Khairy Wants To Be PM Someday, But He’s Had His Share Of Controversies

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Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Sungai Buloh candidate Khairy Jamaluddin wants to one day become Malaysia’s Prime Minister.
During a recent political rally, the former Health Minister commonly known as KJ declared his intentions of taking the reins but concedes that it will take some time before he can lead the country.
His focus right now is to win a Parliamentary seat and says that he has time to wait for the post, but mentions that he doesn’t want to wait for too long.
Khairy claims this is the first time that he had declared his intention out loud and added that his party’s leadership would “cut him off” for saying it, FMT reported.
He even took a few swipes at other politicians questioning their credibility to lead when they are afraid of contesting in difficult areas.
I’m ready, but I must first prove it in Sungai Buloh. If the people here support me, I can inform my party people and then I will enter the dragon’s den.Khairy Jamaluddin
Credit: Malay Mail
PM material or PM tepi?
Before he found himself fighting in Sungai Buloh, Khairy represented Rembau and was the Youth and Sports Minister, and then the Science, Technology, and Information Minister before becoming the Health Minister.
His time at MOH includes his push for the Generation End Game (GEG) bill, which he said he will retable if he is re-elected back into Parliament, FMT reported.
He also brought medical marijuana (figuratively) to the Dewan, supporting the use of marijuana, and marijuana-related products for medical purposes.
READ MORE: Here’s All You Need To Know About Khairy Jamaluddin
Does he fit the bill as Prime Minister? Some may argue that he might not be the candidate that can lead Malaysia forward.
Credit: Malay Mail
What say the naysayers
Those who were critical of KJ pointed out that he is just like any other politician because he too has his fair share of controversies.
The issues revolve mainly around his involvement with MySejahtera, the backing of Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak during GE14, and his affiliation with and standing within UMNO and Barisan Nasional (BN) in general.
It doesn’t end there as his name was also mentioned in Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s Foreign Visa System (VLN) case but he denied receiving cash contributions from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB).
UMNO member and former UKSB Director Wan Quoris Shah Wan Abdul Ghani testified that around RM50,000 and RM200,000 were given to KJ through the Rembau Umno division for official political, humanitarian and social purposes managed by the party, Malay Mail reported.
It was also reported that the initials “KJ” appeared in a ledger owned by UKSB.
Credit: Malay Mail
Khairy’s popularity within UMNO hasn’t been glowing either with members like Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi publicly voicing their criticisms saying that KJ was instrumental in influencing Former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also KJ’s father-in-law to step down from his post.
He recalled a time when the infamous “fourth-floor boys” – a team of advisors to the Prime Minister was allegedly spearheaded by KJ when Pak Lah was in charge.
Puad claimed these advisors controlled the Prime Minister’s Office and eventually became campaign fodder for the opposition and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Credit: Malay Mail
It was reported that Mahathir handpicked Abdullah to take over the reins after 2003 but the relationship became sour with the fourth (and seventh) Prime Minister launching a series of criticisms which led to his resignation in 2008.
Besides that, KJ has also been embroiled in a few more controversies over the years such as the RM100 million scandal during his time as Youth and Sports Minister and the ECM Libra scandal which is still being used as ammunition by his rivals.
Only time will tell if Khairy will one day become Prime Minister, but his first hurdle is the seven-cornered fight in Sungai Buloh.
Credit: Malay Mail

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Covid-19 Vaccine Human Trials Might Begin In Singapore Sometime This Week

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Singapore may see human trials for a Covid-19 vaccine taking place there as early as sometime this week.

Developed by Duke-NUS Medical School and United States pharmaceutical company Arcturus Therapeutics, the Lunar-Cov19 vaccine’s human trials in Singapore will involve 108 healthy volunteers of various ages.
Speaking to The Sunday Times, deputy director of Duke-NUS Medical School’s emerging infectious diseases programme Professor Ooi Eng Eong said the aim of the study is to determine if Lunar-Cov19 was safe and if it could trigger the desired immune response in a human body.
The testing will be conducted at the SingHealth Investigational Medicine Unit, located in the Singapore General Hospital and involve taking and analysing several blood samples from participants after they were given the vaccine.
Prof Ooi said preliminary testing on animal models have already shown that Lunar-Cov19 was safe and free of any side effects. This led to the vaccine receiving approval for human clinical trials in Singapore ahead of its expected September timeline.
When news got out that we were doing a vaccine, we were thrilled that many members of the public said they wanted to volunteer for it. And I think that’s encouraging because the faster the volunteers come forward, the faster we can complete the trial.Professor Ooi Eng Eong via The Star
He also shared that many members of the public have also come forward to volunteer as a participant for the study, adding that if the vaccine’s human trials go well, results could be available sometime in October or November 2020.
Then, the next step would be to inoculate a larger sample size, some thousands of volunteers in both Singapore and abroad. This could begin before the end of the year.
Prof Ooi Eng Eong. (Credit: Channel News Asia)
In Phase III, we want to know whether the vaccine actually prevents them from getting Covid-19.Professor Ooi Eng Eong via The Star
He explained how Lunar-Cov19 involves a newer type of vaccine technology, similar to the one used by Moderna in their development of a Covid-19 vaccine. Both contain only fragments of the virus’s genetic material, and enable the human body to recogonise a key part of the virus, without exposing it to the entire virus.
However, there’s a key difference between Lunar-Cov19 and Moderna’s vaccine – Moderna’s is a non-replicating vaccine, while Lunar-Cov19 isn’t.
Prof Ooi explains that a non-replicating vaccine gives the body a snapshot of what an invasion by the virus would look like. While Lunar-Cov19 stimulates an actual viral infection.
By mimicking the replication, the body sees a ‘video’ of an invasion, rather than just a snapshot. This allows the infection to play out for the immune system, and we can see how best to target the virus.Professor Ooi Eng Eong via The Star
Lunar-Cov19 and Moderna’s vaccine are just two out of 25 potential vaccines being produced worldwide that have reached human trial phase, or at least obtained approval to do so.
Prof Ooi said he is confident that results from the study will be just as promising as other vaccines that have reached this stage of testing.
There are another 141 Covid-19 vaccines being produced across the globe which are still in the pre-clinical phase.

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What Is BPE And How Can Customers Get Up To RM231 Reduction On Their Electricity Bills

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Bantuan Prihatin Elektrik Tambahan (BPE) is an additional assistance package provided by the government and Tenaga Nasional Berhad to all domestic customers in the form of free electricity usage of up to RM231 (or RM77 per month).
This is equivalent to the first 300kWh electricity usage for the 3 months during the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO).
According to TNB on their website, for those who consume electricity between 601 – 900 kWh per month, they can get another 10% discount on top of the RM231 mentioned earlier.
This is an increase of 8% from the existing 2% discount rate from April 2020 to December 2020.
Below is the breakdown:
Picture Credit: TNB
The difference between BPE and the Prihatin Discount is that BPE is to reduce the higher billing increases during April 2020 to June 2020, while the Prihatin Discount is part of the economic stimulus package announced in March by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Recently, the discount was extended to December 2020 and also to Sabah and Sarawak to lessen the people’s burden.
Picture Credit: Pakej Rangsangan Ekonomi Prihatin Rakyat
According to the website, all TNB domestic customers will receive the BPE, which will be included in the July 2020 bill and they don’t need to make a qualifying review as BPE will be provided automatically to all domestic customers.

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Zoo Negara Is Looking For A Keeper And It Might Just Be You

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A lot of people say they love animals, but how many are willing to actually work with them?

You can now prove that ‘love’ with a chance to work at Zoo Negara as a “general worker.”
With the most basic requirement of being at least 18 years with an SPM, this looks like a great opportunity for high school graduates before going to university.
Qualifications and skills
Minimum SPM holder18 – 30 years oldCan read and write in Bahasa MalaysiaHave good observation skillsAble to interact with visitorsHardworking and with a positive personalityComfortable working outdoors and in groupsAble to work on weekends and public holidays

What the job entails
The role will give you the opportunity to work closely with the animals like feeding and cleaning them.
You will also put your observation skills to use by observing recording any unusual behaviours they might have.
Also, expect to clean and dispose animal “droppings” and unwanted debris.
At least you’ll get the following benefits like laundry allowance, meals, medical insurance (including dental!) and lodging too.
Is this something that you or someone you know may be interested in? Then send your resume, a recent photo, current and expected salary and contact number to hrd@zoonegaramalaysia.my.
Good luck!

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Indonesia’s Top Coffee Chain Kenangan Coffee Lands In Malaysia

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Our neighbour has arrived to share the best of their local Indonesian coffee with us! Known in Indonesia as Kopi Kenangan, they will be expanding into Malaysia as Kenangan Coffee!

Kenangan, which translates to ‘making memories’, is an emphasis for the brand, which is why they have chosen to keep the Indonesian word in the name for their international expansion.
We chose Malaysia as our first market expansion due to Malaysians’ love for the food, the steady growth in coffee culture, especially the grab-and-go concept, and the many similarities Malaysians share with Indonesians when it comes to taste profile and the receptivity to try new things.Edward Tirtanata, CEO and Co-founder of Kenangan Coffee
Left: Edward Tirtanata, CEO & Co-Founder, Kopi Kenangan and right: James Prananto, Chief Business Development Officer & Co-Founder, Kopi Kenangan.(Credit: Kenangan Coffee)
Their first store is in Suria KLCC, situated strategically at the entrance to the mall from the KLCC LRT station.
What Should I Get?
Their signatures are the Kenangan Latte and Avocado Coffee, which are made with Gula Aren (palm sugar) directly from Indonesian farmers.
The coffee blend they use is the Kenangan Blend, which also originates locally from Indonesia, specifically from Sidikaiang, Aceh, Flores, and Dampit.
The Kenangan Latte is smooth and milky, with smoky sweet flavours from the gula aren.
The ingredients used in their signature drinks.(Credit: Anne Dorall/TRP)
The Avocado Coffee may seem like an odd flavour choice, but it is surprisingly silky and nicely flavoured. The taste of avocado is not extremely strong, but those who like the creamy fruit will enjoy its flavour.
When asked, Edward said that the Malaysian drink menu will not be exactly the same. In fact, the drink recipes were tweaked to tailor to Malaysian taste buds, so they are less sweet than the original Indonesian drinks.
However, the drinks still certainly satisfy a sweet tooth. Like most beverage outlets nowadays, the sugar and ice level can be adjusted.
Additionally, they also have some exclusive Malaysian flavours not available in Indonesia, such as the Teh Tarik Series.
Besides that, they have plenty of other drink flavours to choose from.
A large variety of drinks available at Kenangan Coffee.(Credit: Anne Dorall/TRP)
The brand also has an app, Kenangan Coffee Malaysia, which is already available on iOS and the Google Play Store. The tech-enabled coffee chain aims to bring convenience to its customers, as you can pre-order drinks on the app for pick-up, try exclusive new drink recipes, collect points, and more.
Currently, their first outlet has opened in Suria KLCC. Four more stores will open in MyTown Cheras, Pavilion KL, NU Sentral KL, and Sunway Pyramid PJ by the end of 2022.

