Single-Use Straw BAN: Here’s The Malaysian Way To Prepare

Due to the strong public interest in condemning single-use plastic straws since the Tak Nak Straw campaign, F&B chains were socially pressured to adopt a more green approachâ€¦ though it often backfired.
 Starbuckâ€™s plastic straws are wrapped in â€œbiodegradableâ€ paperâ€¦ but thatâ€™s the only thing biodegradable in this picture.(Credit: TRP)
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf also switched to offering paper straws, but evidently someone in the purchasing department has never used it in a frappucino because it disintegrates almost immediately and tastes like paper. This writer has had quite a lot of CBTL frapps ruined by their paper straws.
 CBTLâ€™s paper straw is also wrapped in paper.(Credit: The Rakyat Post)
But how are you going to enjoy your teh ais without a straw now? How do you avoid all the melty diluted ice near the top? What are your alternatives?
Weâ€™ve broken it down for you:
The only reusable straw chart youâ€™d need to get around that pesky single-use plastic straw ban.(Credit: TRP)
Read below for a more in-depth breakdown that is absolutely not scientifically-backed and is entirely based upon this writerâ€™s biases and preferences (which is frappucinos thanks).
ADDITIONAL NOTE: ALL reusable straws are meant to be CLEANED with a straw brush after use. You just need a bit of soap and warm water and vigorous scrubbing. I mean if you still drink up some gunk from last week you literally have no one to blame but yourself.
Harder, better, faster, stronger.(Credit: Amazon)
Stainless steel straws
The most common kind. Itâ€™s metal, itâ€™s in a straw shape, it comes in various shades of metal and chrome colors. Theyâ€™re also the most durable, because you can drop it, chuck it, stick it in a dishwasher and itâ€™ll be okay.
Badly made ones may have uneven surfaces or micro-scratches on the inside of the straw and hide gross stuff, but proper cleaning will ensure a non-gross drink.
It makes cold drinks colder!(Credit: TRP)
Bamboo straws
Super eco-friendly and feeds into the whole rustic, old-school aesthetic.
Bamboo straws donâ€™t make your drink weird, though if you do leave it in a strong-tasting drink like coffee for a long time, the bamboo tends to absorb some of that taste.
They last rather long but you should replace them every 3 months or so if used very often.(Credit: Peace With The Wild)
Giving it a good rinse in hot water will clear the bamboo straw of any unwanted strange tastes though.
Glass straws
If you are one of those people who can handle glass with no fear of it breaking in your hands, glass straws are your best bet.
Theyâ€™re super aesthetic, theyâ€™re see-through for extra cleanliness points, and they often come printed or embellished with glass details.
So you can see… EVERYTHING.(Credit: Pinkoi)
Glass straws are made from tempered glass though the added chemicals mean that they arenâ€™t recyclable. But thatâ€™s okay because youâ€™re using the straw your whole life, right?
via GIPHY
Ps. Keep away from children.
Paper straws
These are the absolute worst especially when used with thicker drinks like milkshakes and frappes. The straw loses all integrity rapidly and your frappucino will now be undrinkable and have broken-down bits of paper straw in it.
Any color you want, any time.(Credit: Indiamart.com)
However, they are pretty and come in super cute colors if you are throwing a themed party. Just make sure all the drinks are small and everyone finishes them within 20 seconds.
Copper straws
Chic and durable. Itâ€™s all the good parts of the stainless steel straw with the added bonus of being entirely recyclable after. If you find your copper straw tasting a tad too metallic, you can give it a good rinse in hot water. (Donâ€™t touch it immediately after!)
So shiny!(Credit: Amazon)
Copper straws are definitely an investment, as theyâ€™re one of the most expensive kind of straws out there.
Plastic straws
I meanâ€¦ the entire point of the ban is to reduce our plastic use. Still, reusable plastic straws are light and easy to carry around.
 Microplastics galore but at least theyâ€™re reusable.(Credit: Amazon)
Watch out if you use your straws with hot beverages as bad quality reusable plastic straws may leech chemicals or microplastics into your drink. Kids often tend to prefer plastic straws over other materials too.
Lemongrass straws
Lemongrass straws deserve their own introduction because they make everything water taste 100x better. It adds a fantastic taste of holiday in an ice-cold sky juice and looks just as chic too!
A stalk of lemongrass makes a super tropical straw and gives off major holiday vibes.(Credit: Facebook)
However, you can only use it once and it has to be freshly prepared yourself when you buy the lemongrass. Great if youâ€™re having a Bali-themed house party!
Rice/Wheat/Pasta/Grass straws
Straws made from biodegradable grains are relative newcomers to the industry and not technically reusable.
They are considered a more â€œeco-friendlyâ€ alternative to our common single-use plastic straws, but itâ€™s still a â€œuse-once-throw-awayâ€ kind of straw (same with paper straws!).
 Usable, drinkable, munchable, edible.(Credit: Reuzi)
Biodegradable straws can be used by F&B outlets for customers who want straws and is a good starting point to introduce your friends and family to the concept of reusable straws.

The point of banning plastic straws is not so much of the straw itself. Itâ€™s a way for people experience eliminating plastic from our daily lives. Often, itâ€™s rather easy and takes minuscule effort.
Most of us have never really given thought to where this trash goes and how much we generate in a day.
Your bubble tea or tapau food always comes with disposable plastic cups, plates, straws, and utensils. Yet our world is not in any way disposable, nor is our Earthâ€™s resources.
Disposable single-use plastic is also not recyclable, so it sits in drains and landfills, leeching into the soil and distributing microplastics into our seas.
The infamous SS15 bubble tea street â€œtrash binâ€.(Credit: Facebook)
The hope is that by realizing how easy it is to remove this small piece of waste from our lives, we can expand the concept and eliminate even more waste.

Let us know if you’ll ditch the single-use plastic straw forever on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!


‘Air Force The Movie’ Box Office Collection Reaches RM13 Million, Adi Putra Expresses His Gratitude

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Air Force The Movie: Selagi Bernyawa, which released in theatres recently, continues to get a good response from the audiences.

The action thriller film, based on a rescue mission in fictional Namburi, has grossed over RM13 million.
The movie is still seeing a good footfall at the theatres even as the movie’s 41-year-old main actor, Datuk Adi Putra, shared the good news on Instagram.
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by ADI PUTRA #taatpadayangsatu (@adpadiputra)
Allahuakbar, you guys are awesome! Thank youActor Datuk Adi Putra expressing his thanks on Air Force The Movie’s success.
It is understood that the film directed by Zulkarnain Azhar and Frank See will also find audiences in South Korea, Japan and Taiwan.
READ MORE: Air Force The Movie Scores RM8 Million In Box Office After 4 Days, To Show In Korea, Japan And Taiwan
Air Force The Movie: Selagi Bernyawa is presented by the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM).
Five production companies are involved, namely Multimedia Entertainment, Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC), Astro, FXHammer Films and SixFun Media.
This film tells the story of the Special Air Force (PASKAU) stranded in Namburi after the RMAF plane was shot down by the enemy.
In Malaysia, the RMAF team launched a mission to rescue them.
Apart from Adi, this movie also features Aiman Hakim Ridza, Nas-T, Sara Ali, Pablo Amirul, Johan As’ari, Luqman Hafidz, Anas Ridzuan, Jack Tan, Iman Corinne, Scha Alyahya and Carmen Soo.

Meanwhile, fans have praised the film despite what critics have said.
Viewers have flooded social media with good reviews, claiming it is the best locally made action film released this year.
AIRFORCE THE MOVIE 9.5/10.dah lama tak jejak cinema..patriotic dan dulu ada cita cita nak masuk Air Force College pic.twitter.com/yAscHNhskN— Ku Mansor (@rjwawie) September 3, 2022
personal rate for air force the movie: selagi bernyawa 8.5/10!bagi aku best jeee siyess tak tipuu. untuk standard movie Malaysia bagi aku sumpah okayy. highly recommended! please tengokkkk— 🌞 (@Lovee__V) September 3, 2022
Despite fans gushing over the film, reviews from critics have been mixed – with some saying the movie has plenty of rooms for improvement.
Air Force The Movie: Selagi Bernyawa rating : 7/10 ⭐ • Great cinematography• Some scene are a bit dark and too shaky and cannot see what happen• CGI are ok• Side romance story a little whack• There are some plot holes and not enough explanation in certain scenes— Hafiz Sensei 🇲🇾 (@ariffhafiz27) September 2, 2022
Appreciating The Nation’s Military
Many organisations also held movie screenings along with the Merdeka and Malaysia Day celebrations.
Among them is Christians for Peace and Harmony in Malaysia (CPHM), which organised a screening in Petaling Jaya recently.
The screening was attended by veterans from the Persatuan Veteran Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (PVATM).
CPHM spokesperson Jason Leong said the purpose is to celebrate diverse communities living together in friendship, peace and harmony in the nation.
The aim is also to further spread the message of peace and harmony in the nation, while appreciating the armed forces at the same time.
We want to thank the veterans who have served our country with bravery and perseverance. We appreciate their service and sacrifice.Jason Leong to TRP on Malaysians being indebted to the armed forces for all that they have given to the country.
Also present at the screening were Malay/Muslim non-governmental organisations (NGOs) including Pertubuhan IKRAM Malaysia and Allied Coordinating Committee of Islamic NGOs (ACCIN).
Tonton Bersama Hargai Jasa Anggota Tentera Sempena Hari Kebangsaan Ke-65, kira-kira 100 orang penonton dari pelbagai bangsa dan agama telah menonton bersama tayangan ‘Air Force The Movie: Selagi Bernyawa’.Baca lagi: https://t.co/CSK7eVVZ8D#TeguhBersama— IKRAM Malaysia 🇲🇾🇵🇸 (@ikrammalaysia) September 2, 2022

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Is Malaysia Taking Censorship Too Far?

Censorship has always been a heavily debated topic among Malaysians. It’s a polarising topic with some people for it and others against it.
With the content on traditional media like the radio, TV and cinemas being regulated by the government, some Malaysians have opted for the more modern option: streaming platforms like Netflix.
Not only do you get to watch anything you want at anytime, you also have access to uncensored movies and TV series.
While the government is set to tax the streaming service by January 2020  the FINAS (the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia) CEO Ahmad Idham Ahmad Nadzri , refused to leave us alone to Netflix and chill and suggested censorship for content on the platform.
FINAS CEO Ahmad Idham. Photo credit: Bernama via Malay Mail
According to him, unmonitored content might affect the development of Malaysian childrenâ€™s minds.

