[Highlights] Special Parliamentary Sitting 29 July (Economic Assistance Packages)

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The fourth day of the Dewan Rakyat special meeting for the third session of the 14th Parliament sees Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz addressing the lower house.

Tengku Zaful will present and later answer questions regarding the the economic assistance packages that the government has offered throughout the pandemic.
This Special Parliamentary Sitting has been scheduled for five days (26 to 29 July, and 2 August). There will be a three day break in between.
The last time Malaysia’s Parliament met was on 17 December 2020. A month later, in January of 2021, a State of Emergency was declared.

10:00 am – The bell rings. The parliamentarians to enter the Dewan Rakyat. Today’s session is about to begin.
10:04 am – Opposition leader Port Dickson (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim – PKR) points out parliament sessions are too short for parliamentarians to ask questions and air their concerns.
10:06 am – Datuk Azhar Azizan @ Harun (Yang di-Pertua Dewan Rakyat) explains that his ability to extend the parliament time is limited to 15 minutes.
However, it is up to the minister who has the floor to extend the time further.
10:09 am – Pasir Gudang (Hassan Abdul Karim – PKR) said both sides (opposition and government) agree that the emergency ordinance is revoked and annulled. However, this should have been done in due process.
He suggests that this issue is addressed first.
The Speaker said that the ordinance and proclamation of the state of emergency, must be laid in the house, unless it has been revoked.
The question is, does it need to be debated. The rules, he said, are very deliberate. The constitution used the word ‘laid’, that means there is no debate.
Puchong (Gobind Singh Deo – DAP)
10:25 am – Puchong (Gobind Singh Deo – DAP) however, pointed out that the Speaker has the power to allow a debate (such as the question and answer session during the special session) and therefore a vote.
Several parliamentarians echoed Puchong’s views.
10:45 am – The speaker ends the discussion by pointing out that his ‘residual power’ cannot be used against the standing order (such as the special parliament sitting) .
10:53 am – Parliamentary Minister (Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan – PAS) who is also Kota Bhary MP, points out that in a meeting previously held, which was attended by parliamentarians from both sides and Health-Director General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, they had agreed to limit the parliamentary sitting session because of the pandemic.
Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz
11:00 am – Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz takes the floor and details, to the lower house, the assistance economic packages the the government has offered during the pandemic so far.
He also details the government’s spending, so far, to accelerate vaccination, protect the people, and aid the economy.
11:28 am – Last year, Malaysia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has fallen like many other countries. However, this year, because of a more targeted MCO 3.0, a growth of 6-7.5% is expected. The official announcement will be made in August.
The announcement, said Tengku Zafrul, is when the effects of the actions taken in the first quarter of the year can be seen.
Let us uphold the spirit of collaboration for the good of the nation.Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz
READ MORE: PEMULIH Recovery Plan: Part 2 – For The Economy
11:41 am – Bagan (Lim Guan Eng – DAP) takes the floor.
He said that there must not be a delineation between essential and non-essential economic sectors as all economic sectors are essential.
The permission letters by MITI (Ministry of International Trade and Industry), which Bagan said, is often misused, must be eliminated and a better solution must be made.
Contributions of SME and small non-SME businesses to the GDP has dropped. They make up 98.5% of Malaysian businesses and provide millions of jobs which are all under threat.
90% of SME and Micro businesses in Malaysia are at the risk of closing. Hundreds of thousands of SME’s and Micro businesses has closed last year.
Why bother giving tax cuts to these businesses when they can’t make money, asks Bagan. He then recommends that the economic sectors are reopened as a step towards normality.
Tourism lost RM100 billion last year and it is expected to happen again this year, but there are no assistance for them.
There are no savings for card credit holders as there are no moratoriums for them.
Pasir Gudang (Hassan Bin Abdul Karim – PKR) added to Bagan’s statement and asks how with the government restore the EPF funds that the people has withdrawn to survive.
Bagan continues by asking the Finance Ministry, why doesn’t Malaysia spend more to buy the vaccines that we need and said that lives are worth more than the money and the opposition will agree to the spending.
Decentralisation of powers is critical as efforts to return to normal.Bagan (Lim Guan Eng – DAP)
Rasah (Cha Kee Chin – DAP) added that the RM300,000 one-off food basket fund to MPs, to help their constituencies, is not enough.
He suggests that the government should continue to send funds to each MP to help the people until the country enters Phase 4 under the National Recovery Programme.
Bagan continues by saying that spending by the Prime Minister can be done without it being tabled in the parliament during the state of emergency.
He asks what are the implications when the state of emergency ends.
Port Dickson (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim – PKR)
12:13pm –  Port Dickson (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim – PKR) – shares with the lower house the latest statement by Istana Negara.