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Catch The Sunrise Between KLCC Towers This Sunday

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Malaysians might get a chance to witness one spectacular sunrise in Kuala Lumpur this weekend.

So according to avid photographer and full-time Syazwan, Syazwan Basri, the sun is predicted to align perfectly between the Petronas Twin Towers – or KLCC as we locals call it – if you catch it from a certain perspective this Sunday morning (27 February) sometime between 7 and 8 am.
Promoting the phenomenon on Twitter, Syazwan shared that the event can be witnessed at the Changkat Tunku Lookout Point near Taman Duta which provides uninterrupted views of the KL skyline.
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Syazwan Basri (@syazbasri)
Speaking to TRP, Syazwan explained that the event only happens once or twice a year. He also shared that the KLCC sunrise would probably occur again on 15 October this year.
However, Syazwan did note that the public road at the lookout point is pretty narrow, so sunrise catchers are advised to be extra careful not to disturb traffic, residents in the area or the shutterbugs who are there to capture the magical moment.
Also be sure to abide by new normal rules, wear your masks and remain physically distant from others.
To anyone who missed out on the sunrise between KLCC last year, it’s happening again this year 27 Feb 2022, location : Changkat Tunku Lookout Point (google maps) pic.twitter.com/U8AKNTgugc— Syazwan (@syazbasri) February 22, 2022
Similar views can be caught from a range of different places across the city, but you have to be at the right spot at exactly the right time, as shared by other local photographers online.
Memorable sunrise between our iconic Petronas Twin Towers 🌅–#HelloFrom Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia@TourismMalaysia @Petronasbrands –#Malaysia #MalaysiaTrulyAsia #KualaLumpur #KLCC #MYTwinTowers #PetronasTwinTowers #sunrise pic.twitter.com/GMtNVotrjD— Aereon (@Aereon_Wong) May 2, 2021
Sunrise Between The 2 Towers – Took this photo 2 years back in 2019. One of my friend were planning this shot and told me to be there at the right place and the right time… and there I was snapping this shot.#photography #photographyislife #sunrise #klcc #kualalumpur pic.twitter.com/OnwUOnrsBr— Edwin Ng (@edwinnwh) June 23, 2021
The phenomenon only occurs during certain times of the year as our planet Earth orbits around the Sun.
Earth’s slight 23.5-degree tilt perpendicular to the sun is what causes seasons to change and provides us with the perspective that the sun rises and sets at different locations across the horizon throughout the year.
(Credit: Abhijit Juvekar via EarthSky)
You can also catch the sun rising perfectly over other iconic structures across the country, like this mesmerising view of the Penang Bridge sunrise taken recently.
Penang bridge sunrise pic.twitter.com/anmKXZnQrh— Tun Fadzil 🇲🇾🇵🇸 (@FAZHAJAZ) September 9, 2021

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Source:
Why does the location of sunrise change?
Watch the sun’s shift on your horizon
Matahari terbit di tengah Jambatan Pulau Pinang


Petaling District No Longer Covid-19 Red Zone After Yesterday’s Scare

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Selangorians worried about the state’s rise in Covid-19 red zones can breathe a sigh of relief as the latest data released by the Health Ministry shows that Petaling district is now a yellow zone.
As of 12pm on 3rd May, Petaling district records 39 active Covid-19 cases after the previous day’s 43 active cases that had put it in the red.
From mid-April, Malaysia has been exhibiting success in flattening the curve of Covid-19 infections as the number of green and yellow zones increased across the nation.
However, numbers from 2nd May indicated a jump in cases that pushed both Petaling and Gombak in Selangor into the red zone.

Daerah zon merah kembali meningkat drpd 8 kepada 10 apabila kes aktif kembali bertambah di Petaling dan Gombak. Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan dan Perak kekal negeri zon hijau manakala P.Pinang hanya 2 kes aktif. #PKPB bermula esok. Laksanakan tanggungjawab anda, patuhi #SOP. pic.twitter.com/DD7DuUibxW— KKMPutrajaya (@KKMPutrajaya) May 3, 2020

With the latest numbers, there are 9 Covid-19 red zones remaining in Malaysia:
Lembah Pantai – 221 active casesKuching – 131 active casesKepong – 96 active casesTitiwangsa – 95 active casesGombak – 87 active casesKluang – 67 active casesHulu Langat – 48 active casesSeremban – 45 active casesKota Samarahan – 47 active cases
The number of yellow zones have increased to 62, while green zones are slightly lower at 86.
Malaysia currently has a total of 6,298 Covid-19 cases where 1,780 are active cases.

Petaling kembali menjadi zon kuning sekaligus menjadikan zon merah berkurang daripada 10 kepada 9.Pulau Pinang hanya tinggal satu kes aktif. Bagi anda yang tidak terlibat dalam sektor yg mula beroperasi hari ini,  terus duduk di rumah kerana tempat paling selamat. pic.twitter.com/IzeA48llg5— KKMPutrajaya (@KKMPutrajaya) May 4, 2020

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Study: Forgetting to brush your teeth can increase your risk of heart attacks

Did you brush your teeth before going to bed last night?
Sejal Kumar Do Not Disturb GIF from Sejalkumar GIFs

Cardiovascular disease is the worldâ€™s number one killer today. It claims 17.9 million lives a year, of which 85% are due to heart disease and stroke.
In Malaysia, heart disease is the number one cause of death with the total number of deaths standing at 13,503 or 13.9% last year (2018).
So, you might wanna rethink your unhealthy habit of forgetting to brush your teeth before bed because poor dental health could increase your risk of heart attacks!

Picture credit: Me.me

In fact, studies have shown that tooth loss patterns are connected to coronary artery disease, while gum disease (periodontitis) is associated with an increased risk of developing heart disease.
Poor dental health has also been shown to increase the risk of bacterial infection in the bloodstream
Once bacteria enter the bloodstream, it is capable of releasing clot causing toxins, stir up inflammation in walls of blood vessels or affect heart valves.

Picture credit: MEME

Hence, for patients of Infective Endocarditis (IE) who have artificial heart valves, oral health can be especially important.
IE, an uncommon affliction, is a life-threatening inflammation of the heart muscle lining and its valves.
The condition causes significant morbidity and mortality in both children and adults, and bacterial infection of the artificial valves can lead to them being damaged and increase the likelihood of death.

Picture credit: Imgflip

Dr Siva Rao, the head of Paediatric Cardiology at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, discussed the link between dental health and cardiovascular health via a press release in conjunction with World Heart Day.
His department is attempting to increase awareness of cardiovascular health, especially for children with congenital heart disease.
He is encouraging parents of kids with congenital heart disease to live a lifestyle that is healthier for the heart.
This includes eating more fruit and vegetables, having good dental hygiene, living a more active lifestyle, and avoiding cigarettes and alcohol.
So, reduce your risk of heart disease by brushing your teeth at least twice a day starting today!
Teeth Brush Brush Teeth GIF from Teethbrush GIFs


Extra KTM Trains Will Run During GE15 Weekend For Voters To Vote

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After the announcement for GE15 was announced last week, Malaysians who have been working outside of their hometown are making plans to go back home and vote this 19 November.

READ MORE: EC Sets GE15 On 19 November
Some plan to drive back home and some would book public transportation such as flights, trains and buses.
For flights, several companies are offering discounts and extra trips during the general election week.
READ MORE: Wanna Book Flight Tickets For GE15? Here Are Some Tips
However, flight tickets aren’t always the cheapest option. They’ll increase the prices a bit during peak seasons like this because it’s the nature of the business.
However, you can count on trains and buses to remain their prices. The only problem with that option is their availability. Most tickets are sold out during peak seasons.
Don’t worry, KTMB’s preparing more trains
Luckily for those who wanna travel back home using the train in the peninsula, KTMB is offering a special Keluarga Malaysia service and 8 additional ETS trains for those who wanna go back and vote from 18 – 20 November.
According to BFM News, KTMB is offering 2,520 tickets for ETS and 716 tickets for KL Sentral-Tumpat-KL Sentral.
The Keluarga Malaysia special train service offers trips from KL Sentral to Tumpat and vice versa from 18 – 20 November.

The additional 8 ETS trains offer trips from KL Sentral to Padang Besar and vice versa.

Tickets are now available at the KTMB app, counters and website.
For more info, visit KTMB’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

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Woman Beaten With Hot Iron, Raped And Held Captive For 37 Days In Job Scam

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A 25-year-old woman named Lina (not her real name) fell victim to a job scam that promised her a high-paying job and attractive benefits.

However, her excitement quickly turned to terror as she was held captive and abused by the scammers.
Lina, who had previously worked in Singapore but was laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was struggling to find a new job when she received an offer from a friend.
The job promised her a monthly salary of tens of thousands of ringgit, plus all expenses for her flight, visa, and accommodation.
She was thrilled and accepted the offer after being offered it four times.
The Promise Of A High-Paying Job Turns Into A Nightmare
Upon arrival at a large building in an unknown country, Lina was separated from her friend and immediately put to work without rest.
She was taught how to transfer money and was forced to transfer money from her Malaysian account to another country.
She was not allowed to take breaks or even go to the bathroom without permission.

