for 14 days.
While this precautionary step is for the safety of the
workplace, there has been some disturbing practices taking place in implementing
this. For one, some companies are forcing employees to use their allocated
annual leave for this self-quarantine.
Some Malaysian companies are forcing employees to use their entitled annual leave for coronavirus quarantine.
The thing is, that’s kinda illegal.
Employers can’t force employees to take annual leave
According to the Human Resources Ministry’s guideline for employers on dealing with coronavirus, employers can’t actually prevent employees who have not received a quarantine order by a registered medical practitioner from attending work.
And if the employee is serving quarantine, employers cannot instruct
employees to use their annual leave or take unpaid leave.
Under Section 60E(1) of the Employment Act 1955, Malaysian workers are entitled to annual paid leaves. The amount of days depends on how long you’ve been working in the company.
Annual leave entitlement as described in the Employment Act 1955.(Credit: Attorney General’s Chambers Official Portal)
In fact, employers cannot force employees to use their annual
leave at all.
AskLegal even asked the Human Resources Ministry who stated that employers cannot force employees to take annual leave on the employer’s demands.
So when it comes to dealing with the Covid-19 outbreak, companies cannot force workers to use their entitled annual leave for quarantine.
However, there are actions advised by the Human Resources Ministry for handling the coronavirus outbreak.
Malaysians wearing masks to prevent the outbreak of a new coronavirus in Kuala Lumpur.(Credit: REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng via Malay Mail)
What employers CAN do
Instruct employees to immediately undergo a health check-up from a registered medical practitioner, paid for by the employer as stipulated in Section 60F of Employment Act 1955. Instruct an employee who is unwell to take paid sick leave instead of coming into work. Provide paid sick leave or hospitalisation leave to employees who receive quarantine orders from a registered medical practitioner, regardless of quarantine in the hospital or at home. Pay full salary to employees who are issued quarantine order by registered medical practitioners after returning from countries affected by the outbreak. Provide extra remuneration over and above employee’s sick leave or hospitalisation leave if they are quarantined.
How to deal with forced annual leave
To clarify this matter, we reached out to the Human Resources Ministry. According to their email, if an employer deducts salary or forces workers to take their annual leave, they can lodge a complaint at the nearest Department of Labour Branch (Check HERE).
If your workplace has a union, the union can directly address
the issue with the employers. Otherwise, it could be time to set up and register
a workplace union to better protect your rights and improve working conditions.
Unions are an effective form of protecting worker’s rights.(Credit: Malaysiakini)
In the meantime, learn how to protect yourself during an outbreak by reading this article (HERE).

How has your workplace been dealing with the coronavirus outbreak? Let us know & share your thoughts on TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Source:
Can Malaysian companies force you to take annual leave?
Employment Act 1955
PANDUAN MENGENDALIKAN ISU-ISU BERHUBUNG WABAK BERJANGKIT TERMASUK NOVEL CORONAVIRUS DI TEMPAT KERJA


Dewan Rakyat changed the definition of ‘youth’, now only for people between 15-years-old to 30-years-old

Whelp if you were already feeling the slow crawl of old age, consider yourself ancient now because the Dewan Rakyat just passed a bill changing the definition of the term â€˜youthâ€™.

via GIPHY
They did this by, lowering the age set for the term (in Malaysia anywayâ€¦) from 40 to 30.
Which means that as of yesterday, only those aged between 15-years-old to 30-years-old would fall under this specific category definition.
(So basically, the government just made me a middle-aged man overnightâ€¦)

via GIPHY
But wait, what? Can they even do that?

Well according to the Cambridge English Dictionary, the word ‘youth’ is used to define the period of a personâ€™s life when they are young (obviouslyâ€¦), or the actual state of being young.
Basically, it describes young people, regardless of gender who fit into a specific group based on age and other factors.

via GIPHY
While the United Nations defines â€˜youthâ€™ as individuals aged between 15 and 24-years-old but also considers the context to be fluid, varying between countries and regions.
Previously, youths in Malaysia were defined as someone between the ages of 15 and 40.

(Image Credit: imgflip)

But what does this really mean?
Well thus far, the amended Youth Societies and Youth Development 2007 (Act 668) will provide a clear change to the minimum and maximum age of the heads of youth society.
Meaning that the age limit of anyone appointed or elected as an office-bearer in one of these societies should be no less than 18-years-old and not more than 30-years-old.
The amendment made to the term ‘youth’ would also apply to all registered youth societies and their members, lowering the maximum age to such organizations from the current 40 to only 30.

via GIPHY
The reason for this change in policy as described by Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman was to counter the generation gap among youths in Malaysia.
The move is still seen as a means to promote and allow the younger generation to step up and assume more responsibilities in society, lining the way for a more mature grown-up Malaysia.