We have no other choice but to ask the Prime Minister to resign.Port Dickson (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim – PKR)
12:23 pm – Parliamentarians requests for the session to be suspended for a moment.
12:30 pm – Speaker rules that proceedings should continue as the press statement is being evaluated by the speaker’s office.
However, after continuous protests by the parliamentarians, the speaker has agreed to suspend the parliament for 15 minutes.
12:45 pm – The bell rings. The speaker returns to the Dewan Rakyat.
A decision has been made to suspend the parliament until 1pm. Parliament will resume after recess (2:30pm)Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon (Deputy Yang di-Pertua Dewan Rakyat) (Batu Pahat – Bersatu)
Parliament is suspended until after recess.
2:30 pm – The bell rings. Parliamentarians are being called back to the sitting.
Datuk Seri Azlina Othman Said (Deputy Yang di-Pertua Dewan Rakyat) (Pengerang – Umno)
Datuk Seri Azlina Othman Said (Deputy Yang di-Pertua Dewan Rakyat) (Pengerang – Umno) announced that discussions are still being made regarding today’s proceedings and parliament is suspended until 3:30pm.
3:30 pm – The bell rings. Parliamentarians are once again being called back to the sitting.
MPs joke about the parliament being suspended again as they wait for the speaker.
Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon (Deputy Yang di-Pertua Dewan Rakyat) (Batu Pahat – Bersatu)
Speaker announced he has received a letter from the Health Director-General regarding two positive Covid-19 cases at parliament.
One of the individuals who has tested positive has been in attendance in parliament since Monday while the other individual has been in attendance since Thursday (today).
Therefore follow-up tests must be done to all in attendance… No one can leave until the results are confirmed. Priority will be given to MPs.Deputy speaker of Dewan Rakyat.
Parliament is suspended again until 5:15pm.
4:00pm – Kepong (Lim Lip Eng – DAP) shares photo of the testing being done at parliament.
Langsung dari parlimen:Dan dan lah ada outbreak di parlimen. Sekarang ni kami semua kena buat test covid….Ni dok rapat-rapat ni nanti muncul pula kluster parlimen…..😰Sop ni mana oi…polis ada tak…. pic.twitter.com/9Uf2v85630— LIM LIP ENG (@limlipeng) July 29, 2021
4:15 PM – Opposition leader Port Dickson (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim – PKR) and other opposition MPs call for the resignation of  Prime Minister Tan Sri Mahiaddin Md Yasin and calling the multiple suspensions of the Dewan Rakyat so far as a delaying tactic.