I felt something was wrong on the first training day, but I couldn’t do anything about it, so I continued working. I wanted to leave every day, but it was difficult because I felt like I was being watched.
Job scam victim Lina on wanting to escape but unable to do so.
Lina was caught and held captive in a dark mice-filled room when she attempted to escape.
She was only given rice and sauce for two days, beaten with a hot iron, and raped by the boss’s spy. She was told that she had to pay RM50,000 to leave the room.
After 37 days of captivity, Lina managed to escape with the help of the army.
Lina Warns The Public To Be Wary Of Job Scams
Lina, whose plight was highlighted by Sinar Harian, advised the public not to trust job offers or social media advertisements easily.
She advised people to investigate them thoroughly before making any decisions.
This is a tragic reminder that job scams are still prevalent and that we should always be cautious when accepting job offers, especially those that seem too good to be true.
The issue of job scams and modern slavery is a serious concern, and the Malaysian government is taking steps to address it.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim recently brought back victims of a job scam syndicate in Cambodia.
MALAYSIA/CAMBODIA: 12 🇲🇾 victims of job scam syndicates in Cambodia rescued, said PM Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during official visit to 🇰🇭 last week. Embassy officials were planning to go to victims’ location to begin repatriation process. https://t.co/pJ9LFxilrD— CyberScamMonitor (@CyberScamWatch) April 7, 2023
Job fraud syndicates are led by gangsters from China who operate through sophisticated fake profiles and shadow websites.
They lure debt-saddled youths from Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries with promises of high salaries in online sales or eternal love before enslaving them to carry out scams themselves.
They risk being beaten to a pulp, sold to another syndicate or having their organs harvested.
READ MORE: 24 Malaysians Who Fell For Job Scams In Cambodia Have Safely Returned Home
READ MORE: Two M’sian Teenagers Safely Return Home After Being Duped By “High-Paying” Job Scam In Myanmar
Here are some tips that can help you avoid job scams in Malaysia:

Research the company before applying.
Be wary of unsolicited job offers.
Never pay for a job or training.
Be cautious of high-paying jobs that require little to no experience.
Don’t share personal or financial information until you verify the company’s legitimacy.
Report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

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Fraser’s Hill Resort Development Has Been Ordered To Stop

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The developer of the controversial 15-storey resort in Fraser’s Hill has been ordered to stop works after residents and non-governmental organisations raised their concerns over the environmental impact of the high-rise project.

What you need to know: The developer has been instructed to revise the building design and consult the Department of Environment (DoE) on the project. They will require a green light from all relevant agencies before they can proceed. So far, the company has already stopped the ongoing works at the project site.
Why it matters: Last month, a colonial-style bungalow and an abandoned resort were demolished. Residents and the Persatuan Alam dan Warisan Bukit Fraser (PAWBF) were shocked to see development begin and claims that the demolition and development works were carried out without the submission of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report to the DoE.
According to PAWBF, the project could have detrimental impacts on Fraser’s Hill only lake and rich biodiversity.
Who said what: Raub district officer Datuk Mohammad Shahid Ismail notes that the project has currently been suspended until the developer submits a new design that has been approved by all relevant agencies.
Read more:Stop-work order issued on resort project at Fraser’s Hill [NST]Fraser’s Hill Is In Grave Danger Of Unwanted Development [TRP]

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Car window tint laws changed today. Sorta

Car window tinting laws have been updated today but front windscreens still need to be at least 70% transparent and front side windows still at 50%.

(Pic via JPJ Facebook)

What has changed is rear windows seem to no longer have hard tint limits anymore.
However, these are for private vehicles only.
All windows for vehicles registered and used for transportation of passengers and goods have be at least 70% transparent. Like Grab.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke testing out a car window’s tint even though the % is right there on the glass.(Pic via JPJ Facebook)

At the same time, if you can still apply for darker tints for security or health reasons.
For security reasons, there’s an application fee of RM50 and if approved, the fee is RM5,000 for two years.

via GIPHY
Those applying under health reasons won’t be charged any fees but need written confirmation from a government medical officer.

Tell me again how you need a tint because your skin is sensitive and not because you don’t want people to see your face after cutting queue at the exit ramp?


Fuel Shortage On Major Highways Due To Higher Traffic Than Expected, Says KPDNHEP

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Petrol stations along major highways are reportedly running empty, and those who are making their way home after Raya have complained online.

According to a Twitter user Shasya (@shasyaedora), there’s a petrol shortage from Besut to Kuantan. She also posted pictures of cars waiting in petrol stations.
Another person @winn3risg said there was no petrol in a petrol station in Penang as well.
Ni apa kes Pantai Timur tak ada minyak?!! Dari Besut sampai Kuantan. Kereta banyak sadai pic.twitter.com/2GWUypxyeV— Shasya Edora 🇲🇾🌺 (@shasyaedora) May 6, 2022
Dsyatnya mmg petron problem eh, smalam pegi petron penang, minyak habis jugak https://t.co/PhZIobjvBD— D (@winn3risg) May 7, 2022
The Star reported that the acute fuel shortages are mostly happening on the east coast.
Netizens are also frustrated that many petrol stations had run out of RON95 petrol and only the pricier RON97 is available.
From 5 to 11 May, the price for RON95 petrol is RM2.05 per litre and RM3.94 per litre for RON97.
The fuel shortage is confirmed
Credit: Miera Zulyana/Malay Mail
According to Sinar Harian, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) confirmed there’s a fuel shortage in several petrol stations in Terengganu.
KPDNHEP chief Saharuddin Mohd Kia said investigations revealed that the shortage is caused by high petrol consumption by the Raya crowd than initially expected.
Each petrol station has a limited petrol quantity that can be used for a set time period but due to the high consumption during Raya, the petrol finished before the refill date.KPDNHEP chief Saharuddin Mohd Kia
He added that the fuel shortage only affected RON95 petrol and expects the situation to return to normal in stages.
The Malay Mail reported that it might take some time to refill the petrol stations because the heavy traffic will slow down the lorry tankers.
This Raya is different from others, it was a surprise. The sale has been crazy. Usually it is 20 per cent up from normal days, this time it is 40 per cent up,Petrol Dealers Association of Malaysia (PDAM) president Datuk Khairul Anwar Abdul Aziz

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Lee Zii Jia Says He Is F***Ing Done, Netizens Say No

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Lee Zii Jia posted what read like a frustrated Instagram story after his defeat to world No 49 Lee Chia Hao yesterday at the 2023 German Open.

It was a nail-biting match between the world No. 4 and Chia Hao, with the match extending to the third set.
Zii Jia had a hard time against his opponent as he had to drag the game to the third set with a win of 22-20. However, he could not keep up with Chia Hao in the final set when he lost 21-23.
As reported by the News Strait Times, including this match, Zii Jia has failed to get past the round of 16 in six successive tournaments.
The post in his Instagram story, which said “I’m f***ing done”, shows the frustration that he had with the outcome of the match.
Zii Jia has faced many setbacks since his exit from the national team.

Netizens reshared his post on other social media platforms, which then saw many giving the shuttler words of encouragement.
One of them said that he should find the right solution and keep on fighting.
Never give up! Change & find the right solution, then work it out. Be a fighter like your best friend. Bangkit!@thone_xyz via Twitter
Another commented that it is time for him to change his coach and look for someone who has more experience.
Dont give up. Relax and think. Sudah tiba masanya dapatkan coach yang berpengalaman luas dan mampu bentuk strategi yang baru . Jumpa pakar psikology, jangan layan media sosial sebab ramai yg negatif kritik.@stay2pku via Twitter
The support from the people shows that they still have Zii Jia’s back and they are hopeful for a comeback.
However, the process of bouncing back is entirely in is hands and let us all hope that he does perform better in the upcoming tournaments.

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Who Will Be The Next Johor MB?

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Machap assemblyman Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi has emerged as the possible candidate to replace Johor Barisan Nasional (BN) chief Datuk Hasni Mohammad as the next state menteri besar.

Onn Hafiz, 44, was previously the Layang-Layang assemblyman and former Johor Tourism, Youth and Sports Committee Exco under Hasni’s leadership.
He came from a politically influential family as he is the great-grandson of UMNO’s founding member and first president Datuk Seri Onn Jaafar and the nephew of Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi (Credit: umnojohorofficial)
The other name that has been swirling around is the 64-year-old Rengit assemblyman Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi.
The former Batu Pahat MP is a UMNO supreme council member and had also previously served as the deputy minister of education between from April 2009 to May 2013.
Despite his experience, including serving as a senator in Dewan Negara between October 2004 and October 2007 and helming the Special Affairs Department (JASA) from March 2015 to April 2018, it is unlikely that Mohd Puad will get the nod due to his age.
Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi (Credit: Malay Mail)
Hasni-led Johor BN emerged the clear winner in last weekend’s state election, sweeping an unprecedented 40 out of the 56 seats contested.
However, following a delay in naming the state menteri besar, Hasni, 62, yesterday called for a young person to lead the state.
“Seeing the support and position of the younger generation who are important in the development of Johor, and for the sake of the state’s lasting prosperity, I suggest that the party leadership elect young people to lead Johor.
“God willing, under the new leadership, the state will be more prosperous.
“As I said on the eve of Barisan victory over the course of the day, there is no political ideology, politician and political party that is bigger, more important and more prominent than Johor,” Hasni was quoted as saying by The Star.

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Here’s how this local schoolteacher turned his low-cost flat into a gorgeous apartment

Considering how bad the economy is right now, most newlyweds end up either staying with their parents after the wedding or moving into some cheap housing – based on what they can afford.

via GIPHY
Sometimes, this means that your place might be really tiny, or not in a super posh neighbourhood. But apparently, these factors won’t stop you from having a REALLY nice place anyway.
With a budget of just RM10k, this local teacher set out to make the perfect home for him and his wife. Using just a low-cost flat apartment, youâ€™d be amazed at what he managed to do with it.