â€œAlthough censorship is not under FINASâ€™ jurisdiction, we are viewing it seriously as the contents will give negative effects if they remain unmonitored from now. We took the approach to control the local film and television content, but those from international sources remain open.â€
Ahmad Idham, CEO of FINAS  via Malay Mail
Naturally, netizens fired back saying that Netflix already has a parental control feature that filters out content that isnâ€™t child-friendly.

Artwork: Megat Sharizal

As a matter of fact, this censorship issue isnâ€™t exactly new in Malaysia. Movies containing LGBT-friendly scenes like the Freddie Mercury Biopic â€œBohemian Rhapsodyâ€ and even the live-action Beauty And The Beast have been stripped down by our censors.
It even affected local artists like Faizal Tahir, who was penalised for taking his shirt off on stage during a live performance.

Faizal Tahir’s controversial act during a live performance back in 2008. Photo credit: miqdadrules.com

Which brings us to the question, are we over censoring?
After having consumed content on TV, radio and in the cinema, we found that LPF (Lembaga Penapisan Filem/ The Film Censorship Board) mainly censors these elements:

Nudity/sexual references
Profanity (for PG-13)
LGBT indications (except same-sex hugging)
Excessive violence (for PG-13 content)
Words/conversations that cause racial/religious disharmony.

Then again, here’s where it gets a little tricky. Censorship by LPF is only limited to offline media, whereas when it comes to digital content, it’s up to MCMC. If the government were to impose censorship on Netflix, it should be through MCMC.
The way MCMC works is that, they won’t censor anything until a complaint is made. We’re not too sure if Ahmad Idham’s complaint counts.
MCMC censorship SOP. Diagram credit: MCMC website
However, censorship in Malaysia isn’t just limited to the stuff we watch. Let’s dig a little deeper, shall we?
In case youâ€™re wondering why your favourite international acts tend to skip Malaysia entirely, … It might be caused by our censorship!
In the past, artists like Beyonce and Mariah Carey have either been given a strict dress code or worse, have their concert cancelled for not being decent enough for the local audience.

Mariah Carey wearing jeans and a tank top when she performed in Malaysia back in 2004. Photo credit: @TheMariahNetwork via Twitter

While we understand the need to censor PG-13 movies and TV shows, somehow, Netizens are under the impression that thereâ€™s still content that managed to slip right through the filter.
Twitter user @amalinaardy feels that some of the local TV shows, movies and literature promote very problematic themes, such as Ombak Rindu where the female protagonist marries her rapist.

Hereâ€™s a suggestion. Why donâ€™t you guys fix the corrupted script & plots in national films & drama series first? And stop romanticizing poligamy and domestic abuse in our society 👍🏻 eg. Ombak rindu, pilot cafe dan yg sewaktu dengannya. https://t.co/eawrcqifj8
â€” Amalina Rudy (@amalinardy) November 16, 2019

Apart from that, netizens have also criticised the literature we used to study in school like Konserto Terakhir, claiming that it contains incestuous undertones where the protagonist is engaged to his cousin.

With all the fuss about using appropriate books in school, does anybody realize that #KonsertoTerakhir has incestuous connotations? #eww
â€” Joevis™ (@joevisyiapp) October 31, 2012

Wait, so Hayati’s engaged to her cousin? That’s sick!! #KonsertoTerakhir this book is actually quite interesting. 🙂
â€” Charlene See (@enelrahc_see) January 10, 2012

If the censorship against international content can be super strict, how did these get away? Are we over censoring or are we just selectively censoring?

What are your thoughts on Malaysian censorship? Let us know via our Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.


Remembering MH370: 8 Years After The Mysterious Disappearance

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March 8th marks the anniversary of the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines (MAB) flight MH370, etching a dark and grim chapter in Malaysia’s history.
The Boeing 777-200ER airliner was on a routine flight departing from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), en route to Beijing, China when the aircraft along with its 239 passengers and crew vanished without a trace somewhere over the Indian Ocean in 2014.
A board full of messages of kind support was left for the victims and families of MH370 at KLIA in 2014.(Credit: Malay Mail/Reuters)
Though several extensive search operations were made to locate the missing aeroplane, the unsolved disappearance of flight MH370 stands as one of the most compelling mysteries and remains a profound tragedy that continues to bewilder aviation experts, friends and family members, as well as the public at large till this day.
Goodnight MH370
On the fateful night of the flight’s disappearance, MH370 commanded by senior pilot Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah and first officer Fariq Abdul Hamid took off from KLIA at around 40 minutes past midnight and was due to arrive in Beijing some 6 hours later.
 A MAB 777 taking off from the runway.(Credit: Laurent ERRERA/Wikipedia)
In less than an hour into the flight, MH370 set its last voice communication to Malaysian air-traffic controllers as it passed into Vietnamese airspace.
Good night Malaysian Three-Seven-Zero… The last recorded radio transmission from the cockpit of MH370.
Moments after the plane crossed into Vietnamese territories, MH370 went dark and disappeared from radar.
A few hours passed before air traffic controllers were made aware of the disappearance of MH370 and a “code red” was issued declaring an immediate emergency response to locate the missing jetliner.
Later at dawn, an official announcement was made on MAB’s official Facebook page confirming that MH370 had gone missing. Panic and confusion soon followed as the world gathered in shock and awaits news of the mysterious tragedy.
The long search
A large multinational search was launched to locate the missing aircraft which soon became the most expensive search effort amassed in aviation history.
But due to the nature of the incident, investigators had trouble pinpointing the presumed location of the missing plane.
An Australian military search plane flies over a British survey vessel in search of the missing MH370.(Credit:  LS(HM) Andy Coutanche/MOD/Wikipedia)
Reportedly, the aircraft had been missing some 10 hours before the first search planes began scouring the skies and seas for MH370 as it was believed that the plane had ultimately run out of fuel and crashed somewhere into the huge expanse of ocean.
The expanse of the Indian Ocean as mapped by Google Earth.(Credit: Google)
It was not unheard of for a lost plane to remain unfound. When Air France flight 447 along with its 228 passengers and crew crashed into the Atlantic Ocean in 2009, it took investigators 2 years to discover its wreckage at the bottom of the sea.
Radar and satellite data revealed that MH370 had changed its scheduled course, and had flown back over Malaysia before making a turn towards the southern Indian Ocean.
This immense area soon became the focal point of the search for the missing plane.
The recorded flight path of MH370(Credit: CNN/ATSB)
Search teams scanned the surface and depths of the ocean for any traces of the missing flight but came out empty.
Throughout the years of searching for the missing airplane, some 20 pieces of aircraft debris believed to be from MH370 were recovered in various locations around the world; including 3 pieces of wing fragments that washed up ashore on the eastern coast of South Africa in Reunion Island, Madagascar, and Tanzania.
The debris fragments from MH370 were on display at the MH370 Remembrance Event in Kuala Lumpur in 2019.(Credit: New Straits Times)
However, efforts to locate the entire wreckage of the aircraft have proven nothing but futile.
In 2015, more than a year into the disappearance of the plane, Malaysian authorities officially declared the incident as an “accident” and announced that all passengers and crew aboard MH370 were presumed to be dead.

After 3 years of extensive investigations, the search for MH370 which covered over 120,000 sq km came to an end in 2017 without any success.
Then in 2018, the Malaysian government launched another search attempt to locate MH370 with a U.S private exploration firm, Ocean Infinity.
The search team covered 112,000 sq km of the southern Indian Ocean for some five months before the mission was called off after 90 days without making any credible discoveries.
What happened to MH370?
There have been countless theories to the mysterious vanishing of MH370 ranging from the plane’s mechanical failure to possible hijacking to even a murder-suicide plot orchestrated by the pilot.
However, MH370’s final investigation report released in 2018 found no conclusive evidence or answers to the disaster, leaving the world with more questions about what happened to the aircraft and its passengers.
A grieving family member holds up a picture of Malaysian leaders demanding closure to the disappearance of  MH370.(Credit: South China Morning Post/Reuters)
The ones who were left behind
The mass panic and attention that MH370’s disappearance garnered was something that the country had never experienced, with some describing the chaos that ensued to a “circus“.
Media personnel camped outside Hotel Sama Sama at KLIA.(Credit: The Star)
For weeks, news reporters from around the world gathered at KLIA to catch the latest scoop to the sensational story, with the tragedy even attracting the attention of a number of “holy men” who brought promises that the plane would eventually be found.
Who can ever forget “Raja Bomoh” Ibrahim Mat Zain, who gained international fame during the MH370 crisis with his supernatural rituals.(Credit: Malay Mail/Reuters)
Over the years, countless thoughts and prayers have flown in from all corners of the globe in memory of the missing flight and its passengers. Soon the hashtag “#PrayForMH370” along with other variations became the go-to for the world to send their love to the victims and their families.
And every year, memorials are “sometimes” held across the planet in remembrance and honor of the 239 lost souls on board the missing plane.
To this day, many of the victim’s families and loved ones remain disappointed over the initial handling of the aviation disaster as well as bewildered and unsatisfied over the outcome of MH370’s multiple investigations.
Families and friends gathered at KL in 2019 during the 5th year anniversary of the disappearance of MH370.(Credit: Malay Mail/AFP)
However, there’s still continued pressure for the Malaysian government and international authorities to resume efforts on locating the missing aircraft in hopes that one day it would be found and bring closure to one of the world’s biggest mysteries.