4:33 PM – Bagan Datuk (Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi – Umno), who is also Umno President, puts out a statement saying Umno requests for the resignation of the Tan Sri Mahiaddin Md Yasin and Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan.
Kenyataan Media pic.twitter.com/l7GdXLAXZN— Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (@DrZahidHamidi) July 29, 2021
There are  rumours that the Datuk Azhar Bin Azizan @ Harun wants to resign his position as the Speaker of Dewan Rakyat.
There are rumours that Parliament and Law Minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan offered to resign following the statement by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
READ MORE: Agong Says Has Not Consented To Emergency Ordinance Being Revoked
4:56 pm – Bangi (Dr Ong Kian Meng – DAP) tweeted to Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin saying that the vaccination efforts must continue regardless of what happens today.
Regardless of what happens to the government of the day, we cannot let the COVID19 vaccination program be derailed #PICK @Khairykj— Ong Kian Ming 🇲🇾 (@imokman) July 29, 2021
5:00 pm – Port Dickson releases a statement calling for a vote of no confidence against the Prime Minister.
Inilah usul yg paling ditakuti PM Mahiadin…usul ni akan dpt sokongan majoriti dewan dan itu tandanya PN akn jatuh..Dewan tangguh 3 kali hari ini dan terakhir atas alasan kena buat test covid..PM dan Menteri lain tiada dlm dewan sejak sesi pg lg. pic.twitter.com/cPYv1gtQu4— Mujahid Yusof Rawa (@mujahidrawa) July 29, 2021
5:15 pm – The bell rings .As Parliament resumes, the Deputy Speaker says that two more people have tested positive for Covid-19 and suspends Parliament till Monday.
Therefore the Health Ministry suggests that those who have attended Parliament on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, but are not in attendance today (29 July) to get tested as soon as possible.
The Deputy Speaker also announced that the Parliament is suspended until 5:30pm and therefore will only reconvene at 10am, Monday 2, August.
5:29 pm – Former Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad releases a statement saying although the Prime Minister did not make the statement regarding the revocation of the Emergency Ordinance, he was still complicit.
MEDIA STATEMENTMember of Parliament Langkawi pic.twitter.com/vjVGGjx3SL— Dr Mahathir Mohamad (@chedetofficial) July 29, 2021
6:26 pm –  PAS Deputy President, Datuk Seri Ibrahim Tuan Man, released a statement saying that the political party is firmly in support of the Prime Minister.
Kenyataan media PAS berhubung situasi politik ketika ini. pic.twitter.com/j9ln9kidAm— BERNAMA TV 🇲🇾 (@BernamaTV) July 29, 2021
6:41 pm – Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob reaffirms that the government still has the support of more than 110 parliamentarians.
TERKINI: @IsmailSabri60 menegaskan bahawa kerajaan masih mendapat sokongan dari 110 ahli Parlimen & menyeru rakyat supaya bertenang. #Darurat pic.twitter.com/SdeDOl9KT5— TheMalaysianInsight (@msianinsight) July 29, 2021
7:01 pm – In response to the statement by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Prime Minister’s Office issued a reply.
It states that the government has followed the recommendations of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, has followed procedures to notify the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of the matter, has met with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to explain the issue, and reiterated that no deliberation in the lower house nor reply from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is required to cancel the Emergency Ordinance as it has already been agreed upon by the Cabinet Ministers.
Kenyataan Media Pejabat Perdana Menteri – 29 Julai 2021 pic.twitter.com/MGw6AywQKQ— Muhyiddin Yassin (@MuhyiddinYassin) July 29, 2021

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Backlash Against Former Miss Universe Malaysia Highlights Our Cyberbullying Problem

https://twitter.com/EdgeDora/status/1267703227249639425https://twitter.com/kellychungjt/status/1267711909723123712
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After former Miss Universe Malaysia Samantha Katie James’ tone deaf posts on the Black Lives Matter protests in the United States sparked widespread anger on social media, the 25-year-old has been the subject of widespread bashing online.
A quick scroll through her Instagram account reveals numerous comments disparaging her intellect, looks, familial relationships and even insinuation that the Miss Universe Malaysia 2017 winner should be dead.
Screenshot from Instagram
The online vitriol directed at Samantha has also been a cause of concern with several Malaysians questioning the targeted harassment, including comedian Harith Iskander who took to Facebook to say there are responses bordering on cyberbullying and that she is an easy target for the internet as a woman and former beauty queen.
Some even voiced out that the harassment was no contribution in addressing racism and the Black Lives Matter cause.