Sharing his experience on Facebook, Farid Saadul Baharim, explained how he is a first-time home-owner. He and his wife just recently got married and they didnâ€™t have much money to spend on getting a really nice place. However, heâ€™s always liked interior designing and was determined on creating a nice and comfortable home for him and his wife, anyway.

He believes that you donâ€™t need to spend a fortune to create a stylish living space. All it takes is spending time looking for the right pieces and getting the best price for your purchase.
He bought tiles and fixtures such as sliding doors, sinks etc direct from factories and suppliers. He then bought furniture from places like Econsave, Mr DIY and IKEA. His advice is to look for things that look expensive and match the overall theme of your apartment.

Despite being as thrifty as possible, Farid sees nothing wrong with spending a little bit more money on making the home comfortable. To him, itâ€™s an investment. Your house is where you come home to after a tiring day at work. Itâ€™s where youâ€™ll be spending most of your time with your family and itâ€™s where your children will grow up.
BTW, Farid designed 95% of the whole apartment himself (yes, his wife gave him complete power over the decor of the place, so trusting right?)

Farid explained that if you don’t have a lump sum of RM10k to spend, that’s alright. Save up a little bit of money first and do each section of the house one by one.
Here’s some before and after photos:
(Picture credit: Cikgu Farid Saadul Baharim/Facebook)
(Picture credit: Cikgu Farid Saadul Baharim/Facebook)
(Picture credit: Cikgu Farid Saadul Baharim/Facebook)
Talk about Apartment Therapy inspo! One thingâ€™s for sure, this guy does not need the help of the Fab Five.


Thor: Love and Thunder Is Postponed (Again!)

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The release date for Thor: Love and Thunder has been postponed to 21 July 2022, instead of its original release date which was 7 July 2022.

Malaysian cinema chains TGV and GSC Cinemas announced the news on their official Twitter pages earlier today.
According to the statements, the reason for the delay was due to orders from Disney Studios Malaysia. Those who have purchased tickets in advance will receive a full refund within 14 working days.
A very important announcement for #ThorLoveandThunder 😞 pic.twitter.com/IR5xpEyvMv— GSC x Mat Kilau 🇲🇾 (@GSCinemas) July 1, 2022
Breaking News: @DisneyStudios Malaysia has confirmed that the release of #ThorLoveandThunder in Malaysia is now postponed to 21 July 2022. For customers who have purchased advance sales tickets, you will be fully refunded. Kindly take note of the below: pic.twitter.com/4PS0YTYm1G— TGV Cinemas | #TontondiTGV 🇲🇾 (@TGVCinemas) July 1, 2022
Thor: Love and Thunder has been rescheduled multiple times previously due to the pandemic. The film was initially set to release in November 2021, before being pushed back to March 2022. It was delayed once again to May 2022 before settling on a July 2022 release.
Love and Thunder is the fourth installment of the Thor franchise. Based on the film’s official synopsis, the film will entail Thor’s quest for inner peace, but his retirement is interrupted by a galactic killer known as Gorr the God Butcher, who seeks the extinction of the gods.
The film stars Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman and Tessa Thompson reprising their roles of Thor, Jane Foster and Valkyrie respectively. Christian Bale is set to appear as Gorr. It is directed by Taika Waititi, who previously directed Thor: Ragnarok.
Check out the trailer for Thor: Love and Thunder (if you haven’t already), and let’s hope the film doesn’t get pushed back again!

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MOHE: Public University Students To Get 15% Discount On Uni Fees Due To MCO

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Students in the second semester of their 2019/2020 academic session in public higher learning institutions will get up to 15% discount for their hostel, administrative and activity fees.
What you need to know: After receiving feedback from students, parents, and relevant stakeholders, the Higher Education Ministry discussed the matter with the Finance Ministry. The decision was made after taking into account the financial capability of the government and public universities.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad said the discount involves a total allocation of RM72mil. RM20mil will be channelled from the Finance Ministry and RM52mil will be from internal allocations of the universities, derived from savings made during the movement control order (MCO).
Why it matters: The discount is aimed to help reduce the burden of students and their families, especially those hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic.
While 15% may seem like a small amount of money to some, it is invaluable to the public university student population, most of whom are from the B40 group.
Around 523,318 students nationwide are expected to benefit from the discount.
What’s next: According to Noraini, the Ministry is also aware that students are facing challenges when it comes to online learning, such as limited internet access, high internet costs, and lack of proper devices like laptops and smartphones.
The government has since asked public universities to assist students by sending relevant materials via post to avoid them becoming left behind in their education.
How it got here: On 1 June, Bernama reported that parents and students have called for universities to have their fees lowered since students were not fully utilising campus facilities after campuses were shut due to the movement control order (MCO).
Later on 19 June, The Star reported that Vice-chancellor of several public universities (IPTA) met Higher Education director-general Prof Datuk Seri Dr Mohamed Mustafa Ishak to discuss the matter.
University Malaya’s student union also submitted a petition to their vice-chancellor to reduce tuition fees. The petition managed to garner at least 23,400 signatures.
Read more:15% fee reduction for public varsity students due to MCO, says Higher Education Minister (The Star)Students’ appeal for lower fees under study (The Star)

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M’sian Orders Groceries Just So Rider Can Help Feed His Cat

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TikTok user Muhammad Firdaus recently shared a heart-warming story about how a delivery rider helped to feed his cat because the family hadn’t done so that day.

In the TikTok video, he explains that the family was rushing out to buy baju Raya and thus forgot to feed the family cat.
Upon realizing his mistake, he had no choice but to order cat food and paper plates on grocery delivery platform HappyFresh and request the rider to help feed oyen.
The rider feeding the fluffy cat.(Credit: Muhammad Firdaus/TikTok)
To his surprise, the HappyFresh rider did exactly that, patiently pouring out the wet cat food onto the plate and tried to feed the cat.
However, instead of just leaving the food at the gate, the HappyFresh rider pspsps-ed at the cat to catch its attention, even staying to make sure oyen finished eating the food, and then took away the dirty plate before leaving!
Naturally, Muhammad and netizens were touched by the rider’s kindness (and the cute cat)!

Some netizens even noted that the cat was surprisingly bold with a stranger, as most house cats would be more nervous or scared instead. (Perhaps it was too hungry!)

It’s always heart-warming to see kindess shown between our fellow Malaysians!
Watch the full video here:
  @fir_114 Tolong orang ❌Tolong kucing ❌Tolong Owner Kucing & Si Oyen ✅Terima kasih abang rider HappyFresh 💪 ♬ original sound  – Muhammad Firdaus

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AnonymousMY Is Back & The Government Is Using A RM1.8 Billion Cyber Security Strategy To Defend Against It

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The government is on high-alert following a cybersecurity threat made by the internationally tied hacktivists group, Anonymous Malaysia.

The National Security Council (MKN) issued a warning to all government agencies to prepare for, prevent and minimize the impact of a cyberattack and said that the government takes threats to the nation’s “critical systems” and government IT infrastructure very seriously.
MKN explained that it has outlined steps to reinforce government IT systems including improving the expertise of its personnel. MKN will be coordinating efforts with the National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA) and the police.
RM1.8 billion plan at work
MKN say that measures taken were in line with plans under the Malaysia Cyber Security Strategy (MCSS) 2020-2024.
The MCSS is a RM1.8 billion plan launched by the government in October 2020 involving 12 strategies, 35 plan-of-actions and 113 programs managed by the Communications and Multimedia Ministry (KKMM) and the NACSA as the main mechanism for the nation’s cybersecurity.
Cybercrime and sabotage
Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) Director Zainuddin Yaacob said that threats of hacking against government systems and information being leaked were not to be taken lightly as it would affect the country and the rakyat.
Zainuddin explained that PDRM’s cybercrime division is always prepared to face cyber attacks and action can be taken against the culprit under Section 124K and Section 124L of the Penal Code for carrying out or attempting sabotage against the country – which carries the punishment of between 15 years to life in prison.
Legal action can also be taken under Section 4 or Section 5 of the Computer Crimes Act 1997 for the offence of having unauthorised access to facilitate or commit an act of cybercrime and performing unauthorized modifications to the contents on a computer – which carries a maximum fine of RM150,000 or a maximum prison sentence of 10 years, or both.
#OpsWakeUp 21
On 25 January, Anonymous Malaysia resurfaced after several years of silence with a video threatening a cyber attack against the Malaysian government it called #OpsWakeUp21.
At just over two minutes long, the video began with a 1.28-minute intro of what’s presumably Anonyomous Malaysia’s new logo before a mysterious figure wearing a mask appeared on the screen.
The group claims that the government had taken the nation’s cybersecurity systems for granted which allowed for crimes to take place – referencing the recent case of cyber attacks against the Malaysian Armed Forces and the leaking of customer personal data belonging to 46 million mobile phone subscribers in Malaysia.
We have been silent for a long time. It’s time to open our eyes. We are legion, we do not forgive. We do not forget. Expect us.via Facebook/Twitter
Hello, Malaysian.This is a wake-up call for the government of Malaysia.It’s have been a long time that we are silent. Be prepared.We are legion, We do not Forgive, We do not Forget, Expect US!#OpsWakeUp21https://t.co/QfhQfZ7pSQ— Anonymous Malaysia (@anonymalaysia) January 25, 2021
Anonymous activities
Anonymous is an underground movement of international hacker activists or hacktivists, that have claimed responsibility for a number of cyber-attacks against governments and private organizations in protest for internet privacy and against online censorship.
The group is usually seen taking on the appearance of the legendary British “traitor” Guy Fawkes, who is recognised today as a symbol of protest and anarchy against authority.
Over the years, Anonymous Malaysia had made several threats to the government;
Operation Malaysia, 2011A coordinated attack which shut down 91 government websites including the official Malaysian government “gov” portal after the government blocked access to 10 file-sharing websites like Torrent and Pirate Bay.
Operation PTPTN, 2012Anonymous had threatened an attack against the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) claiming that the fund was taking advantage of borrowers with high-interest rates.