Where were you when news of MH370 disappearance broke out? Let us know on TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Source:
Malaysia Airlines Flight 370
Timeline of MH370 disappearance
MH370: Malaysia declares flight disappearance an accident
Joint Agency Coordination Centre
Search for MH370 to be most expensive in aviation history
MH370 report: Search delayed by chaos and confusion
What You Need to Know About Air France Flight 447
A timeline of the long and arduous search for MH370 continues
MH370: The key pieces of debris found by the public
MH370: Search suspended but future hunt for missing plane not ruled out
LOCATING MH370
MH370 search to end on May 29 after four years
How the Missing Malaysia Airlines Jet Could Have Been Hijacked
Malaysia never ruled out 'murder-suicide plot' by MH370 pilot, says former PM Najib
MH370 Investigation Report
Malaysia Airlines flight MH370: The unanswered questions
Missing MH370: Day 6 and media circus in Malaysia shows few signs of relenting
All in a day's work for journalists reporting on missing MH370
Missing MH370: Bomoh uses 'magic carpet' to find Boeing
Australia shelves MH370 memorial after relatives protest
Flight MH370: Who were the passengers aboard the lost aircraft?
How Malaysia missteps on MH370 eroded families' trust
MH370: Bewilderment and disbelief five years after plane vanished
Malaysia says yet to decide on new search for MH370
Loke pledges to highlight plight of family members of MH370 victims to new Transport Minister
Hope and despair: Key moments in hunt for MH370


Pos Malaysia Releases Limited Edition Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2020 Stamps

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Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2020 is going to be shockingly different this year as family and friends adhere to social distancing practices and celebrate the festive season in unprecedented situations.
Of course, this just means we must find new ways to celebrate Raya, and Pos Malaysia has released a special set of stamps to do so.
The Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2020 stamp designs symbolises the essence and values of the festivity such as the celebration “Victory” in overcoming challenges of Ramadan and unprecendented situations, “Gratitude” for all the blessings received during the holy month and “Sincerity” which promotes the honesty of mind and actions, especially during this testing times.
The stamp designs are inspired by a fusion of Islamic arabesque art elements and kufic calligraphy.(Credit: Pos Malaysia)
It will be a different Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration for everyone this year, but that does not mean that the spirit of the celebration will be lesser than previous years.Syed Md Najib Syed Md Noor, CEO of Pos Malaysia
As the country bravely fights Covid-19, many will need to turn to our delivery frontliners to help convey our best wishes to family and friends we will be unable to meet. These stamps can, at the very least, help remind us that despite hardships, Hari Raya is a time for togetherness and celebration.
Even if you’re stuck at home, you can still send your loved ones your greetings. #RayaDiRumah(Credit: Pos Malaysia)
The stamps are priced at RM25 per sheet with a denomination of RM0.60 per stamp. There are only 1,000 limited pieces produced for this series, so be sure to get yours quick.
You can pick up the stamps at 13 General Post Offices nationwide or on the Pos Malaysia online store www.eziemall.com starting today.

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[JUST IN] New Strategies To Reduce Surge Of Covid-19 Cases In Klang Valley

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Deputy Director-General (Public Health) Datuk Dr Chong Chee Kheong recently shared new strategies for mitigating the Klang Valley surge of Covid-19 cases.

In a bid to address the rising number of Covid-19 admissions that burden the health care system, the Greater Klang Valley Special Task Force (GKVSTF) will focus on the following areas:
Clinical careCovid-19 Assessment Centres (CAC) and Home MonitoringEpidemiologyMedical and General LogisticsFrontliner Social Support SystemsHuman Resources and Finance; andStrategic Communications.
The following have been identified for immediate action:
(1) Operation Selayang
Selayang Hospital will be turned into a full Covid-19 hospital, the fourth of its kinda in the Klang Valley.
Non Covid-19 patients at Selayang Hospital will be transferred to private hospitals in the region to increase bed capacity for Covid-19 patients in Categories 3, 4, and 5.
READ MORE: Non-Covid Patients In Public Hospitals Are Being Transferred To Private Hospitals
(2) Ensuring uninterrupted supply of oxygen and other life-saving medicine and supplies
Urgent attention is to be placed to ensure predictable and uninterrupted supply of oxygen, life-saving medicine, and other supplies.
Those with symptoms (symptomatic) will be evaluated first, in person or virtually at the CAC or District Health Office before testing.
Testing is prioritised for those with symptoms.
(3) Pivoting towards mitigation and away from the late containment stage
Positive cases without symptoms (asymptomatic) will be asked to undergo home isolation for 10 days and report themselves using digital home assessment tools such as MySejahtera, e-Covid or SELangkah Home Assessment tool.
Close contacts to asymptomatic positive cases are strongly advised to obtain a rapid Covid-19 test at either the nearest available clinic or via self-test kits, and self-isolate.
READ MORE: You Must Report Your Covid-19 Self Test Results
Following the self-tests and home isolation, total cases numbers may lower as it will keep the spread under control.
It is hoped that with self testing and isolation, cases that need treatment will receive it immediately while those contacts without symptoms can do self test at home.
This will be in action once the self test kits are widely available.
Dr Chong ends his media statement reminding eligible adults to register for the vaccine and to abide by the standard operating procedures (SOP).

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5 Tips To Keep Hydrated During This Ramadan

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 Ramadan is a few days away now. Have you Muslims prepared yourselves yet?

Ramadan doesn’t come with no challenges. Fasting from dawn to dusk can be challenging, especially if the weather doesn’t cooperate. But we gotta stay strong and be patient, right?
Here are some useful tips for you to avoid dehydration and focus on your work and devotion during the fasting month.
1. Drink Water
Yes, during the day.
Kidding.
Of course, drink during the night. Frequently.  Don’t chug it all in one go. Your body won’t be able to absorb it all then and there. You’ll just be making a trip to the toilet immediately.
According to an American surgeon and university medical advisor, Dr Leonard Smith, when the body takes in too much liquid at once, it causes the blood to dilute and the kidneys will process the liquids faster. Hence, your body will end up urinating much sooner than it needs to and all that extra water you deliriously chug down goes to waste.
(Credit: Freepik)
Instead, drink it gradually. Spread the water intake accordingly after iftar until sahur. Not while you sleep, of course, but it’s good to keep a bottle of water close to your bedside in case you need it.
Additionally, iftar or break your fast with dates and water. After all, it’s sunna. And also there are a lot of benefits why dates should be eaten to break your fast.
READ MORE: This Is Why Everyone Eats Dates During Fasting Month
2. Avoid Sugary and Caffeinated Drinks
Sugary drinks and also caffeinated drinks are mild diuretics. Drinking these will make you pee more because diuretics cause your body to make the urine more than usual.
(Credit: Freepik)
“Your body needs more water to process sugars and it will pull away water from other places in your body to break down the sugar,” said Mishabae Mahoney, a Certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. This means that more water will be pulled out from all parts of the body (hence, the body feeling restless and you feeling thirsty) to balance the concentrated amount of sugar in your bloodstream. Then all those excess sugar and water in the bloodstream will turn into urine by the kidneys and viola! Trips to the loo!
With more water leaving your body, undoubtedly, you’ll be more dehydrated. So slow down on these during iftar and definitely avoid them during sahur.
3. Avoid Salty, Oily, Spicy and Sugary Food
What can we eat? Good question.
Firstly, as we all know, these kinds of food are already bad for you but here’s another reason to add to the list. They all make your body dehydrate.
(Credit: Freepik)
Too much salty (sodium), sugary, and oily (hidden sources of salt) food can make your body dehydrated and that will prompt you to be thirsty. Spicy food can also cause your body to be dehydrated due to the rising body temperature leading you to sweat and lose more water.
Alternatively, try eating healthier foods like steamed, soupy, grilled food or anything that’s easy on the seasonings and sugar.
But with our Ramadan cravings, it’s just too hard to pass on either of these, right? Well, you know what they say, moderation is key.
4. Eat Food With High Water Content
If you’re tired of drinking water all through the night, then mix it up by munching on high-water content food.
You can prevent dehydration by eating veggies and fruits, along with your water. But be careful, it’s best to eat these raw or minimally cooked as they will lose water if thoroughly cooked, according to Julie Devinsky an American Registered Dietician. Among the fruit and veggies that you can eat are cucumbers, celeries, watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, lettuce, tomatoes and more.
(Credit: Freepik)
Additionally, you can also consume more soups or broths. Not only do they have a high water content to hydrate your body, but you can also promote weight loss (if you consume them regularly instead of other unhealthy food) due to their low-calorie content.
Besides that, plain yoghurt (not flavoured, please) and skimmed milk can also help keep your body hydrated apart from giving you other benefits with their vitamins and minerals.
So, consume them for iftar, sahur or even whenever at nighttime before the sun rises!
5. Take Cold Showers
The weather can get hot in the middle of the day and this may cause you to feel the heat and be easily tired. If you’re at home, you should take cold showers whenever the heat is unbearable.
Cold showers after being in the heat will help to get the blood circulating to important parts of our body so we can hydrate better. Only then, you will feel less tired and more energized. Just make sure you don’t ‘accidentally’ swallow the water, and your fast will still be valid.

If you’re at work or outside, bring a cloth with you and dampen it with cold water. Wipe your forehead, area around your ears, back of the neck, chest and upper back to cool down the heat.
It can also help your body to keep cool by wearing loose clothes outside. Not only can it make you comfortable, but it will make your sweat evaporate easily and keep your body cool in the heat.
So here are some of the little tips to keep your body cool and hydrated during this coming Ramadan.
Let’s do our best to keep our bodies hydrated and our minds strong to devote ourselves to this holy month.

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Teacher Sets Up Online Class, Waits Hours But Not Even One Of His Students Join

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Teachers and students alike have had to make significant adjustments to learning and teaching during this pandemic.