https://twitter.com/YukiYuenkei/status/1267647996763598849

And the issue is not a new one in Malaysia
Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else, including sharing personal or private information about someone else causing embarrassment or humiliation through digital devices.
Back in 2018, a global study among 28 countries found Malaysia as the 6th worst nation in cyberbullying, and the second worst in Asia, faring slightly better than India.
A poll by the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) in 2019 also found that three in 10 young Malaysians are victims of online bullying,
A 2015 study published in the Computers in Human Behaviour journal noted that females outnumbered males as cyberbullies and cybervictims. It also found that there is a tendency for cybervictims to become cyberbullies, and vice versa.
Former Communications & Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo had said in May 2019 that the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998 might need to be amended following the death of a teenage girl who was believed to have committed suicide after she ran a poll on Instagram asking if she should do so.
However, there has been no updates on the matter.
Just last month, a 20-year-old Malaysian woman hung herself to death after becoming the target of online ridicule over a Tik Tok video of her with a colleague who happened to be a foreigner.
TRP urges everyone to use the internet responsibly and refrain from cyber-bullying and harssment.

For those who are experiencing online bullying, contact CyberSecurity Malaysia, Cyber999 via:E-mail: cyber999@cybersecurity.mySMS: CYBER999 REPORT  to 15888Tel: 1-300-88-2999
If you or anyone you know of are having problems or thoughts of suicide, please reach out to Befrienders via:Tel: 03-7956 8145E-mail: sam@befrienders.org.myAvailable 24 hours every day, 7 days a week.Calls from 8 local telcos are FREE.

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Read More
Miss Universe Malaysia Distances Itself From Former Winner Over Insensitive BLM Comments

Source:
Malaysia sixth-worst in global cyber-bullying ladder, survey shows
1 in 5 young people skip school because of cyberbullying - Unicef poll
Malaysian minister looking to amend law to fight cyber bullying after teen's suicide
Tragic end to woman bullied online for ‘dating’ foreigner
Cyberbullying among young adults in Malaysia: The roles of gender, age and Internet frequency


Raja Bomoh Is Back To “Shield” Malaysia And The World From COVID-19

After being away from the spotlight for a few years, Datuk Ibrahim Mat Zain aka Raja Bomoh is back and claimed that he has made a protective barrier that will save Malaysia and the world from the threat of COVID-19.
Recently a video of him sporting a sweet new mustache was uploaded online conducting the ritual in front of a desk globe along with a set of ritual tools as he chanted prayers to ward off the deadly coronavirus.
He said it was done based on the requests of his “bomoh” friends worldwide who contacted him via telephone as they’re afraid that their countries would be affected by the disease.
Seeing that the situation has worsened, I decided to cooperate.Raja Bomoh via YouTube
Picture Credit: YouTube
Raja Bomoh and his ‘stach starts off the video by scanning the globe with his “telescope” that he said was passed down from generations before saying a prayer and performing the ritual.
In between the prayer, he even had a public service announcement advising Malaysians to work together to combat the spread of COVID-19 by practicing good personal hygiene and not going out unless necessary.
Raja Bomoh also reminded people to wash their mouths, nostrils, earlobes and also face besides washing their hands before coming inside the house if they have to go out.
To end the video, he even asked the government to give some relief to the self-employed and those who have their own businesses as their income is affected by the virus.
This is not the first time he tried to use supernatural means to help solve Malaysia’s problems.
Picture Credit: The Star
In 2014, he conducted rituals at Kuala Lumpur International Airport along with his trusty helpers, coconuts and “magic carpet“, to help find MH370 when the plane was reported missing.
His “unconventional” methods not only caught the attention of the local media, but also international outlets including the BBC and the Washington Post.
Datuk Ibrahim Mat Zain even thought about running for Bagan Datuk’s Parliamentary seat during the last General Election as well, as an independent candidate but didn’t turn up to submit his nomination form.
He once admitted that his rituals was un-Islamic and claimed that he would repent besides signalling to denounce his “Raja Bomoh” title.
But it seems old habits are hard to break.
You can view the video below:

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RM50,000 Jetty: Sarawak Govt Says It’s So Expensive Due To Crocodiles

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JKR Sarawak recently went viral after a simple wooden jetty project was revealed to have costed a whopping RM50,000.