Sabah scenario, 2013A group calling themselves “MALAYSIA Cyb3r 4rmy” clashed keyboards with Anonymous Philippines during the Lahad Datu armed conflict in Sabah in 2013. Both groups had launched attacks against several websites by posting messages and threats against one another before declaring a truce.
(GMA News Online)
Blow up the IGP’s car, 2015Anonymous Malaysia had threatened to blow up then-Police Inspector-General (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar’s car.
Najib cyber warfare, 2015Threatening an “all-out internet warfare” if then-Prime Minister Najib Razak remained in power.

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Source:
Sabah row spills over online: PHL, MY sites defaced
Ancaman Kumpulan 'Anonymous Malaysia' Dari Luar Negara - KPN
Anonymous Hacktivists Attack Malaysian Government Site
Act 574 PENAL CODE
Act 563 COMPUTER CRIMES ACT 1997
Anonymous Malaysia: A Legit Threat Or A Fleeting Nuisance To The Government?
Kerajaan lancar Strategi Keselamatan Siber Malaysia RM1.8 bilion


54YO Sungai Petani Man Sets Hut On Fire Because He Couldn’t Find His Wife

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A 54-year-old man in Taman Seri Astana, Sungai Petani, went berserk after his wife left the house after a domestic dispute around 10.20am yesterday (12 July).

According to Harian Metro, the man lost patience when he couldn’t find his wife at home and threw a tantrum while wielding a machete in front of the food outlet that they owned together.
He then set fire to the hut behind the food outlet and broke the rear windscreen of a stranger’s car. The hut reportedly served as a place of rest for many people.
Members of the public quickly called the police before the situation got out of hand further.
Utusan reported that the suspect ran and hid in the bushes behind the burning hut. The police managed to arrest the suspect at his home and remanded him for four days.
The suspect did not fight with the police and admitted that he committed the offences. He also told the police that his erratic behaviour stemmed from stress due to domestic problems.
Investigations revealed that the suspect had a criminal record with 12 previous crime-related offences, four of which were for drug offences.
The case is being investigated under Sections 435, 427 and 506 of the Penal Code for mischief and criminal intimidation.
According to Harian Metro, the suspect removed his mask after appearing in court and asked for his picture to be shared on social media so that everyone would know his face.

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Three KL Bars Named Among The 50 Best Bars In Asia 2020

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Three spirited bars in Kuala Lumpur have made it to Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2020!
The 5th edition of the 50 best bars in Asia list sponsored by Perrier was revealed via a virtual awards ceremony on 14th May with our local talents making it onto the prestigious list.
Bar Trigona at Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur comes out on top as the Best Bar in Malaysia and at No 14 overall.
Bar Trigona at Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur is named Best Bar in Malaysia.(Credit: Asia’s 50 Best Bars)
According to Asia’s 50 Best, the bar’s focus on Malaysian produce such as wild turmeric from Pahang and raw honey from local trigona bee hives proved to be a winning factor.
KL’s first rum bar, JungleBird at Bukit Damansara follows at No 37, while Coley’s in Bangsar comes in at No 48, praised for its contemporary creations that draw inspiration from Malaysian flavours.
To give you an idea of the type of drinks you can find at these bars, JungleBird serves up drinks like Cendol Colada and Nyonya Business (Peranakan flavours meets rum).
         View this post on Instagram            A post shared by JungleBird Kuala Lumpur (@junglebirdkl) on Mar 11, 2020 at 4:16am PDT
On the other hand, Coleys serves up cocktails like whiskey bubble tea and The Miloni – Milo with Negroni.
         View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Coley Cocktail Bar (@coleylumpur) on Jun 23, 2019 at 5:31am PDT
While the Covid-19 pandemic and Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) means that visiting pubs and bars are out of the picture for now, that doesn’t mean that the local bar scene still shouldn’t be celebrated.
Despite the tough times, Asia’s 50 Best Bars states that the publication of the 2020 list is intended to provide recognition to the bars’ and their teams’ hard work over the past year . It hopes to instill optimism and positivity within the bar industry as Asia begins to open up.
Congratulations to the three winners!

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Source:
Asia's 50 Best Bars 2020


ROG Gaming Chairs Are Coming Soon To IKEA In 2021

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Swedish furniture giant IKEA is making its first foray into the gaming market with their partnership with the Republic of Gamers (ROG).

Most well known for their gaming chairs, ROG is ASUS’ gaming division and often considered to have a relatively premium price point. The collaboration could potentially mean a much more affordable range of ROG gaming accessories for gamers all over the world.
You MAY have seen these chairs before, even if you’ve never sat in them.(Credit: Pokde)
The collaboration aims to develop a new range of affordable gaming furniture and accessories to cater to the 2.5 billion gamers in the world. The range will consist of around 30 products that will improve the gaming experience at home, such as chairs, desks, storage, chair mat, mousepads, cable management, lights, desk dividers, and more.
Sadly, this collaboration is still in the works and will be available in China first in February 2021 before being released to other parts of the world in October 2021.

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Why Malaysian Scotch Lovers Are Guaranteed A Good Time With Benriach

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If there’s one thing Malaysian whisky anoraks love, it’s the amber tipple from Scotland – from Speyside to be exact. After all, the region is the homeground of a litany of high-prized, award-winning whiskeys (think The Glenlivet and Glenfiddich) which Malaysians have been lucky enough to enjoy on our shores.

But we’re getting another well-timed dose of luck, as the decidedly unique whiskies from Benriach has finally made its debut in Malaysia – just in time to warm our insides as the weather takes a balmy turn not unlike its Speyside distillery.
Credit: Benriach
Brought in by boutique Malaysian beverage distributor, Drinks Alliance – the Benriach label is probably one of the most interesting whiskies to warm Malaysian palates. While it bears all the winning hallmarks of a Speyside tipple – easy drinking and deliciously fruity – Benriach seems to relish in experimentation and was one of the earliest producers to introduce peat into bottlings.
Despite being known for its long standing tradition of distilling classic, peated and triple distilled whisky, the distillery from 1898 also departs from traditional sherry cask maturation, opting to instead make use of its vast electric cask inventory sourced from various parts of the world. Among these unusual cask types include new oak, Jamaican rum, Sauternes, Port, Madeira and beyond which results in complex layers of flavours.
Credit: Benriach
The Original Ten
Benriach The Original Ten(Credit: Benriach)
A traditional Speyside whisky, single malt whisky is smooth and fruit forward with a bouquet of orchard fruits like green apple and honey with an undercurrent of spiced vanilla and the barest hint of smoke. These multilayered notes come from the three cask maturation for at least ten years in bourbon barrels,sherry casks and virgin oak.
The Smoky Ten
Benriach The Smoky Ten(Credit: Benriach)
Sweet and smoky, thanks to the Highland peat which is distinctly milder than an Islay’s heavy notes. Crafted from a combination of unpeated and peated spirit, it opens with a sweet fruituniness before a gentle nudge of aromatic smoke and toasted oak spice tickles the palate. The whiskey has seen time in bourbon casks, Jamaican rum barrels and charred virgin oak. Interestingly, this whisky would go very nicely with a yakitori-style or korean-style barbeque dinner.
The Twelve
Benriach The Twelve(Credit: Benriach)
This one is a beautiful dark drink – think chocolate, coffee and cherry having a wonderful party together and you’re invited for the full experience. The dark expression comes from the cask maturation for at least 12 years in sherry casks, bourbon barrels and port casks. It’s not all dark though, there’s honeyed notes interwoven into the drink and it’s very much a Benriach specialty.

So if you’re ready to dive into Benriach’s exquisite whiskeys, we have a treat for you! Drinks Alliance is offering TRP’s readers a special RM25 discount for all Benriach products on Wine Bros! Just use the promo code BENRIACHMY21 when checking out from Wine Bros (HERE).
The best part? This code is valid for 30 times usage until 15th September 2021. Cheers!

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Malaysian Slave Labourers In Myanmar Saw Woman From KL Who Went Missing Five Months Ago

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Two Malaysian siblings forced into slave labour in Myanmar had made an unexpected revelation.

The ‘piggies’ (Cantonese slang for people who are victims of human trafficking) said they met 22-year-old female insurance broker Chia Ming Yong, who went missing several months back.
The local media had widely reported Chia’s disappearance.
READ MORE: 22-Year-Old Insurance Agent Still Missing, Family Fears The Worst
Sin Chew reported that the siblings had seen Chia in Myanmar since April.
She had also been a victim of human trafficking like them and remains trapped in Myanmar.
Human Trafficking.Malaysia remains on the Tier-3 Blacklist alongside Afghanistan, Cuba, Eritrea, Guinea-Bissau, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Nicaragua, Russia, South Sudan, Syria, Turkmenistan & Venezuela.Newbies: Vietnam, Cambodia, Brunei & Macauhttps://t.co/eKjsKgr7t3— Jeff Ooi (@Jeff4Malaysia) July 20, 2022
No Time To Lose
A Malaysian NGO and five family members of the siblings went to the Myanmar embassy to submit a memorandum at about 11 am this morning.
In an interview, a family member known as Chen pointed out that when her sons asked for help, they hoped the family would rescue Chia.
Chen pointed out that her two sons, aged 16 and 30, were tricked by a local agency to work in Myanmar back in March and became piglets.
They managed to inform their families via email in April and asked for help.
My sons said that they often saw Chia crying in the dining room during breakfast, and the latter expressed that she wanted to leave. Therefore, my son hopes to save her as well.Chen to Sin Chew on her son’s request to rescue Chia.
Ini adalah situasi hukuman dera yang diambil dari dalam syarikat penipu. Selagi kelajuan menaip lambat sedikit atau prestasi kerja buruk, mereka akan dipukul.#MYAMYADI #MYAOWADIAA PARK #Kumpulan Penipuan #Scam Gaji Tinggi #MACA #MACA Jelutong #jualbabi #Myanmar #Kemboja pic.twitter.com/gC9WeQSoBV— nan manjoi8715 (@nanmanjoi8715) July 5, 2022
Duped By The Promise Of High Salaries
Chia had told her family on 5 April that she was going out to meet clients and drove her mother’s car away from the house.
On the same day, her mother and her boyfriend received a message from her, saying that she was going to Johor for a job interview.
She asked her family not to contact her and told her not to worry about her safety.
Her message also stated that she had obtained a high-paying job overseas.
Chia said she had packed her luggage and taken her passport, but her family suspected that it was not written by her based on the writing style of the message.
They also found out that she did not take any luggage with her.
The car she was driving on the day she disappeared was later found in Setapak, but no trace of her was found.
A King’s Ransom
In April, money amounting to RM10,000 had to be paid by the family of a 15-year-old Malaysian teenager to free him.
The teenager was tricked into human trafficking by a criminal syndicate in Myanmar.
Head of MCA’s Complaints and Public Services Bureau, Datuk Seri Michael Chong, said the teenager was successfully released.
Media pressure regarding the criminal syndicate’s activities forced the criminals to release him in exchange for ransom.
More than 50 Malaysians held captive by syndicates in Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand, says MCA’s Michael Chong https://t.co/4wqeMjWvLn— Malay Mail (@malaymail) April 7, 2022
Chong said they first asked for 300,000 renminbi (RM200,000), but he managed to lower the amount to RM23,000 and then RM10,000 for his release.
The syndicate’s modus operandi is to post advertisements on Facebook.
They lured victims by offering job opportunities as customer service abroad with lucrative salary offers.
The person trying to cyberscam you may be one of the tens of thousands of human trafficking victims who have been lured with the promise of high-paying jobs only to be forced into defrauding people online to pay for their own freedom.https://t.co/P13WFAbrxV— ProPublica (@propublica) September 14, 2022