Students have had to learn self-motivation and problem-solving skills to ensure they can take part in the online learning programmes hosted by their teachers.
Meanwhile, teachers who may not have been tech-savvy are now forced to not only organise online teaching programmes but also find ways to teach their students using different tools than they were used to.
These challenges have come to light in a recent tweet that has gone viral in the Malaysian Twitter-sphere.

https://twitter.com/skinleas/status/1331408592268771331

Twitter user @skinleas shared how her dad, high school teacher Mr Mustakim, organised an online learning session on Zoom for his students. Yet, after almost an hour after the session began, not even one student showed up for his online class.
What’s more, when he tried calling each student to remind them of the class, they ignored his phone call. @Skinleas also shared that in the past, some students downright kept their phones switched off on days when they knew there would be class so that Mr Mustakim wouldn’t be able to contact them.
A perfect example of how underprivileged students are affected by the pandemic

All teachers are heroes! Banyak sudut yang perlu dititik beratkan. Uni system totally lain, tak masuk kelas repeat la sem depan but school not. Atleast uni student boleh apply ptptn nak purchase laptop/phone/internet tapi school students how?— . (@syazwanihanafii) November 25, 2020

Although it seems like his students are being very irresponsible, uncooperative, and ungrateful, @skinleas added that some students had informed her father that they were unable to attend his online classes because they have to work.
@skinleas also pointed out that these students are in Form 5, and will be facing their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations soon. As such, they should be focusing on their studies instead of working.
Regardless, this incident is a perfect example of the difficulties faced by some underprivileged students who don’t live in a conducive learning environment at home.
@skinleas joining her dad’s class while they wait for other students to come online. (Credit: Twitter)
To show her support, @skinleas attended her father’s online class to cheer him up and shared the incident on Twitter, which led to more Twitter users joining his class too.
An impossible feat for teachers as well
The story gets sadder when you realise the hardwork Mr Mustakim had put into organising the online classes for his students.
@skinleas shared how her father had asked her to teach him how to use Zoom and Google Meets to accommodate his students’ needs during the pandemic.

https://twitter.com/mrsfazaiah/status/1331532079750803456

Unfortunately, the effort he put into his class are lost on his students who have not realised the sacrifices he’s made as a teacher to ensure they get adequate opportunity to a good education.
Thankfully, Mr Mustakim is able to continue positively. He posted a tweet himself, thanking all the Twitter users who showed him support online, and asking them to pray that his students are successful in their SPM exams.
Asalamualaikum terimakasih atas sokongan semangat dan doa dari warga tweet …. doa kan ank2 spm ni dipermudahkan utk hadir kelas dan berjaya dalam spm amin😍🌷— Mustakim (@Mustakimbajoori) November 25, 2020
We wish Mr Mustakim all the best in his endeavours and thank him for his tireless efforts in educating our youths!

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Domestic Tourism & Live Events Allowed In RMCO/CMCO Areas

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Domestic tourism between Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) states will be allowed from March 10. The new travel bubble, however, only allows people to travel with government-registered tourism agencies, not on their own.

This means that while you can pay to go on a holiday tour to Langkawi – which recently became a green zone again – you cannot take a balik kampung trip, in your own car or take the bus to visit grandma.
Travel between RMCO and Conditional Movement Control (CMCO) states are still prohibited, however, registered tour vehicles will be allowed to cross between areas in order to get to their destination with prior permission and approval from the police.
Tourists will be subjected to follow standard operating procedures (SOP) and guidelines to ensure safety.
States/areas that are currently under RMCO are;
LabuanLangkawiMelakaPahangPerlisPutrajayaSabahTerengganu

Live events allowed too
The creative industry have also been given permission to host live events which can be attended by audiences in CMCO and RMCO areas beginning March 10.
Organisers would need to abide by SOP depending on where the event is hosted.
The rules include that a 50% attendance capacity is kept for event spaces in CMCO areas and whatever capacity which allows for physical distancing for events in RMCO areas.
The audience must also be seated at least 1.5 meters apart from one another and performers must be in between two meters apart from each other, on stage.
Events can only take place at specified locations or licensed event spaces, such as convention centers, galleries, meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) centers, as well as hotels.
Event admissions as well as food and beverages sold at the event must only be made online via bookings or pre-orders.
Live events that are allowed include;
Government eventsTelevision showsMusic showsDance, theater and musicalsComedy showsCultural and arts exhibitions

Outdoor filming allowed as well
Those in the creative industry are allowed to continue with production, outdoors, in CMCO and RMCO areas according to guidelines provided by the National Film Development Corporation (Finas).

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Source:
Govt allows domestic tourism travel between RMCO states from tomorrow, but restrictions apply
SEKTOR PELANCONGAN – MICE (PKP)


[Watch] Don’t Do PCR Test Too Many Times After Positive For Covid -19, Says Health Officer

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A health official had taken to social media to discourage people from frequently taking RTK and PCR self-tests.

His video, which advised people not to do so, especially when recovering from Covid-19, had since gone viral on TikTok.
The health official, who goes by the username @dodosentoso, explained that the PCR test is only to detect the ribonucleic acid (RNA) of the virus in a person’s body.
He added that the presence of the virus in a person will last for two weeks, and will disappear with the help of vaccines and also medications.
  @dodosentoso Jangan noya buat PCR byk byk kali lepas dah positive recently. Ingat ni sampaii mati. Tolong mdno share info ni boleh.?? #covid19 #rtpcr #medicallabscientist #fyp ♬ original sound  – Pak Cik Bakar Baharo
After testing positive for Covid-19, there is no need to do PCR within two months. We do PCR only to see if the RNA is detected or not.TikTok user @dodosentoso, who is also a health official, explain why there is no need to do PCR test too frequently.
Clearly, even if a person has recovered after two weeks, the cells from the virus are still there.
So, if a PCR test is done, a person will be confirmed positive for Covid-19 again but not as dangerous as before, he said.
Netizens thanked him for his clear and very easy to understand explanation.
They commented that he gave a good explanation with a good analogy, and can even be a lecturer.
That’s right, after 10 days, the virus is no longer active. It can be detected again, just that it won’t be infectious.A TikTok user commenting on @dodosentoso’s explanantion.
The difference between us and them is that on the 13th day, they will do an RTK Antigen test. In simple terms, it basically checks for any bits of the virus still floating around in your body. It's better than the RTK Antibody test but still less sensitive than a PCR test pic.twitter.com/ufV2GjvmyF— Emir 🍜 (@Emirrr2410) July 29, 2020

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[Watch] Three Men Seize Axia From Clueless Driver At Butterworth Traffic Light Junction

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Social media has recently been flooded with a video clip where a driver was seen being dragged out of his dark blue Perodua Axia by three men at a traffic light junction.

The three individuals handled the driver aggressively in the process of dragging him out of the car.
The 62-second video clip has left people wondering what exactly happened. The victim was also seen trying to ask for help from other motorists after the men made off with his car.
However, one of the three individuals who drove the car was in such a hurry that when he was approached by a motorcyclist, the individual took a left turn recklessly and almost injured a cyclist in the process.
This incident took place at the Jalan Bagan Lalang traffic light, as reported by Utusan Malaysia.
So daring nowadays! Happened in Butterworth Penang. Robbing a car in broad daylight or repossession of a vehicle. Always remember to lock in once you're in the car to avoid such incidents. pic.twitter.com/ocbQhMLm9R— Dominic Damian JAN 1513 (@jan_1513) June 1, 2023
It turns out that the car was a collateral for a RM100,000 loan taken out by the driver’s mother.
According to Seberang Perai Utara district police chief Asst Comm Mohd Asri Shafie, investigations revealed that the 57-year-old victim’s mother had obtained a loan from a man for RM100,000 in 2020.
“Through a written agreement, the victim’s mother agreed to hand over the car if she failed to pay the loan. Since the victim’s mother failed to pay the loan, the man (creditor) involved hired three men to seize the car,” he said.
The case is now being investigated in accordance with Section 395 of the Penal Code for armed robbery without violence. If convicted, the suspect can be sentenced to 20 years in prison and be fined or caned.
In the meantime, the police are still tracking the suspects of the case.
The police are asking the public to stop broadcasting the incident’s footage.
At the same time, anyone with information regarding the case can contact any nearby police station or the SPU IPD Operations Room at 04-5759122.
A reminder for borrowers
It’s crucial for borrowers to understand that collateral is essentially an item, like a car or a house, that the borrower uses to secure a loan.
If the borrower defaults on the loan, the collateral can be seized.
Therefore it is important to remember that it is not wise to obtain loans from dubious creditors.

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No Happy Ending For Sabah Duo Selling Ketum Juice By The Roadside

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Itâ€™s a sad 420 in lockup for two Sabah men after they got arrested yesterday (19th April) for selling ketum juice by the roadside.
Setting up shop by a road at Kampung Dumpiring in Kundasang, New Straits Times reports that the 21 and 31-year-old were offering the psychotropic drink at RM30 per bottle to thirsty passers-by.
Unfortunately for them, policemen on Movement Control Order (MCO) patrol duty noticed the â€œstallâ€ around 5.40pm and the ketum peddlers were promptly arrested.
Their wares, two bottles containing 3 litres of ketum juice, were also seized.
Credit: NSTP/ Courtesy of PDRM
As the case is now investigated under Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952, the two men are looking at a possibility of 4 years in prison or a fine of not more than RM10,000, or both, if convicted.
They are also being investigated for violating MCO under Rules 11 (1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures within the local Infected Areas) Regulations 2020.
Suffice to say, there will be no more high-jinks for the two for a very long time.

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Source:
Duo nabbed for selling ketum juice during MCO


“It Has Its Own Prestige” MQA ‘Recognizes’ Ismail Sabri’s Honorary Degree From Nihon University

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Prime Minister Ismail Sabri recently received an Honorary Doctorate in Medicine from Nihon University in Japan.

Although it was awarded in recognition of Ismail Sabri’s efforts in the fight against Covid-19, he said the award is for the entire Malaysian Family who stood in solidarity with the government to face the pandemic.
However, a netizen did a bit of digging and discovered that Nihon University is not recognized by the Malaysia Qualifications Agency (MQA).
READ MORE: Ismail Sabri’s Honorary Medical Degree From Nihon University Isn’t Recognized By MQA
MQA has released a statement to say that Ismail Sabri’s honorary degree did not need to be disputed because Nihon University is a prestigious university in Japan.
The honorary degree has its own prestigious value that’s recognized by other universities in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and other developed countries.