(Image Credit: 2happybirthday)

So what do you guys think? Can this change bring forth potential growth for our nation? Or is age nothing more than just a number?
Share your thoughts in the comments.


Why You Should Be Afraid Of Mosquitoes & Flies, Especially After A Flood

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Floods are the most frequent form of natural disaster that happens here in Malaysia with our tropical climate and annual monsoon season (and also cough*cough – deforestation, over-development, inadequate infrastructures, and of course, the global climate crisis, just to top it all off…).

Even the slightest of downpours can sometimes cause flash floods in major populated areas, rivers to overflow their banks and even coastal floods – where dry and low-laying areas are submerged by rising seawater that swells up to shore during storms and tsunamis.
Read More: Major Flood Once Every 50 Years: How The Recent Flood Stacks Up Against Previous Catastrophes
(Credit: Malay Mail)
These disasters, more than often enough, cause widespread devastation that results in tragic losses of life, injuries as well as damages to personal and public property.
Another side-effect of flooding, of course, comes as a hazard to public health.
Flood areas can sometimes bring about outbreaks of debilitating and deadly diseases brought on by the creatures that thrive off such human calamities.
Though most people would sight the obvious danger of the larger, more toothy animals like snakes, crocodiles and other wildlife that were washed into our towns and residential areas by the rising waters.
In truth, it is the tiny, toothless and mostly annoying “bugs” that tend to swarm after the floodwaters have receded that can pose the most risk to human life by being vectors or agents of disease.
Diseased flies
(Credit: Freepik)
The not-so-humble fly can definitely be a menace. Besides being a nuisance both indoors and outdoors, these pests are also carriers and transmitters of harmful germs and illnesses.
Through no fault of their own, fly numbers can increase exponentially following periods of heavy rains and floods due to the availability of rotting organic matter such as food scraps, garbage, faeces, dead plants and animals, and even raw sewage that can be left exposed and unattended when the water eventually recedes.
The fly’s short life cycle – which only takes between four to seven days for an adult fly to lay hundreds of eggs, that turn into maggots, that themselves turn into more adult flies that repeat the cycle – is also partly a reason for an explosion in their numbers during such natural disasters.
(Credit: WHO)
Though most flies, like the common housefly, do not bite, they do transport various parasites, bacteria and viruses resulting in a number of infectious diseases like dysentery, diarrhoea, typhoid and cholera.
They do so by carrying these harmful germs on their bodies and in their stomach, and by simply landing on people, any number of exposed food items or even the cutlery that we use to eat, these germs can be transferred to us when we ingest the infected item.
Health experts, including those with the Health Ministry, recommends for the public to take great caution and immediate action to control the number of fly population immediately after floods by:
1. Get rid of their food and breeding grounds
The best way to eliminate flies is to remove the things that they thrive on. The public is advised to keep an eye out for any piles of decaying waste that can accumulate after floods.
The next step is to ensure that all manner of waste is properly sealed away and disposed of at an appropriate location, away from populated areas.
(Credit: Malay Mail)
Denizens are also advised to dispose of any dead and decaying animal carcases by burying ‘em at least four feet underground to prevent flies from swarming over ‘em. The same can be done to other biodegradable waste materials like food scraps, faeces and manure because flies can’t really dig that deep into the ground.
Although flies can naturally travel and cover large distances, their presence in large numbers can only mean that there are decaying piles of waste somewhere that need to be taken care of.
2. Trap ‘em, kill ‘em, and cover-up
If you find flies or maggots anywhere around you, it’s advised to immediately exterminate them. Maggots and adult flies can be killed with the use of chemicals and over-the-counter pesticides that come in powder form or aerosol sprays. The use of fly traps, like flypaper and electronic bug zappers, also works fine for this purpose too.
It is also crucial to make sure that any and all edible food items remained covered and unexposed to keep flies from landing on ‘em, as well as to properly clean up after we’ve cooked and eaten to ensure that there are no food scraps left scattered around.
Make sure that your dining tables and countertops are well cleaned after use, and it is also advised to keep our toilets in tip-top hygiene to discourage flies from making it their next pit stop.
(Credit: Lazada/RSEA Safety)
It is also a good idea to install insect-proof netting in and around your living spaces to prevent flies from entering.
Lastly, the public is encouraged to contact the health authorities to inform them of a sudden increase in fly numbers and to get rid of the insect’s breeding grounds.
(Credit: KKM)
Deadly mosquitoes
(Credit: Freepik)
Responsible for more than a million deaths around the world each and every year, the mosquito is by far the deadliest animal on planet Earth by being the transmitters of killer diseases like dengue, chikungunya and malaria.
Now we all know that mosquitoes do bite, but it is only the female mosquito that does all the blood-sucking – to give themselves extra nutrients in order to breed and make eggs – and can transfer the germs that are inside their gut directly into our bloodstream when they do so.
(Credit: WHO)
And just like the fly, it only takes about a week for hundreds of mosquito larvae from a single parent to develop into full-grown adults that are ready to bite, breed and repeat the whole process.
It’s a common fact that exposure to mosquitoes can be a problem during times of natural disasters such as floods – when people are forced out of their homes and into temporary shelters that can at times leave them completely exposed to the elements and these little vampires.
Standing water left after heavy rains and floods are prime real estate for mosquitoes to breed and lay their eggs, and according to the World Health Organization, it can take between six to eight weeks for an outbreak of mosquito-borne diseases to become an epidemic in the wake of floods, if not properly contained by:
1. Early detection
In most cases, flooding does not immediately result in an increase in mosquito populations. But as with most illnesses, prevention is better than a cure, thus it’s important to first stop mosquitoes from ever having a chance to build up their numbers.
The public is advised to keep areas in and around their living spaces free of any pooled or standing freshwater that’s left when floodwaters subside.
(Credit: Harian Metro)
Make sure that there are no clogged drains, water-filled plant pots or pieces of garbage that are left around where water can collect, and it’s also advised to keep any filtered or unfiltered water that’s used for drinking and washing, like water tanks and even toilet bowls, covered up properly to keep these tiny killers from getting to ‘em.
2. Protect our own and commit mosquito genocide
In order to keep ourselves and loved ones safe from harm, it is always, always morally correct to engage in the first strike.
The public is advised to try and remain indoors during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active and keep any doors and windows closed.
Putting on a strong coat of insect repellent on your exposed skin is also advisable besides having other insecticides like aerosol sprays and those electric or combustible mosquito repellent coils around to gas ‘em to heck. Pesticides can also be used at places where there’s standing water to kill mosquito larvae before they have the chance to develop into adults.
(Credit: Malay Mail)
The use of insect netting is also greatly effective at keeping us safe from having mosquitoes sharing our personal spaces.
Lastly, it’s important to inform the health authorities when there is an incidence of mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue fever in your immediate vicinity so that they can try to remedy it before an outbreak occurs – usually by fogging the area with pesticides.
(Credit: Pahang Health Department)