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Zahid’s Daughter & Her Husband Fined RM800 Each For MCO Violation

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The daughter of UMNO President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Datuk Nurul Hidayah and her husband, Datuk Saiful Nizam Mohd Yusoff were each fined RM800 by Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court today for violating the Movement Control Order (MCO).
The sentence was given by Magistrate Shahwira Abdul Halim after the two pleaded guilty to the charge of violating the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures in the Infectious Diseases Local Area) 2020.
On 20th April, Nurul Hidayah posted a picture on Instagram showing her and her husbandâ€™s visit to Putrajaya with Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri and Deputy Minister of Environment and Water, Ahmad Masrizal Muhammad at their respective offices.
         View this post on Instagram           Alhamdulillah. Alhamdulillah. Alhamdulillah. Suara kita didengar oleh seorang insan yang baik hati – YB Datuk Seri @drzulkifli.albakri . Terima kasih kerana sudi menerima kehadiran saya dan suami sebagai tetamu utk menyampaikan kegusaran dan kerisauan sebahagian kami yang beragama Islam. Semoga Allah mempermudahkan urusan YB Datuk Seri, seluruh keluarga, kakitangan dan kita semua amnya. Aaminnn Yaa Rabb. . . Nota kaki : Sy terlalu happy. Alhamdulillah. Nanti sy share outcome daripada meeting sy dgn beliau ❤ A post shared by  Nurulhidayah Ahmad Zahid (@nurul.zahid) on Apr 19, 2020 at 10:08pm PDT
She alleged the visit was on behalf of her non-governmental group within the MCO.
However, the 41-year-oldâ€™s actions immediately drew flak from Malaysians online who accused her of violating the MCO and abusing her privilege as the child of a high-profile political figure.
She responded to the criticisms by challenging people to make a police report, which they did.
         View this post on Instagram           Selepas selesai dengan YB Menteri Hal Ehwal Agama, kami ke Kementerian Alam Sekitar utk berjumpa dengan YB Datuk Dr Masrizal, Timbalan Menteri. Bertukar2 pendapat dan cadangan adalah cara sy dan YB Datuk Dr Masrizal sejak beliau menjadi Setiausaha Politik kepada Abah sy @ahmadzahidhamidi tidak berapa lama dahulu. A dear friend to our family ❤ A post shared by  Nurulhidayah Ahmad Zahid (@nurul.zahid) on Apr 19, 2020 at 10:25pm PDT

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Getting Calls From A Number With A Pretty Profile Pic? It’s Likely A Scam

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When it comes to scam calls, most of us have received calls from the fake Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), banks, and government agencies.

However, there seems to be a new “caller” joining the fray. This recent scam call typically happens over on Whatsapp and the caller’s profile picture often shows a picture of a beautiful young woman.
These images are likely to be stolen images and there’s no answer if you called the number back.
Image: TRP
Netizens have complained about the same issues after receiving missed calls from these numbers. Those who received these calls are annoyed because the calls keep coming minutes apart.
A few netizens managed to get a hold of these scammers and it was revealed that one of them posed as a recruiter.
Another scam caller claimed they found the phone numbers on the job search site, Jobstreet.
Since the calls are incessant, netizens advised everyone to block these numbers just to be safe and to make it harder for scammers to contact them.
Have you received similar calls lately? Let us know in the comments.
I've called back all 3 numbers on whatsapp. No one picked up.— Ooi Beng Cheang (@luxentX) May 2, 2023
Same… pic.twitter.com/cZ1zyK8uT8— Izzatul Nazmeen (@NazmeenAmin) May 2, 2023
Oh, same! I muted (went into DND mode) after the first call and now just noticed I had 2 more missed calls from the same number within a minute of each other. pic.twitter.com/B4Djr6tleQ— ShaRadhiatul 🌺🇲🇾 (@shaibah3) May 2, 2023
Got this over the weekend.. Extremely annoying especially when I was doing something on the phone. pic.twitter.com/QFQs94iE7o— KDS (@thedragonlady78) May 2, 2023
I have when message back they say they are recruiters. Scam I block straightaway— Nigel Yap (@Nigelytl) May 2, 2023
Texted them so that you don’t have to pic.twitter.com/dmgKPjGeLr— iNaNa_ (@ibrahimshaari) May 2, 2023
Yesss exactly. I thought it was urgent or client, called back but they rejected. Then ask who tf are you. Then she replies that shit. Immediately block. But another number use the same tactics. Immediately block pic.twitter.com/BalUFfsPOr— Amir Afiq 🏴 (@amirafiq73) May 2, 2023
⚠SCAM ALERT⚠For those of you who received these calls, report and block their number as spam. Make it harder for the spammer to register a new phone number. pic.twitter.com/JjhRaIIA6x— Ooi Beng Cheang (@luxentX) May 2, 2023

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JPJ Giving 70% Discount Off Summons For Next 2 Months (If You Want To Get Off The Blacklist)

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Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong has announced that the Road Transport Department (JPJ) will be offering a 70% discount on compoundable summonses in celebration of their 75th anniversary.

The discount will kick in for two months, from 13 April to 13 June 2021.
No Pay, All Pain
Those with unsettled summonses will be blacklisted, rendering them unable to renew their driving licenses or road tax, which would effectively take them off the road.
This discount would allow these motorists an easy way to pay up their summonses and get taken off the JPJ blacklist.
For example, with the discount, a motorist will only have to pay RM45 to settle a RM150 summons.Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, Transport Minister
There are around 3.5 million active summonses currently identified, beginning from 2010 to March this year. That’s a lot of summonses– and discounts!
Those who want to try checking for your active summonses during this discount period can do so on the MyEG website HERE.
Got PDRM Summons Instead?
In fact, police summons are also discounted during this time. The 50% discount is available on the MyBayar Saman app, although it is only available until 14 April 2021.
You can check if you have any outstanding PDRM summonses HERE.

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25-Year-Old Woman Reported Missing After Climbing Mountain In Kelantan

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A 25-year-old woman named Cannie Teh Lay Xin went missing after climbing a mountain in Kelantan.

Her family was unable to contact her and was worried.
According to Sin Chew, a Facebook user shared a post asking for help to find her.
In a screenshot of a conversation, Teh had told her family that she was in Penang and would be in Kelantan from the 13th to the 15th of May.
She was driving a Myvi car.
Since chatting with her mother this morning, there has been no news from her, and her phone is also unreachable.

The family had been trying to contact her but received notifications that her phone was switched off or had no signal.
The worried family was unsure if she had reached Kelantan or not.
News of her disappearance then became viral on social media.

Once Lost, But Now Am Found
However, the good news is that Teh Lay Xin has been found safe and sound.
It has been reported that she lost her signal while climbing the mountain, which caused her family to worry.
Her friend’s latest Facebook update shows that Teh has been found safe and sound.

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Government To Let Banks Decide On Loan Moratorium

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The Finance Ministry said that it was up to the banks to decide whether to extend or work on other measures in regards to the Covid-19 loan repayment moratorium period.
The six-month loan deferment or moratorium period was announced by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) as part of the Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus Package (PRIHATIN) during the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, which allows for individuals and small businesses (SMEs) to essentially delay financing repayments from April to September 2020, with no compounding interest.

Full List of Banks That Won’t Compound Interest During BNM’s 6-Month Loan Suspension

According to Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz the government apparently can’t force banks to extend the moratorium period.
Although acknowledging public appeal on the need for the extension, the minister suggests that a way things could play out is for banks to provide a more targeted approach to the moratorium by only giving it out on a case-by-case basis after the period ends.
Meanwhile, looking at one of the country’s largest financial institutions may reveal what’s to come for millions of Malaysians.
(Malay Mail)
Malaysian Banking Berhad, a.k.a. Maybank, said that it will not be extending its loan moratorium timeline.
Maybank explains that the original six-month moratorium period was “good enough” at providing a buffer for banks to figure things out and restructure repayment or loan packages.
Maybank CEO Datuk Abdul Farid Alias said that the reason for the moratorium in the first place was to allow “customers” time to talk with banks to repackage their financial repayments and come out of the moratorium period “stronger”.
Previously, Malaysians were vexed and confused over the supposed “u-turn” made by BNM on its decision to require additional confirmations to warrant the loan deferments and giving the public the choice to either opt-in or out of the moratorium, instead of it being automatic.