READ MORE: JKR Sarawak Spends RM50,000 On Simple Wooden Jetty And Netizens Are Furious
Naturally, netizens were furious that such a plain and unassuming jetty fetched such as high price, paid by our taxes.
However, JKR Sarawak has released a statement defending the project and its costs in a press release sighted by TRP.
Ketua kampung wanted more
According to the statement, JKR Bahagian Miri went for a site visit to Kampung Mutap on 21 September 2021.
Originally, the ketua kampung had requested a 30m-long steel jetty including a timber shed (pondok). The chosen material of steel would have been more robust, but also more expensive.
However, the representative from JKR Bahagian Miri said that this was not possible for the budget of RM50,000. With this budget, only a 15m jetty made of belian timber with 2 staircases could be made. (Estimated costs of belian timber for this project is RM9,000 per meter cube, which is lower than the current market rate.)
The 15-m long jetty made of belian wood.(Credit: JKR Bahagian Miri)
If the chosen material was steel, then the jetty would have been even shorter than the 15m-length made of belian timber.
Various factors which contributed to additional expenses were taken into account as well.
JKR Bahagian Miri stated that the ketua kampung then agreed to a longer, less expensive jetty made of belian timber.
There were crocodiles
It turned out that one of the main reasons for the increased costs was because the river is infested with crocodiles, which meant that the appointed contractor had to take the necessary precautions.
The crocodiles made it dangerous for human activities such as the construction of the jetty.(Credit: Bigstock)
Additionally, the road access to Kampung Mutap is difficult as there are no paved roads.
The project was completed in just 1 month
On 30 November 2021, Bukit Balat Company was awarded this project to complete. The contract commenced on 7 March 2022 and the scheduled completion date was 6 June 2022.
However, the jetty was completed much earlier than expected. The final site inspection on 6 April 2022 was jointly carried out by JKR Bahagian Miri, the ketua kampung of Kampung Mutap, and the contractor Bukit Balat Company.
The final site inspection before the jetty project was considered complete.(Credit: JKR Bahagian Miri)
The 15-m long jetty made of belian timber was then deemed satisfactory and completed.

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Under Pressure, Government Finally Says Parliament To Convene Before August

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Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan announced that Parliament will reconvene before the Emergency Ordinance period expires on 1 August 2021.