MQA further explained that an honorary degree is, in practice, a prestigious award given to noted figures who have hugely contributed to society in their fields such as academicians, industry experts, public activists, and world leaders, including those from Malaysia.
For universities that are not officially recognized by MQA, the body’s recognition process depends on the particular university’s recognition in their home countries.
This is stated under Surat Pekeliling MQA Bil. 6/2019: Mekanisme Baharu Pengiktirafan Kelayakan Luar Negara.
READ MORE: MQA Perjelas Status Ijazah Kehormat Diterima Oleh PM Dari Universiti Nihon

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In Just 12 Hours PDRM Receives 300,000 Inter-State Travel Applications

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In just 12 hours after the Gerak Malaysia app was announced, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) received around 300,000 applications through it for inter-state travel permits under the movement control order (MCO).
PDRM expects this figure to double by 1 May.
According to Bukit Aman CID director Datuk Huzir Mohamed, some 100,000 individuals from the total applications received are those who were stranded in their hometowns and didnâ€™t manage to return home when the MCO was declared.
It is very important for police to ensure each application received is only for permitted purposes so that plans for inter-state movement would proceed smoothly.Datuk Huzir Mohamed via Malaysiakini
Huzir Mohamed (Credit: The Sun Daily)
He explained that the police will be monitoring and evaluating the trend of applications received through the app, saying that they will also be informing the government of their findings so that the dates of travel can be reviewed and coordinated accordingly.
For the time being, the authorities have yet to announce the approved dates for travelling.
Besides that, Huzir also said that the cooperation of all parties is important to ensure that those who desperately need the travel permit benefit from the application system, advising all those who would like to apply to do so according to the prescribed valid reasons.
Further developments on the inter-state schedule would be announced later.Datuk Huzir Mohamed via Malaysiakini

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No Need For Covid-19 Tests For People Entering Sabah & Sarawak

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People heading to Sabah & Sarawak would not need to undergo Covid-19 testing before entering the two states.
As travel restrictions are lifted under the new Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) period, travelers entering Sabah are now exempted from Covid-19 screenings, however, they are still subjected to follow the government’s Covid-guidelines.
This means that those traveling to the “land below the wind” would need to present all the necessary travel documentation and are no longer subjected to the previously mandatory self-quarantine period.
Meanwhile, the state of Sarawak is also allowing travelers to enter without undergoing Covid-19 testing or quarantine.
Instead, Sarawak will be screening incoming travelers at random, at the state’s many entry points.
The state government is also making it mandatory for travelers to utilize the MySejahtera mobile application while in the “land of hornbills”.

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Source:
Tak perlu buat ujian COVID-19 lagi sebelum masuk Sabah
Rentas negeri, daerah di Sarawak dibenar mulai esok


Klang-made app stops food wastage and helps the needy

To combat food wastage, a team based in Klang; Qandeez Unlimited, created the OhFreeFood app to act as a platform to share food.
Get it at the Apple iStore or Google Playstore
So don’t worry if you have extra food from the bazaar, or even part of a Raya hamper that you want to share with others.

With the OhFreeFood app, it’s as easy as 5 steps:

Take a picture.
Describe the food.
Choose method of sharing; Meet up or self-pickup.
Wait for a response.
Share!

Your food items can be categorized as Excess food (which are leftovers of your meal), Extra Untouched Food (food that has been bought as extra) or simply brand new packed food.
You can also choose to be on the receiving end.

Screenshot from OhFreeFood website

‘Grab a food’ gives you the option to choose food for yourself

#malaysianfood #foodforfree #sharingfood #foodbankmalaysia🇲🇾 #sharing #kechara #foodaidfoundation #wasted #zerofoodwaste #nofoodwaste #beazero #thinkeatfood #savethefood #zerohunger #foodworrior #yayasaninovasi #lovefoodhatewaste #tv3malaysia #foodblogfeed #foodfoundation pic.twitter.com/ax9GGpR1PM
— ohfreefood (@ohfreefood4u) April 25, 2019

And there’s no better time to start sharing than this Ramadhan month.

To support my client initiative. Let enjoy their video
1/2 pic.twitter.com/le6K6fslsR
— Zam Emrager (@ZamEmrager) May 6, 2019


Malaysia Now Has 4 New Covid-19 Clusters

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The Health Ministry revealed today, 17th July, that four new Covid-19 clusters have emerged along with 18 new cases.
The new Covid-19 clusters that have been identified are as follows:
PUI Pitakwa Cluster
Immigration counters at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.(Credit: Malay Mail/Miera Zulyan)
The index case is a Malaysian (Case 8737) who returned from Nigeria on 11th July. Although the patient tested negative after Covid-19 screening at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) upon arrival, a repeat test was ordered three days later as he began to experience severe symptoms.
The second Covid-19 test turned out to be positive and he was subsequently admitted to Hospital Hulu Terengganu.
Following that, 44 of his close contacts including family members, colleagues, taxi drivers, aircraft crew and passengers were identified and screened for the virus.
Testing revealed that two positive Covid-19 patients (Case 8754 and Case 8755) and three negative results. The ministry is still awaiting the results for 39 of the close contacts.
PUI Shirala Cluster
The index case of this cluster is a non-Malaysian professional (Case 8730) who arrived in the country on 6th July for work.
He had tested negative for two Covid-19 tests in India and at KLIA.
Credit: kpkesihatan.com
Five days after his arrival in Malaysia, he had to repeat Covid-19 testing after experiencing symptoms and the results came back positive. He was admitted to Hospital Sungai Buloh Hospital.
To date, two close contacts have been identified where one was positive (Case 8738) and another was negative.
Kuching Medical Centre Cluster
(Credit: Malay Mail)
The index case is a Malaysian frontline health worker (Case 8734) who had undergone Covid-19 testing due to his high risk.
Although the frontliner showed no symptoms, this person still tested positive on 14th July and was admitted to the Sarawak General Hospital.
Jupiter Cluster
Credit: @scphotoporto/Unsplash
The first detected case in this cluster is a non-Malaysian (Case 8723) who was a crew member of the LNG Jupiter cruise ship with travel history to Japan and Singapore.
He began experiencing symptoms on 3rd July, which worsened a few days later while in Sarawakkian waters.
He was admitted to a medical centre and Covid-19 testing came back positive. He was then transferred to Hospital Bintulu.
Following that, 29 close contacts were identified inside the ship and two Covid-19 tests came back positive (Case 8747 and Case 8748) while 27 came back negative.
The Health Ministry has determined that this is an isolated imported cluster with no exposure to the surrounding community.
However, cases that require treatment will be immediately taken to medical centres and hospitals.

Further screening and investigation are underway for these four clusters and the Health Ministry assures that the latest information will be given out from time to time.
As of 17th July, 18 new Covid-19 cases have also been reported, bringing the national total to 8755 cases. Of these new cases, 10 are imported cases while 8 are local transmissions in Sarawak, Terengganu, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
Credit: @KKMPutrajaya/Twitter
The Health Ministry has advised Malaysians to remain vigilant against Covid-19 and adhere to the health standard operating procedures (SOP) in place at all times.

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Source:
Kenyataan Akhbar KPK 17 Julai 2020 – Situasi Semasa Jangkitan Penyakit Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) Di Malaysia
Sarawak Records 10 New Covid-19 Cases, Two Fresh Clusters


Diving Her Way Into Malaysian Hearts – Celebrating Leong Mun Yee

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Leong Mun Yee, also known as Angela, is a household name in the Malaysian athletic world for not only winning Malaysia multiple medals across various global championships, she’s also the first Malaysian athlete of either gender and sport to compete at five Olympic Games – the crème of the crop for sports.

Although Mun Yee, along with her diving partner Pandelela Rinong, came in 8th at the finals for the Women’s Synchronised 10 Platform Diving Finals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she famously said “no regrets” having tried their best.
READ MORE: Malaysia In Olympics: No Medal This Time For Women’s Synchronised Diving
Shortly after her final dive, the 36-year-old announced her retirement after having represented the national team and first putting Malaysia on the world diving map 23 years ago.
In the beginning
Born and bred in Ipoh, Mun Yee attended the Marian Convent Primary Girls School there before moving to the Bukit Jalil Sports School in Kuala Lumpur when she was 11.
Albeit famously known as a diver, Mun Yee started as a swimmer and it wasn’t till her parents brought her to diving try-outs at the age of 10 that she got the passion for diving.
Three years later at the ripe age of 13, she made her debut at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.
The rest you could say is herstory.
Super athlete with a degree in communications
Amid the hustle of life as a professional diver, Mun Yee also enrolled herself at University Putra Malaysia (UPM) in 2007 where she finally graduated 10 years later in 2017 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications.
As a national athlete, it’s not easy to juggle our studies as we are often away in training camps and competitions overseas. But education is very important for me and I was determined to finish my studies — no matter how long.Leong Mun Yee,  The Star in 2017
Accolades across several major sporting events
(Credit: Leong Mun Yee)
Mun Yee has competed at the Olympic Games in 2000 (Sydney), 2004 (Athens), 2008 (Beijing), 2012 (London), and her final one this year in Tokyo.
Aside from the Olympics, she’s been invited to compete and has won medals for the following renowned championships:
Fina World Aquatics Championships – Synchronised 10-metre platform (with Pandelela)
2009 (Rome) – Bronze2013 (Barcelona) – Bronze2019 (Gwangju) – Silver
Fina Diving Grand Prix – Synchronised 10-metre platform (with Pandelela)
2017 (Kuala Lumpur) – Gold
Asian Games – Synchronised 10-metre platform (with Nur Dhabitah Sabri)
2018 (Jakarta) – Bronze
Other diving competitions she’s competed in include the FINA Diving World Cup, World Series, and Grand Prix where she’s bagged numerous silver and bronze awards.
What the future holds
(Credit: Leong Mun Yee)
With brains, brawn, beauty, and a whole lot of grit, the future is still bright for Mun Yee.
Despite not fulfilling her ambition to bring home a medal at her final Olympics, a recent article by the News Straits Times states Mun Yee is planning to set up an academy to develop up-and-coming divers. She says:
 I want to contribute in a different way as I will not be diving anymore. I still have passion for the sport. I want to unearth and develop divers with talent for the country.
In another article by the New Straits Times from August 2020, Mun Yee plans to finish her Masters in Mass Communications after she retires – a pursuit she began in 2019 but when the Olympics was pushed back a year, she had to postpone her studies to prioritise her Olympic preparation.
In the same article, Mun Yee was also looking to dabble in breakdancing and has been getting the steps in her footwork in her spare time during the Movement Control Order last year.
(Credit: Giphy)
This comes at a time where breakdance is considered a sport that is set to debut at the 2024 Paris Games.
Whatever it is Mun Yee decides on doing, Malaysia is behind you 110%.
Congratulations on your decades-long success and for putting Malaysia on the world diving map!

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It’s Scary When Your Loved One Had A Stroke. We Ask A Nurse What To Do

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If you’re here, it might be because a loved one has just come home from the hospital after having a stroke and you’ll be their caregiver for the next few months.