Finance Minister Urges Banks To Waive Accrued Interest During Six-Month Moratorium

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Source:
Govt urged to extend moratorium on bank loan repayments to December
Govt talking to banks on extending 6-month loan moratorium
Extension of loan moratorium not healthy
Banks urged to extend moratorium for another 3 months
Finance Minister: Govt to discuss with banks extension of six-month loan moratorium
Reiteration of Our Statements on Moratorium


Kelantan Business Owner Paid Compound Notice, Doesn’t Want To Politicize “Shorts” Issue

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The matter of a non-Muslim woman in Kelantan getting issued a compound notice for wearing shorts by the Kota Baru Municipal Council (MPKB) has been resolved.

Business owner, Sunny See Yeap Seng, said he has paid the compound as he didn’t want the issue to be politicised.
He was accompanied by Kelantan Chinese Association Federation president Dato’ Oie Poh Choon at the meet.

The sensational issue has been resolved peacefully. Because I don’t want the issue to be politicised.
Sunny See wrote on Facebook

What happened previously?
Sunny previously made the matter known when one of his employees, the woman in question, was fined for indecent wear at the workplace.
The post went viral and garnered lots of criticism online. The issue also brought Section 34 of Kelantan’s Business and Industrial Trade By-Laws 2019 to everyone’s attention.
Under that section, all Muslim and non-Muslim business owners have to ensure they are dressed decently at work and this includes their employees as well.
READ MORE: Kelantan Says Non-Muslim Fined For Indecent Clothing Not New, Part Of Trade By-Laws
MPKB also posted pictures to show the woman’s actual compounded attire, which was different from the viral post.
MPKB said they regret that a misleading statement gave the public a negative perception towards the council and local authorities.
READ MORE: MPKB Shows Non-Muslim Woman’s Actual Compounded Attire, Different From Viral Pic
Image: TRP File
MPKB president Rosnazli Amin defended the decision to issue the compound to the woman.
However, local government development minister Nga Kor Ming urged the council to retract the compound notice issued to her yesterday.
Nga said it was the woman’s right to wear shorts as she was not a Muslim and her freedom was enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

I hope that all municipal councils and local governments would learn from this incident and don’t be overzealous in issuing fines. In this incident, the (MPKB officers) should have advised and educated her first. After all, she is not a Muslim.
Local government development minister Nga Kor Ming

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The No-Nonsense Way To Be A Malaysian Influenzer [SATIRE]

Influenzers rose to prominence recently, promising viral content on their platforms that will reach the masses. And we’ve seen these influenzers become overnight sensations in their own right.
So if you’ve ever wondered how exactly to become an influenzer yourself and start living an influential life, we’ve got you covered.
1. Always go for viral content
Virality sticks. And these days, nothing is more viral than the novel Wuhan coronavirus (known in medical circles as 2019 nCoV). So get yourself a good dose and wait for it to set in.
2. Spread awareness
Now that you’ve gotten your viral content, you need to market it far and wide. This is when you should be most active on all your social media platforms.
It doesn’t matter if the news is fake, as long as it’s sensational. It’s even better if you could find a viral content that feeds into the audience’s existing set of biases, such as a muted tourism video of bat fruit soup that claimed to be from Wuhan that perfectly fits your audience’s narrative of Chinese people who eat everything.
We’re not knocking it, we’re just saying no one cooks chicken soup without at least skinning the bird.(Credit: RT.com)
3. Have a call to action
Your audience is riled up and agitated. This is the best time to get them to do something to put their support behind your cause.
You could even start a petition calling for the banning of Chinese tourists into the country with a sweeping statement that “the new virus is widely spread throughout the world because of [the Chinese’s] unhygienic lifestyle”, despite little fact that the coronavirus started due to eating habits at Wuhan market.
4. Keep the interest alive
Ramp up your efforts to go into full panic mode. Cough loudly on people. Conspicuously sanitize everything you touch with hand-sanitizer. Loudly stage-whisper “Wuhan virus!” at everyone who sniffles. Scream at Chinese people, even if they have never stepped foot in China.
“IS IT BECAUSE I’M CHINESE???”(Credit: Freepik)
5. Profit
Everyone is properly afraid, panicking, and desperate. Now, go forth and sell your overpriced face masks that you’ve hoarded since the Ebola scare.
Congratulations, you’re now an influenzer!

This article is satire and we certainly do not want anyone to profit from a very serious case of coronavirus. Please stay indoors, keep your masks on, and limit contact with large crowds of people. Share your thoughts with us on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!


No, There Isn’t A Landslide On The ‘Ipoh’ Highway

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Recently, a photo showing an alleged landslide on a highway to Ipoh has been circulating online and it worried many people who were planning to return home to celebrate Raya.

The picture initially made its rounds on Facebook and was quickly debunked by netizens. Unfortunately, the fake post is still up online on Facebook.

The picture and the fake story continued spreading and found new life in WhatsApp groups.
Image: TRP
According to netizens, the picture actually shows an actual landslide that happened in northern Taiwan about 10 years ago.
NBC News reported that the picture was taken by the Taiwan National Freeway Bureau.
Also, Ipoh locals said there are no such freeways heading to Ipoh. Netizens also asked the post to be reported to the authorities for spreading fake news.
Eagle-eyed netizens added that the limestone colours in the picture were all wrong, indicating that the landslide didn’t happen in Ipoh.
If anyone sends you the photo, please let them know that it’s an old photo of a landslide in Taiwan and it’s safe for people to balik kampung for the coming Raya celebrations.

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ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker Special Edition Launched at RM7,999

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Just last month ASUS announced the new ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker Special Edition (GA401QEC) laptop.

READ MORE: This Is What You Get When You Combine Music And A Gaming PC
Today ASUS have announced the full specifications and price of the laptop that is going to be sold in Malaysia.
Here is what you get for RM7,999.

Model Name GA401Q-ECK2081TSProduct NameROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker SEColorEclipse Gray AniMe Matrix versionDimension (W x D x H)32.4 x 22.2 x 1.99 ~ 1.99 cmWeight1.70 KgProcessorAMD Ryzen 9 5900HS Processor 3.1 GHz (16M Cache, up to 4.5 GHz)GraphicNVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti 4GB GDDR6With ROG Boost up to 1585MHz at 60W (75W with Dynamic Boost)Display14-inch IPS-level QHD (2560 x 1440) 16:9 Adaptive-Sync120Hz 300nits DCI-P3 100% Pantone ValidatedTotal System MemoryTotal 16GB RAMSlot 1: 8GB DDR4-3200On-board: 8GB DDR4-3200System Storage Slot 1: 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSDWi-Fi / BluetoothWi-Fi 6(802.11ax)+Bluetooth 5.1 (Dual band) 2*2(*BT version may change with OS upgrades.)I/O Ports1x Type C USB 3.2 Gen 2 with Power Delivery (100W), Display Port and G-Sync1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack1x HDMI 2.0bWebcamN/AMicBuilt-in array microphoneKeyboard TypeBacklit Chiclet KeyboardAura SyncN/ASpeakers2x 0.7W tweeter2x 2.5W speaker with smart AMP technologyAudio TechAI mic noise-cancelingDolby Atmos SoftwareSmart Amp TechnologyOperating SystemWindows 10 Home Office softwareOffice Home and Student 2019 includedFingerprint SensorYESBattery76WHrs, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ionPowerø6.0, 180W AC Adapter, Output: 20V DC, 9A, 180W, Input: 100-240V AC, 50/60Hz universalBundled ItemsROG x AW Sleeve for 14″ROG x AW CapROG x AW SocksROG x AW RemixWarranty2 Years Global Warranty(1st Year with Perfect Warranty)
The specifications look solid, but note the lack of a webcam and the premium price for the extra branding.
You can purchase the ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker Special Edition laptop at Shopee, Lazada, and ASUS Stores.
There’s Also A Bag

Meanwhile, ASUS also announced the ROG SLASH Sling Bag, an everyday carry bag for those who wants to wear their allegiance to the ROG.
The bag is made of water repellent polyester thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and  polyurethane (PU), while the inside is lined with 40D nylon.
Hardware includes an adjustable shoulder strap with a snap hook, and a stainless steel buckle.
The bag itself weighs 560g and has a 3-litre capacity with one zipper and two quick access pockets.
That’s more than half a kilo for relatively a small space.
It would not fit the laptop. However we estimate that this bag is big enough for a gimbal, a wallet, a bottle of hand sanitizer, and a smartphone in one of the quick access pockets, with room to spare.
As for keys, perhaps we can put it on a carabiner and hook it onto the loop at the end of the shoulder strap to prevent it from scratching anything in the bag.
Overall, it looks like an on brand solution for anyone who likes to bring their tech with them everywhere they go. It looks good too.
The ROG SLASH Sling Bag is expected to launch at the end of September and is priced at RM399.

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Did You Know That The Oldest Civilization In Southeast Asia Is In Sungai Batu, Kedah?

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Hey, if you still remember our history lessons in high school, you’ll remember how Malacca (15th century CE/AD) was once a very well-known port, right? If you know your history, you’ll know that there are many other important kingdoms and ports in Malaysia way before Malacca, right?