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Source:
Langkah-langkah persediaan menghadapi, sebelum dan selepas banjir
PANDUAN KAWALAN LALAT SELEPAS BANJIR
Controlling flies
Banjir bawa penyakit berjangkit
Houseflies Carriers of diarrhoeal diseases and skin and eye infections
Floods: How to protect your health
FLOODING AND  COMMUNICABLE DISEASES FACT SHEET
A Dengue-Free Me
Kenyataan Akhabar KPK Tindakan Pencegahan Untuk Penyakit Bawaan Vektor Semasa Banjir
High deforestation rates in Malaysian states hit by flooding
METMalaysia: 'Unchecked Overdevelopment' One Of The Reasons Behind The Flooding In K
Severity of flooding in Malaysia requires greater concerted effort
Facing climate change, floods and extreme weather patterns


[Watch] Outrage As Minister Reveals Politicians Protecting Gambling Bosses

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In a recent parliamentary session, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah, the Minister of Home Affairs, spoke out against organized crime and political corruption related to gambling bosses.

He revealed that these gambling bosses are being protected by politicians but stopped short of naming them personally.
Instead, he called on these politicians to come forward and take responsibility for their actions.

The minister’s comments have sparked outrage among ordinary citizens, who feel powerless to combat this issue.
Many call on Saifuddin to use his authority and power to act against these gambling bosses and the politicians who protect them.
They are urging him to uphold the law and protect the people of Malaysia, as he has been appointed the Minister of Home Affairs with control over the police, immigration, and customs departments.
Citizens Call On Minister To Take Action
In response to these calls, Saifuddin has promised to take action against organized crime and political corruption.
He has vowed to use all his authority and power to uphold the law and protect the people of Malaysia.
However, some citizens are sceptical that he will follow his promises, citing previous inaction on this issue.
The story highlights the Malaysian government’s need for greater transparency and accountability.
The people of Malaysia call on their leaders to take action against organized crime and political corruption, uphold the law, and protect their citizens.
Saifuddin Nasution jgn bicara mcm hang ni suci sgt, hang pun sama dh deal dgn sindiket judi dan pegawai hang Syed Mahadi dh terima dh pun puluhan juta drpd sindiket judi. Ckp mcm hang suci sangat ler pulak. Ha3 Sumber: Edisi Siasat Telegram.https://t.co/zWCdSz9KdU— suffikamari🇲🇾 (@suffikamari) June 16, 2023

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