First off, good job for looking for some help. You probably have a lot of questions about whether or not your loved one will recover, and what their needs will be in the months ahead. You might also be wondering if you’ll be able to manage.
Being a caregiver to a stroke survivor is tricky as the physical impact of a stroke can be slight or devastating. Fortunately, equipping yourself with the necessary information will keep you on the right path in helping your loved one recover.
Let’s start with some general information on stroke to bring you up to speed.
         View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Homage (@homagecare) on Oct 26, 2020 at 6:06am PDT
In 2018, stroke was the third leading cause of death and disability in Malaysia. On average, 92 people were admitted each day to Malaysian healthcare facilities nationwide due to stroke, and almost 32 of those resulted in death.
Anybody can experience a stroke, regardless of age. In Malaysia, 40% of stroke patients are younger than 60 years old.
TRP spoke to Nisha Andrea Raj, a nurse and care specialist from Homage Malaysia who has over 10 years of experience in stroke care, to better understand what it takes to take care of a stroke survivor.
Nurse Nisha Andrea Raj, the care specialist from Homage Malaysia. (Credit: Homage Malaysia)
TIP 1: Prepare
A stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when blood supply to the brain gets blocked, by either a blood clot or from a burst blood vessel in the brain. In either case, parts of the brain become damaged.
It is imperative to know the type of stroke, when did the stroke happen, what was the treatment provided, the risk factors, recovery progress, and provided medication. This will ease our approach in assisting them.Nisha Andrea Raj to TRP
Nisha said many stroke survivors suffer from emotional incontinence – an increase in the frequency of crying or laughing episodes. They will be emotional and irritable and have outbursts that seem inappropriate to the situation.
She explains many factors can contribute to this, including the fact that your loved one has suddenly lost some of their bodily functions and are now unable to perform routine tasks as they used to.
Your loved one might need help performing even the simplest of tasks. (Credit: Homage Malaysia)
We nurses have to ensure we are mentally prepared and always patient in providing care. Always have a positive mindset and be encouraging towards the patient. Remember, with patience and consistent effort, considerable progress can be made.Nisha Andrea Raj to TRP
TIP 2: Understand
Nisha explains that knowing the type of stroke that has taken place is important in implementing the right type of care they’ll need and key in preventing further complications.
While there are a few types of stroke, all of them can affect a patient’s body function, thinking, feelings, and communication.
The most important thing to consider when caring for a stroke survivor is understanding them and what their daily needs are.Nisha Andrea Raj to TRP
She said that understanding how they have been affected is also paramount in preventing miscommunication between the caregiver and patient that could lead to your loved one developing depression during their recovery period.
Compassion and understanding are imperative when taking care of a stroke survivor. (Credit: Homage Malaysia)
However, miscommunication is so common during a stroke survivors recovery as many experience slurred speech or have difficulty speaking. This then leads to them feeling frustrated when the people around them cannot understand them.
This could be their biggest challenge as they are not able to communicate or express their needs and feelings.Nisha Andrea Raj to TRP
Nisha advises tackling this early by preparing a communication board or a pen and some paper for your loved one to use. In this modern age, there are also communication apps that can help aid the recovery process.
Printable communication boards can also be downloaded on the internet. (Credit: Pinterest)
She said this should make your loved one feel comfortable and more confident, as well as lead to a healthy relationship between the stroke survivor and caregiver.
TIP 3: Motivate
In her years of experience, she said the most common mistake family members make is misjudging the stroke survivor as being attention-seeking.
This usually occurs when the stroke survivor is totally dependent on the family for their daily needs.Nisha Andrea Raj to TRP
Stroke survivors with devastating physical impact may need special care and attention. This can make some families feel hopeless and think that their loved one will never regain normal function and mobility, says Nisha.
However, a full recovery depends on many factors, such as the survivor’s health before the stroke, where in the brain the stroke occurred, how much of the brain was affected, the survivor’s motivation, caregiver support, and especially, the quantity and quality of rehabilitation.
With quality rehabilitation, and constant motivation, your loved one will have a better chance at full recovery. (Credit: Homage Malaysia)
Nisha advises caregivers to identify the ability level of your loved one and their recovery progression based on the type of stroke they’ve had.
Family members may end up assisting the stroke survivor in doing everything. But, they should instead encourage the survivor to be more independent and help them train their affected body parts.Nisha Andrea Raj to TRP
TIP 4: Use Caution And Be Attentive
Stroke survivors can have risk factors and complications during their recovery that caregivers might not even be aware of, such as the risk of having another stroke.
Nisha highlights dysphagia in particular, which is the medical term for swallowing difficulties. She says that some stroke patients are fed food or water orally too early during their recovery period.
Many families are not aware that post-stroke patients may sometimes look normal when consuming food or water, but they are at higher risk of developing something called silent aspiration.Nisha Andrea Raj to TRP
Silent aspiration has no symptoms in the beginning and people are unaware that fluids or stomach contents can enter their lungs.
Your loved one may have risk factors and complications you may not be immediately aware of. (Credit: Homage Malaysia)
Healthy individuals cough or wheeze when water accidentally enters their respiratory system and they may also develop a hoarse voice or even a fever. But a stroke survivor’s body may not react that way.
The family should be cautious and attentive when caring for a stroke patient.Nisha Andrea Raj to TRP
Nisha advises speaking to the stroke survivor’s attending doctor about an oral feeding arrangement, or even request for an appointment to be educated about the stroke at the hospital before being discharged.
TIP 5: Take Care Of Yourself
Nisha warns caregivers about burnout, saying that caring for a loved one can strain even the most resilient people.
Stress, especially over a long period of time, can harm health and weaken the immune system. Her advice is to take care of yourself by eating a healthy diet rich in probiotics and exercising regularly, noting that activities like yoga, deep breathing, tai chi, qi gong, and meditation as good options.
Eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly will prevent you from experiencing caregiver burnout. (Credit: Freepik)
Practising good time management is also imperative. This includes keeping a schedule for daily tasks and taking time off from caregiving to focus on your own needs. Getting the support you need from friends and family means you’ll be able to be a better caregiver too.
In situations like this, it is important to take some time off or join a support group with other caregivers. This can help you work through problems together, understand and prioritise workflow while developing new friendships.Nisha Andrea Raj to TRP
TIP 6: Always Seek Advice From The Attending Doctor
Lastly, Nisha reminds that her tips are only meant as a guide to help readers understand and benefit from her own experience. However, her experiences aren’t always applicable in every situation.
All content provided here is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a piece of individualised advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Nisha Andrea Raj to TRP
She urges readers to avoid self-diagnosing and to seek the advice of the attending doctor for any questions or concerns you may have regarding any medical condition.

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10 Modern Kuih Raya You’ll See Every Year On Eid Fitr

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When Raya is coming, automatically, the ‘kuih raya’ mood is activated! Some people will go through the depths of making their favourite Raya cookies together with their family members and some will just buy buy buy.