One of those kingdoms was in Kedah Tua (8th century BCE/BC) or as we know it today, Kedah Darul Aman. This was way before Malacca, way before the Angkor Wat in Cambodia (12th century CE), way before Borobudur in Indonesia (9th century CE), and even way way before Machu Picchu in Peru (15th century CE).
Hey, we’re earlier than the Mayans! Can you believe it? (Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)
Where Is This Place?
One of the important discoveries from Kedah Tua lies in the Bujang Valley, near Merbok. Now Bujang Valley is a wide place (224 square kilometres) filled with historical discoveries covering between Gunung Jerai in the north and Muda River in the south. But the most well-known site there is called the Bujang Valley Archaeological Museum (this is where the ancient temples are reconstructed and displayed).
The entrance of both archaeological areas. (Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)
Specifically, Sungai Batu is one of the places that’s in the big Bujang Valley. It’s a 4 km2 wide archaeological site nestled in the quiet palm oil plantation, founded by USM researchers and led by Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mokhtar Saidin back in 2007. The excavation works began around 2009 and stopped around 2021 for a few apparent reasons (funding, hello?). There are around 54 sites successfully excavated by archaeologists around 2021 and actually many more treasures hidden underground.
What’s So Special About Sungai Batu?
Well, I’ll tell you what’s special.
If you love archaeology and love to find out about random historical facts, you’ll love this place.
Once upon a time, along the rivers of Sungai Muda, Sungai Batu was actually near a very big bay where ships carrying traders would port and do trade there. Now if you can see the place, the ‘bay’ is just a mere pond or swamp as the sea level has receded over the centuries. Researchers believe that inside the pond (what used to be a very big river), there are evidences of ancient ships ‘resting’ there.
It’s there under the swamp, it’s just not fully excavated out yet for them to carry on the research.(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)
But why were ships stopping by there? That’s because Sungai Batu was a very famous trading port back then, well-known all around the world for having one of the best quality iron. Even in Sanskrit, Kedah was known as ‘Kataha’ by traders which means The Bowl Of Iron. The irons produced here (sourced from Mount Jerai) were even exported throughout the ancient world to make weapons and chariots.
Hence, there are countless findings here that prove our own ancient civilization’s technological and economical achievements. Some of them are wharves or docks, iron smelting sites, administrative buildings and also one religious monument. We all know Buddhism and Hinduism came to the peninsular before Islam, right? But the religious monument found in Sungai Batu proves that before any religion came here, the locals adopted animism.
The ritual site (left) and the docking site (right). You can get your OOTD shot on the second floor of this double-storey site (just saying). (Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)
Basically, you can see all the 2,800-year-old discoveries with your own eyes here in Sungai Batu. You can see the flat brick plains all around the sites, where they used to be loading docks (necessary for commodity transports) and administrative buildings (necessary for trade regulation).
There are also sites for iron smelting, where our ancient ancestors used to melt the iron rocks (hematite and magnetite) from Mount Jerai and process them into iron ingots to be exported. You can see how our locals used to smelt irons with furnaces, tuyeres (a tube to control the air pressure inside and furnace) and other tools. The iron smelting technology then used to be one of the best in the world, FYI.
(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)
However, because these archaeological artefacts or buildings are so old, unfortunately, they are also so fragile. As in, you’ll only see ruins here. Not the actual man-made awesome buildings you’ll see in adventure movies. Hey, those things in movies or tourist sites are mostly reconstructed, ours is still in the works.
What Can You Do There?
Apart from the grand tour around the 4 km2 archaeological site, you can also do several fun activities here. All these activities including the tour will last around half a day.
They have ‘hands-on’ excavation, brick-making and also iron smelting demonstrations. Here are some of the pictures for you to see.
Iron Smelting Demo
The iron ores in the form of rocks (left) were transported from Mount Jerai to the industrial riverside to be smelted and turned into iron ingots (right). (Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)
This furnace (left) and tuyere (right) are both made from clay. The person in charge will tell you how people back in the days used to smelt iron ores up to temperatures of 1200 °C. (Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)
Brick Making
Experience how the strong bricks made for the buildings you see at the sites are made. They’ll give you all the materials and will show you the demo. After that, you can get all handsy and make your own brick. They also have an extra packet of the instant clay if you wanna try and do it at home.
The demonstration of brick-making (left) and the real brick (right) found at the site.(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)
They’ll give you a packet of soil, sand and paddy straws for you to mix and knead. You’ll feel like a baker, to be honest. (Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)
After you’ve put the soft mixture in the mould, you can slowly slip it out and let the brick dry out in the sun.(Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)
Hands-On Excavation
This is the most fun part. You’ll feel straight out of an Indiana Jones movie.
For this activity, they’ll teach you how archaeologists actually dig up artefacts buried underground. You’ll see the boxes they’ve labelled and the tools they’ll use for the excavation.
 Let’s get digging! (Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)
But of course, the actual digging on one actual box will take up to 4 days or even a week to finish (depends also on the objective of the dig and the depth estimated). Here, they’ve made the process easier for visitors to dig up and find the treasure within 30 minutes (they actually had to bury the artefacts in a new area specifically for visitors).
Actually, the only two tools we used were the scraper and the brush. We can’t contain our excitement when we found this little baby in the ground. It’s like digging for a treasure chest! (Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)
How it started (left) vs how it ended (right). (Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)
For the rate of these activities, you can see the infographic below, in the blue boxes. Basically, a full tour of the place with these three activities can cost about RM100 per head. But if you only want the guided tour, it’s actually just RM20 per head.
Students can get half-priced discounts. So students, whip out your student IDs!
As the whole archaeology place is under Universiti Science Malaysia, they offer other places to tour also like Lenggong Valley in Perak (Perak Man, hello!) and USM’s Archaeological Site in Penang. (Credit: Mr Shahibul / Research Officer for Sungai Batu Archaeological Site)
How To Get There?
All in all, you can go by yourself but you have to hire a tour guide, in my opinion. This is not really a tourist-friendly place, as there’s little signage to guide you where to go or to explain what you’re actually seeing. Coming as a zero-knowledged lone ranger is not really ideal unless you hire a tour guide, then he’ll explain everything in detail and even show you some 2D animations about the place.
The video animation that they’ll show will feature how the actual site would have looked, centuries ago. (Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)
To make your visit worth the money, bring along some friends and come in a group. Then all the activities will be more fun and enjoyable!
You can visit Sungai Batu in three ways:
By yourselves (it’s free but totally not recommended unless you know your history absolutely well)Hire a tour guide there (at least you have someone explaining to you what’s what)Hire a third-party tour (they’ll take you on a whole archaeology tour in Kuala Muda, including Sungai Batu) Contact – 016-505 3531 (Mazlan Mahmud)
A Few Tips
Bear in mind that this place is inside an oil palm plantation. So, it’s an outdoor area, with no air conditioning! No caves, no pyramids, no jungle. Just sites with roofs, that’s all.
Here’s the ‘swamp or pond’ (left) that used to be a big bay, the road (middle) that we had to cross to reach the other side of the site and the trail (right) that we had to walk through. (Credit: Melissa Suraya Ismail / TRP)
If you wanna head on over here (and feel like Indiana Jones), it’s probably best to prepare yourselves with these:
Wear outdoor clothes (bring along a hat or cap if you’re not keen on the scorching sun) Wear appropriate shoes (you’ll be trampling on grass, mud, a few wetlands, but there’s no hiking whatsoever)Bring a bottle of water or a few energy bars (it’s gonna be a long walk)Do some research beforehand on the history and ask a lot of questions when you’re there (only then you can connect the dots better)
Come, learn and witness the our origin’s own establishement, their knowledge and technology back in the days that put them on the map of the world once upon a time. By knowing our past, only then we can appreciate our own heritage and advance oursleves and our nation.  Mr Shahibul, Research Officer for Sungai Batu Archaeological Site
So, fellow explorers, have fun there!
Sungai Batu Archaeological Site – Oldest Southeast Asian Civilization (Tapak Arkeologi Sungai Batu)
Address: Kampung Permatang Samak, 08100 Bedong, Kedah
Operating Hours: 9 am–12 pm, 2 pm – 4:30 pm
Contact: Mr Sahibul – 019-753 7327
Facebook / Instagram

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Man On Facebook Sympathises With HKL Nurse Sporting Drip While Working During Raya

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Our healthcare workers have worked tirelessly during the pandemic and still continued doing so post-Covid 19 despite being short-staffed.

Amidst the other workplace issues they’re facing, they continue to show up to work to care for those who need it most.
This is shown once again in a Facebook post by a netizen named Chun Guan. According to Chun Guan, he was at Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) when he spotted a nurse working with a drip attached to her hand.
Feeling surprised, he approached the nurse and checked in on her. The nurse explained that she was feeling a little unwell and the drip allows her to continue carrying out her duties.
When Chun Guan asked why she didn’t take a rest day instead, she said there weren’t enough staff working in the hospital that day.
Chun Guan also found that the nurse is from Terengganu and would only be able to ‘balik kampung’ next Raya.

The story touched the hearts of many netizens who admired her dedication and hard work. They also wished her well and hoped she makes a speedy recovery.
A few of them also shared similar experiences and told tales of a packed ward during the holiday seasons.
Meanwhile, some netizens couldn’t fathom why healthcare workers are forced to work in these conditions.
While the nurse’s behaviour was seen as admirable, she likely had no choice in the matter so netizens said the issue shouldn’t be glorified. They believe healthcare workers need to be treated better.
Former Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah also retweeted the post about the nurse on Twitter.

Same with every festive season. During CNY a Chi doctor have to work overtime, cos she said during festive seasons got more accident patients. No choice.— fireflyyyyyyyyy (@skyflyingace) April 24, 2023
Cuba pi tengok wad kecemasan time raya .. trend hantar mak ayah suruh KKM jaga.Anak² nak pi beraya nie sengaja bagi gula tinggi, darah tinggi naik hantar wad kecemasan. Lepas tu block no hospital .. lepas raya baru diaorang datang ambil.— Chegu Hanif 🐦 (@cikgu_hanif) April 24, 2023
Been there. Keje kaunter di sebuah hosp. Tgh mabuk teruk time ni tp xboleh cuti sb takde pengganti. Kawan² nurse jgk tlg dripkan. Tepi tu standby tong sampah utk wekwek pic.twitter.com/R77ZO7UuqY— Izyan Izzati (@yayanyusof) April 24, 2023
And don’t ever glorify this, instead, we need to be angry.— CUx (@coffroast) April 24, 2023
Tak faham kenapa nak kena kerah pekerja2 kesihatan macam ni (yes kerajaan x letak bajet yg mencukupi) … Diorang dahlah kena “handle” nyawa orang lain jugak..— This Is The Way (@inijalannya) April 24, 2023

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