This is because Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has decided to call for a Parliamentary sitting as soon as possible, which will be finalised during the Wednesday, 7 July Cabinet meeting.
Recently, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah, during a meeting with the Speakers of both the Lower and Upper Houses of Parliament, had conveyed his wish that the Parliament sit before 1 August.
Takiyuddin Hassan. Credit: Bernama
Takiyuddin said the Federal Government constantly upholds the views of the Agong in all matters related to the country’s administration, including those related to parliamentary proceedings.
According to Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun the cabinet’s role is to advise the Agong on when His Majesty can convene Parliament.
Putrajaya under pressure
Previously the Prime Minister said Parliament would reconvene by September at the earliest, when the Covid-19 outbreak eases. But he has come under increasing pressure to call for a sitting following the Agong’s comments.
Yang-di Pertuan Agong, Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah. Credit: FMT
Although Parliament is supposed to be recalled within six months of its last sitting in December, this constitutional provision is suspended during the current state of emergency, which was announced by the Agong on 11 January.
This announcement comes as Muhyiddin faces growing pressure to bring forward his original timeline to open Parliament in September or October.
The Agong has twice decreed for the both parliamentary houses to sit “as soon as possible” to allow the emergency proclamation and its ordinances to be debated.
Credit: Malay Mail
Pakatan Harapan weighs in
Pakatan Harapan has issued an ultimatum to the Prime Minister to announce concrete steps for Parliament to convene before1 August as per the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s wishes.
If the PM doesn’t make any announcements regarding the Parliament session by July 5 latest, then we urge all MPs whether opposition or government to uphold His Majesty’s decree and respect the constitutional spirit of parliamentary democracy by going to Parliament on July 19.Joint statement was PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng
PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, Amanah President Mohamad Sabu and DAPSecretary-General Lim Guan Eng. Credit Lim Huey Teng/Malaysia Kini
Anwar’s Resolve
PKR President Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has made it clear that Parliament should convene before the expiry of the emergency on 1 August because the Agong specifically wanted MPs to debate the proclamation of Emergency and the Emergency Ordinances.
“This means that Parliament must be reconvened on short notice,” said Anwar
The Agong specifically cited Article 150(3) of the Federal Constitution which stipulated that both the proclamation and the ordinances could be revoked if Parliament so chooses.
Therefore, Anwar said, Dewan Rakyat speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun and the Prime Minister should take steps to convene Parliament immediately.
Muhyiddin should resign if he refuses to heed the royal decree.PKR President Datuk Sri Anwar Ibrahim
Credit: Malaysiakini
Operation Black Flag
The Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat (SSR) is calling on the public to wave black flags this Saturday (July 3) as a show of protest against the Perikatan Nasional government.
SSR said those who want to join the protest should wave flags at their homes, businesses, streets, or anywhere appropriate and post pictures of it on social media at 3pm with the hashtag  #lawan.
The protest has three demands, namely for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to resign immediately, for Parliament to convene immediately, and for the state of emergency to end.
This act (of waving a black flag) is a message to the government that the people are sick and tired of the uncertain solution for the people’s and the country’s problems. This act is also the start for other acts should Muhyiddin fail to resign.Statement by Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat (SSR)

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The adventures of Boba Bae! Twitterjaya’s unlikely superhero wins the internet

Look, out the window!
Is it a bird? Is it a plane?
No, itâ€™s Boba Bae!
Netizens are going nutz over a viral video of this very unlikely superhero.
Over the weekend one Twitter user @safiyyahmukti shared her rendition of what a true hero can do for you.

delivery tealive 🙂 pic.twitter.com/KhR5Zrri5g
â€” aligatie (@safiyyahmukti) June 22, 2019

Faster than a speeding Foodpanda delivery boy!
Able to leap long traffic queues in a single bound!
It’s… Boba Bae!
By the looks of it, the amusing video became the internet’s new kryptonite.
The 13-second clip which shows the cape-less crusader making a speedy on-the-road tea delivery run has Twitterjaya ASSEMBLE-ing with joy, with over 20,000 retweets and 15,000 shares.

🤩🤩🤩..xyah nk Q utk beli boba milk tea…
â€” Kedai Keluarga 69 (@KedaiKeluarga69) June 23, 2019

Translation: No need to queue for boba milk tea…

Dahsyat practical effects ni…
â€” Yamin Lawut | ÙŠÙ…ÙŠÙ† Ù„Ø§ÙˆØª 🇲🇾 (@YaminLawut) June 23, 2019

Translation: Amazing practical affects…

At first ingat hantu delivery tealive. Serammm ah hahaha
â€” taurusgirl (@ndayydj) June 23, 2019

Translation: At first I thought it was a ghost delivering Tealive. So scary…

Though some Malaysians were also quick to point out the danger of such drink-defying stunts.

Weh yg ni ak tk gelak ak rasa takut tgk dia buat cmtuu scary siaa😭😂
â€” as (@ctasemiraas) June 23, 2019

Translation: No I’m not laughing this is so terrifying…

Tealive ku Teadied (tidak) Kesampaian
â€” ã‚¶ãƒ•ãƒ‰ (@zahidjoep) June 23, 2019

5 menit kemudian… pic.twitter.com/7qSReSvTcj
â€” Bakteri Jahat (@Cangkemaaann2) June 24, 2019

Translation: Five minutes later…

The Rakyat Post would like to remind all would-be superheroes to always be safe on the road.