Either way, you can’t do all these if you don’t even know the names of the common kuih raya you see every Eid.
“My favourite is the one with the chocolate swirl on top of a cookie. What’s the name again?”
Are you like this every year? Don’t worry we have your back.
Here, we compiled some of the popular kuih raya present on every Raya Aidilfitri.
1. Pineapple Tart / Tart Nenas
Pineapple tarts are always popular during any festive celebration here in Malaysia. They come in many shapes and sizes like these rolled ones, the Tart Nyonya one with the flower, and the Nastar (Indonesian) one with the filled balls.
Particularly during Eid, the rolled ones are popular. They’re made with copper moulds like semperit but have a wider tip instead of the flowered one.
Original ones (left), the one without the jam (middle), the Cadbury one (top right) and the blueberry and strawberry ones (bottom right).(Credit: @messyena, @cactibyda, @loveleestore, @bella_esabella )
There are a lot more renditions of these legendary tarts which are Cadbury Tarts, Blueberry Tarts, Strawberry Tarts, Green Tea Tarts and even tarts without the filling.
They have a sweet, tangy jam that goes well with their rich and buttery tarts. Check out the recipe here.
2. Almond London
We have zero ideas how the name came about for this one but just to clarify, these didn’t come all the way from London. They’re chocolate-coated little doughs with a whole almond filling and topped with almond bits.
To make these is a bit tedious but the end result is so worth it. You would have to wrap the dough around the almond, bake it, and then coat the biscuits in melted chocolate. After that, directly sprinkle some roasted almond nibs on top before the chocolate harden. And there you go, you’re a Londoner now.
(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)
They have a wonderful flavour of chocolate and nutty crunch. The dough taste like tarts: crunchy,  smooth and buttery at the same time. Here’s a recipe for you to try.
3. Honey Cornflakes / Cornflake Madu
This one is particularly popular for kids and adults alike every Eid, and well for other festivities as well. And they’re very simple to do on your own too.
It’s just basically mixing your cornflakes cereal in a mixture of butter, honey and sugar and putting them in tiny paper cups with a colourful rice chocolate/sprinkle topping. But just a little tip, do not heat the wet mixture for too long as it can start to thicken rather quickly and caramelize too much, turning your cornflakes bitter.
(Credit: @queen_mashe, @DilaKirby / Twitter)
No doubt they taste super sweet and crunchy. Somehow they do taste a bit like caramelized popcorn too. Here’s a super simple recipe you can try.
4. Marble Shortbread
A regular shortbread is the brown butter biscuit originating from Scotland. For the Malaysian kind, the recipe has a chocolatey twist where a layer of cooking chocolate is poured over it.
To make these require a bit of effort because it has two parts. You would have to bake the shortbread first in the baking pan, then pour the melted chocolate and white chocolate over it. Finally, do your marble swirling and use the cookie cutter to cut these into bite-sized blocks.
(Credit: @akufifiee, @rofldeear / Twitter)
With a sweet creamy chocolate and a buttery tart-like taste, these Raya biscuits will have you eating non-stop. Try this recipe here.
5. Cornflake Cookies
These are also called cornflakes but they’re your regular cornflakes with the dough. They’re also popular in Malaysia for several festivities like Chinese New Year too.
You can usually roll the dough into tiny balls and press them flat lightly. To add a little more crunch, you can add almond bits or chocolate chips.
(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)
Rich, buttery and crunchy, those are what make them so sought after too. You can browse the recipe here.
6. Ant’s Nest / Sarang Semut
They are named so because of their appearance that looks like little ant hills in cups. Rest assured, they do not taste the same. At least we like to think so? If you have tasted ant hills before, then holler us, we’d like to know the comparison. (Kidding, please don’t)
 Although it doesn’t look like much but this one is quite tasty as they taste a bit like the semperit with their custard flour and cornflour.
(Credit: @trisyaketu, @intanshasha / Twitter)
Because of the two types of flour, they taste very soft and will likely melt in your mouth when you eat them. Super creamy and easy to crumble, you’ll finish a jar of these in no time. Try the recipe!
7. Rainbow Cookies / Lidah Kucing Pelangi
We have no idea why somebody named a treat after a cat’s tongue in Malaysia. They’re not that colourful at all. But then again our locals have a lot of food that’s named after animals, like Kuih Lidah Buaya (Crocodile’s Tongue), Buah Mata Kucing (Malaysian Longan), Kuih Tahi Itik (Duck’s Stool) and more.
READ MORE: 5 Strangely-Named Malaysian Kuih You Definitely Have Never Tried Before
But our Indonesian friends do have a kuih like this also and they do look a bit like the cat’s tongue as they’re plain in colour. Maybe the one in Malaysia is just a colourful rendition.
The Indonesian one (left) and the current Malaysian rendition (middle and right)(Credit: @kkulnojaem, @ocotyantie, @pjywanderers / Twitter)
Their texture is a bit like meringue cookies as a large portion of the ingredients is egg whites. The batter is separated into different colours using food colourings and is piped one line by one line onto the specific dented trays.
It requires a bit of effort to do this but they taste sweetly amazing and soft. Check out the recipe here.
8. Florentine
A lot of people say that these cookies came from Florence, Italy and hence the name but they are believed to have Tuscan roots and are made popular in France. They’re popular worldwide and even Malaysians make these for almost every festive celebration.
The recipe is very simple but a bit messy and sticky. The various combination of nuts (usually almonds flakes, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds) is roasted in the oven and then mixed with the ready-mix florentine flour. Pop those in the oven again and when it’s done, make sure to cut those directly with a pizza cutter before they harden (difficult to cut).
(Credit: @zalniena, @florentine_kl /Twitter)
Alternatively, you can also put these in round paper cups to make the process easier and you’ll get florentine circles.
They’re crunchy caramelised snacks that you can never get enough of. Try the recipe here.
9. Suji Arab / Suji Kristal / Crystal Ball
These ghee coloured balls topped with castor sugar are also popular during Eid in Malaysia. Although they’re called suji (sugee), they surprisingly don’t have semolina flour in them.
They’re fairly simple to make as you can just separate the dough in different colours with food colouring and combine them bits by bits to be made into balls. After they’re baked, they’re tossed in castor sugar to give the plain cookies a bit of sweetness.
(Credit: @joonieeun, @IrSharifahDzain / Twitter)
Even if they’re eaten plain, they still taste creamy, crumbly and just melt in your mouth. Take a look at the recipe here.
10. Chocolate Chip Cookies
So one of the most evergreen cookie there is, is the chocolate chip cookie. It’s so timeless, suitable for any festive season, delicious and so easy to make too!
And of course, there are many renditions of the cookies with different ingredients, different flavours and different shapes too. During Eid, these are perfect for those kids who don’t like traditional cookies (ungrateful little midgets).
Chop Chip Cookies (left) and Red Velvet Cream Cheese Cookies (right).(Credit: Nor Azliza Mohamed / Facebook, Rizal KingRiz / Facebook)
For these cookies, you can either scop the dough using a spoon, pipe in a piping bag (those with a soft batter), or just make a round shape with your own hands.
Since there are so many different chocolate chip cookies out there, here are two recipes you should try.
Chocolate Chip Cookies Cream Cheese Red Velvet Cookies
Honourable Mentions
These cookies are particularly popular in recent years.
Nutella Choc Buttons
Chocolate Cookies decorated with almond nibs and a Nutella filling in the middle.
(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)
Nutella Pods
Tarts but with a generous amount of Nutella.
(Credit: @hidayahchaa / Twitter)
Biscoff Butter Cookies
Biscoff caramel flavoured butter cookies with biscoff crumbs on top.
(Credit: @munngeee, @raafikaziz / Twitter)
Crunchy Chocolate Almond
Almond slices in chocolate. As simple as that.
(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)
Onde-Onde
Pandan flavoured cookie with coconut shavings and a sprinkle of gula melaka.
(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP, @asman_hisyam / Twitter)
So there you go. Some of the most common and newest kuih raya to date. Savour these by buying them or just, make them yourself. Either way, our Raya mood is on!
If you’re feeling more traditional, you can opt for these traditional Raya cookies.
READ MORE: 7 Traditional Raya Cookies You Might Not Know The Name Of

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Red Axia Incident Now Has Parody Video, People Reminded Not To Confuse It As Original

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Catching couples doing the nasties in cars is not uncommon, especially when they’re young and filled with raging hormones.

For most of us, there is a time and place for sex.
However, a couple who went viral on social media for presumably doing naughty things in a red Axia recently were arrested yesterday.
Seri Alam District Police Chief Superintendent Mohd Sohaimi Ishak in a statement said the arrest involved a 22-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl.
The incident was believed to have been recorded at 3.03pm, last March 29, but only went viral on TikTok recently.
The police traced the viral video before finding the location of the incident, which is the parking area at Taman Kota Masai, Pasir Gudang (Johor). Acting on information, the two suspects were arrested separately, respectively in Taman Johor Jaya and Taman Kota Masai between 4.15pm and 5.15pm, today (6 April).Seri Alam District Police Chief Superintendent Mohd Sohaimi Ishak
Additionally, Mohd Sohaimi said the two have no records of past offences.
The police also seized a red Perodua Axia car and a red and white t-shirt. The case is being investigated according to Section 377D of the Penal Code which provides for a prison sentence of two years.Seri Alam District Police Chief Superintendent Mohd Sohaimi Ishak
What was the video about?
A local man recently caught sight of a curious occurrence happening in a red Axia parked in what seems like an empty parking lot in Johor Bahru.
The car had its windows down and as he approached the car, to his surprise there was a girl straddling a guy in the front passenger seat.
The girl was said to have been wearing a Red Crescent Society uniform.
When asked what they were doing, the guy immediately claimed the girl was “not feeling well”.
The man did not press the issue, he simply advised the couple to tint their windows.
The video has since gone viral and is now making rounds on social media with netizens creating parodies as well as memes.
Parody vs Original
Meanwhile, Twitter account @BMVFM shared a parody video of the incident, advising the people not to confuse it as the original.

In the parody video, a man and a woman reenacted the scene in a red car but this time it was the woman doing the talking.
When asked what they were doing, she replied that he was sick.
She then told the person recording not to delete the video. When the person recording said he was going to delete it, she got out of the car and chased him while saying, “Takmau delete lah, oiii!”

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“Elder abuse is happening at old folks home” former employees come forward after viral video

Elder abuse is a growing problem in Malaysiaâ€™s fast-ageing society but it is a crime that is grossly under-reported.
Recently, video of a woman abusing an elderly woman went viral on Facebook. In the video, a woman, believed to be a caretaker at the home is seen repeatedly taunting the elderly woman. The elderly woman tries to fight back but the caretaker continues to torment her.

According to the post, the caretakers of the nursing home have been abusing their residents for some time.
They have hit, starved and forced the elderly under their care to drink urine. The post goes on to say that since 2017, there have been 16 deaths at the nursing home.
Based on a report by the Malay Mail, the nursing home allegedly also locked the residents in their rooms for hours at a time, forced them to eat chillies and take excessive amounts of sleeping pills.

via GIPHY
Since the video went viral, former employees of the home have come forward to back up the claims of elder abuse. Currently, the Negri Sembilan Social Welfare Department (JKM)  are reportedly investigating the incident.
The State Women, Family and Welfare Affairs Committee chairman Nicole Tan Lee Koon said that the authorities have also visited the home yesterday evening and revealed that the owner of the old folks home has lodged a police report with one of the caretakers for further action to be taken.

via GIPHY

â€œAppropriate enforcement action will be taken if the centre does not comply with the provisions of the Care Centres Act 1993,â€
 Nicole Tan Lee Koon via Malay Mail
So…here begs the question. What exactly constitutes as elderly abuse. Well, elder abuse can fall under several categories:

Physical abuse, where you piap them, or deny them food, drink or their meds.
Psychological abuse, where you threaten them, shame them, call them names or prevent them from seeing other people.
Financial abuse, where you swindle their money or guilt them into transferring their assets under your name.
Sexual abuse, which is exactly what you think it is, and
Neglect, which can simply mean not caring for them according to their needs.

(Picture credit: WHO/Twitter)
An ongoing study conducted by researchers at University Malaya revealed alarming findings about elder abuse and neglect in Malaysia: one in 10 Malaysians over the age of 60 in urban areas experience abuse.
Meanwhile, in February, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail announced the governmentâ€™s commitment to legislating an act to protect the rights and welfare of the elderly.
Though, she didnâ€™t indicate when the law would come into effect or elaborate on what the law will encompass.

via GIPHY
While this research and the proposed law by Dr Wan Azizah are commendable efforts, they center mainly around elder abuse carried out within families rather than by care centers such as the one in the video.
Which then begs the next question. How do we actually help our elderly?
Good news is, although itâ€™s tough, there are a couple of things we can do as individuals to help the plight of our elderly community.
1. Be able to spot when abuse is happening.
(Picture credit: WHO)
2. Increase your awareness about elderly care and support.
One of the contributing factors to elder abuse cases, says consultant geriatrician Dr Rajbans Singh, is a lack of awareness, knowledge and understanding about elderly care and support.
UiTMâ€™s Dr Jaspal Kaur had observed that many age-related discriminatory practices and policies in the country exist because we see them as â€œmentally and physically weak, stubborn, out-of-date, unable to learn, seriously unhealthy and all in all a burden to societyâ€.

via GIPHY
3. Report, report, report.
If you do encounter elder abuse cases, alert the Welfare Department or call the Kasih Helpline at 15999.
Considering the head of our government is an elderly person himself, we sincerely hope that the way the elderly are treated in Malaysia will be improved soon. Whatever it is, in a few decades, these laws will affect us too. Come on, we arenâ€™t getting any younger now are we.


Popular hiking spot, Bukit Broga ablaze

First, it was the Arctic, then came the Amazon, Kalimantan and Sumatra.
Now it seems that our very own Broga Hill went up in flames recently.
Elmo Fire GIF from Elmo GIFs

Reports say that the popular hiking spot in Semenyih, Selangor was on fire on Monday (September 16).
Nearly three-hectares of the previously lush, green hillside went up in smoke!
25 brave firemen were dispatched to stop the blaze from spreading after reports came in at sometime around 4 pm.
N GIF from Minions GIFs

Arriving at the scene, the team was met with 10 other Fire and Rescue personnel who were already at the scene.
Apparently, the first team were there looking for a missing hiker who got lost on the trail (hope they found emâ€¦)
The fire was successfully put out at sometime around 7.30pm.
Though the cause of the fire was still being determined, investigators are not ruling out the possibility of it being started by irresponsible hikers!

(Image Credit: imgflip)

Images and footage of the blaze were shared by several social media users online and became quite the hot topic.

bukit broga terbakar pada jam 6 pm, isnin, 16 Sept 2019. @ Pit Stop No.1 Broga Hill🤦♀🤦♀🤦♀🤦♀ pic.twitter.com/7SMeBIfmjf
â€” 🌟🌟🌟🌟 (@intansarah09) September 16, 2019

“Broga Hill one fire at 6 pm, Monday, September 16 @ Pit Stop No.1 Broga Hill.”
via Twitter

Broga hills 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/hOlB4fUTBO
â€” kavinraj (@kavinra89334557) September 17, 2019

 pic.twitter.com/jdMV4tGzvZ
â€” Ù…ÙˆØ´Ø±ÙŠÙ Ø´Ø§ÙÙŠÙ‚ (@MusyrifSyafiq) September 16, 2019

Thankfully, there were no reports of injuries occurring from the blaze.


Dr Mahathir Unveils His New Party Name In A Poem Condemning Corruption

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In case you didn’t know, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has a brand new political party, one that has no ties to any existing coalition.

The new party was announced last week, an addition to the plethora of Malay-based political parties that the country currently has.
Today, Dr Mahathir announced the name of the party with a long poem on his blog. The party will be named Pejuang, the Malay word for ‘warrior’.
In the emotional poem, he denounced his previous party, Bersatu, citing that they have lost integrity by aligning with Umno and Barisan Nasional.
He also indicated that these Malay-based political parties no longer serve the true purpose of upholding the interests of the community, and are instead corrupted by personal gain, money, and power.
In the poem, he paints Pejuang as a promise to Malay people that their interests would be prioritized and the people’s needs met.
Currently, his son Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir is the temporary party president for Pejuang.
Dr Mahathir’s decision to kickstart a new party didn’t happen without criticism, though many Malaysians took the chance to offer creative name suggestions. Now that the name has been finalized, perhaps Malaysians can give Pejuang a peluang (chance).

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Living In Malaysia Isn’t “Cheaper” Than Singapore According To This YouTuber

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There are currently around 215,000 Malaysians working in Singapore and are generally known to do so because of its stronger currency (e.g. they can make more money).

Exchange rate aside, you’ll probably hear from friends and family currently in Singapore about how expensive it is to live there and how they miss all the “cheap” food, shopping and cost of living in Malaysia.
But is living in Malaysia cheaper?
A video that premiered recently on Malaysian financial edutainment channel Mr Money TV, begs the question: Malaysia Vs Singapore, is living in Malaysia really cheaper?
The 16-minute video, which currently has more than 11k views, goes into detail on which country is cheaper to live in and save your money.
Buying Power Between Kuala Lumpur And Singapore
In the video, they compared two people as an example, both of whom make 4,000 in their local currency with one living in Kuala Lumpur and the other in Singapore.
For a fair comparison of the buying power of each country, the 4,000 will remain in their respective country’s currency – so RM4,000 vs SGD4,000.
Daily essentials
(Credit: Mr Money TV / YouTube)
The following is an example of how much each person spends a day eating out and shopping.
 Kuala Lumpur Singapore Mee rebus for breakfast at a nearby coffee shopRM7SGD3Big Mac Value Meal at McDonalds for lunchRM15.60SGD8.65Grande Cappuccino at StarbucksRM13.80SGD6.603-course dinner at a mid-range restaurantRM80SGD77
Based on eating out alone, it seems it’s cheaper to do so in Singapore.
What if they didn’t eat out all the time and bought food to cook/eat at home?
A supermarket haul consisting of a litre of milk, a loaf of bread, a dozen eggs, chicken breast and a kilo of apples cost roughly RM37.25 in Malaysia and only SGD21.14 in Singapore.
Looks like Singapore has us beat again there.
(Credit: Shafwan Zaidon/Malay Mail)
Now, what if they spent the day shopping on things like gifts, clothes and groceries.
 Kuala LumpurSingapore iPhone 12 as gift for their partner’s birthdaysRM3,399SGD1,199Levi brand jeans for themselvesRM300SGD99
At this point, the video points out that the person in Malaysia has spent almost a month’s salary while in Singapore, only a third of their salary was used.
With only 5 minutes into the video, Singapore already gets more bang for the buck.
Transportation and accommodation
(Credit: Malay Mail / Wikimedia)
Of course, there are many other factors to consider which the video also covers like transportation and accommodation.
In Singapore, public transportation is widely used and a monthly travel card that can be used on the MRT and bus will cost SGD128.
In Malaysia, the cost of a monthly travel card is RM100 but trains and bus routes are not as well connected hence why Malaysians tend to drive more.
That said, the cost of owning a car is more in Singapore because of all the additional factors like having a Certificate of Entitlement (COE), but the actual price of the car is the same.
(Credit: Leeroy Agency / Pixabay)
Like many Malaysians in Singapore will tell you, rent does take a big chunk of your monthly salary.
And with Singapore called the ‘little red dot’ due to its relatively small size, real estate is a hot commodity.
But you know what? Rental in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore cost about the same in their respective currencies! A studio apartment that’s around 1,000 square feet and close to the LRT/MRT is roughly around 1,500 in ringgit and Singapore dollars.
But what about BUYING property?
Based on the calculations made by Mr Money TV, it’s more affordable to own property in Singapore because the mortgage loan rate is less than 1.5% and in Malaysia it’s about 3%.
In summary, Singapore gives you more buying power, but Malaysia gives you more options in life.
Watch the full video here:

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Imported Chocs Out Of Stock? Here Are 10 Local Chocolates You Shouldn’t Miss

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Langkawi may be out of imported chocolates such as Daim and Hershey’s for a while due to low stock since November 2021.

This shortage is reportedly caused by supply issues from suppliers in Singapore.
READ MORE: Duty-Free Chocolates Running Out In Langkawi, Shortages Due To Lack Of Supply
While we don’t know when the supply of imported chocolates will return to normal, it’s not the end of the line for chocolate lovers.
In fact, it’s a good opportunity to try some Malaysian chocolate brands. Some of these brands are our childhood favourites but the ‘newer’ brands make good chocolate too.
Childhood favourites
1. Beryl’s

Beryl’s has been making premium quality chocolate since 1995. The company produces three types of chocolate namely, white chocolate, milk chocolate and dark chocolate.
Over the years, the company has experimented with creative chocolate flavours such as durian and chilli. Now Beryl’s has over 70 types of chocolates and probably counting.
Most of us are familiar with this brand when we went on a school trip to the factory to see how the chocolates are all made. Beryl’s chocolates are made from cocoa beans that are sourced from plantations around the world.
2. Vochelle

Vochelle is distributed by the Maestro Swiss Group. Despite the European sounding name, Vochelle is very much locally made in Malaysia and the company strive to promote locally-made chocolates. Other than the chocolate bars, Vochelle also produces dragees.
3. Apollo
Apollo wafers. Image: Lazada
Apollo is not entirely a chocolate brand per se but it deserves a special mention. This is because the Apollo chocolate wafers and layer cakes are delicious staple snacks during primary school days. Safe to say, the company is still around and they can be easily found in popular supermarkets.
4. NiNi

NiNi is produced by Kinos Food Industries Sdn Bhd all the way in Pasir Gudang, Johor. The tasty chocolate dip and wafer stick snack are packaged in a cup.
Each bite of the chocolate-dipped wafer stick is a yummy delight no matter our age. It was the perfect treat to get at the end of a long school day.
Special mentions
There should still be a shout out for brands such as Mayora’s Choki Choki (Indonesia), Arnott’s Nyam Nyam Rice Crispy Chocolate (Australia) and Meiji’s YanYan for defining our childhood years.
‘Newer’ chocolatiers
5. Cocoraw

If you love Royce chocolates, local brand Cocoraw makes similar chocolate boxes.
Founded by Michael Woo and Lee See Pin, Cocoraw makes “nama” style chocolates with locally inspired flavours such as teh tarik and salted gula Melaka.
Those who love alcoholic flavours can sample flavours such as rum or gin and limau nipis (lime). There are chocolate flavours for the vegan and lactose-intolerant folks too.
To get yourself some Cocoraw chocolates, you can order online from the website or head over to any of the Cocodash outlets.
6. Chocolate Concierge

Founded by Ong Ning-Geng, Chocolate Concierge is another brand that blends local Malaysian flavours with cocoa beans sourced from various places in Malaysia.
Other than chocolate bars, they are popular for their Bon Bons and the special fillings with flavours such as Sweet Laksa, Onde Onde and Creamy Coconut.
To get your hands on some of this yummy chocolate, you can order online from the website or look for the shop in Bangsar Shopping Centre.
7. Love18C

Love18C is another popular local brand that makes “nama” style chocolates. They feature a number of interesting local flavours too such as black sesame, lychee rose and Bentong ginger dark chocolate.
Their beautifully designed chocolate boxes are a popular choice as gifts too. To ‘gift’ a box to yourself, you can conveniently order online from their website.
8. Benns Ethicoa

Founded by Ng Tuck Ming, Benns Ethicoa sources cocoa beans from various parts of Asia ethically to support farmers while bringing high-quality artisanal chocolates to the masses.
They produce a variety of chocolates such as chocolate bars, bonbons, chocolate drinks and even cacao tea.
You can treat yourself to artisanal chocolates by ordering them online or dropping by the store in Cheras for tea.
9. Seniman Kakao

Seniman Kakao works with several passionate cacao farmers in Malaysia since 2015 in its mission to highlight Malaysian cacao in international markets.
Other than the usual chocolate bars, they produce chocolate drinks as well as supply chocolate wholesale to restaurants and for baking use.
You can order the chocolates online on their website.
10. Ballotin Chocolate

Ballotin Chocolate specializes in Valrhona chocolate bonbons.
The bonbons are a treat for the eyes because it’s simply just so colourful and you just wouldn’t know which to eat first.
There are over 20 varieties such as Uji Raspberry (Uji matcha ganache with raspberry jelly) and The Tarik ganache with Dulcey shells.
The chocolates can be ordered online from the website or from their store in Kota Damansara.

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