Cousin Reveals Secrets, Claims Miss Malaysia Contestant Mistreated Father For Supporting Lee Chong Wei

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Recently, there was an uproar on social media about the story of the former Miss International Malaysia (MIM) contestant.

She remarked why she was born in Malaysia and not in China.
Her words have raised the ire of Malaysians, who criticised her for being racist and does not deserve to be a finalist.
Adding fuel to the online firestorm is a statement made by her own cousin, Hui Yue.
Hui Yue alleged that Lee has a bad temper since childhood.

Her cousin claimed that Lee had been rude to her family members.
Hui Yue also alleged that Lee had thrown a TV remote and a pillow at her father for supporting Datuk Lee Chong Wei in a badminton match between Malaysia and China.
Lee’s cousin also claimed that she was often rude to the family and once scolded her own mother for advising her to drink more water.

Meanwhile, Miss International Malaysia has already stripped Abby Lee’s participation.
Lee was one of the 15 shortlisted candidates to represent Malaysia in the annual Miss International global pageant.
Lee had also been criticised for disparaging remarks against Muslims on social media.

READ MORE: Miss International Malaysia Finalist Abby Lee Blasted For Xenophobic Comments Online

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[Watch] OKU Man Fined For Parking In OKU Spot Due To Wrong Sticker

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A disabled man (OKU) in a wheelchair was recently fined RM20 in Pantai Morib, Kuala Langat, for a parking violation.

Based on the viral video, the man lamented that it was his first time getting fined for parking in the disabled parking spot.
  @roslanjajuli Saman #saman #samanparking #morib #majlisperbandaran ♬ original sound  – roslanjajuli
A check by Majlis Perbandaran Kuala Langat (MPKL) found out that the man was fined for not using the OKU sticker issued by the Road Transport Department (JPJ) and the Selangor government.
The man used a different version of the OKU sticker with a blue background and an image of a wheelchair. Due to this, members of the public lodged a report because the sticker looked suspicious.
MPKL said there were two vehicles using the wrong OKU stickers on the front and back windshields. One of them also failed to write their number plate on the stickers.
MPKL explained that there have been instances where someone who wasn’t disabled bought the OKU vehicle sticker online so that they could park in disabled parking spots.
It’s our duty to take action against the vehicle (owner) to ensure disabled spaces aren’t abused and they are treated fairly.MPKL said in a statement.
However, MPKL said the notice could be revoked if the affected individual can prove that they are registered as disabled with the Social Welfare Department (JKM). MPKL will also help them get the correct OKU stickers.
Based on MPKL’s statement, the Selangor government has standardised all of the official OKU vehicle stickers.
Members of the public can refer to the local authorities (PBT) in Selangor to apply for the official OKU vehicle stickers.

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PKR Deny Dr M Third Try At Premiership, Push For Anwar Instead

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Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s third attempt at becoming Prime Minister might be cut short as Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) has rejected his re-nomination to lead the government if they manage to retake Putrajaya.
The matter was decided at a special meeting of the PKR Central Leadership Council (MPP) with the PKR MPs, which took place today.
In a statement issued by the party earlier today, PKR maintained their stand to nominate Port Dickson MP Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as Prime Minister.
PKR remains open to talks with all parties including Dr Mahathir in an effort to save Malaysia and restore the people’s mandate. However, the party has decided not to support the proposal to nominate Dr Mahathir as Prime Minister, and remains with the PH consensus of nominating Anwar as Prime MinisterParti Keadilan Rakyat via Berita Harian
The party also stated that they will focus on the snap elections if it happens, something which has been heavily talked about recently.

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The 40-Year History Of The Toughest Watch Of All Time

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The year was 1981, Alleycats was on the radio, Dr Mahathir just became our Prime Minister (for the first time), and everyone was grooving with their shirts tucked into their baggy pants.

(Credit: Kannan Retro via YouTube/ROCK Dulu – Dulu via Facebook)
Halfway across the world, a brilliant Japanese engineer named Kikuo Ibe assembled his “tough team” of watchmakers at Casio to create what would forever be known worldwide as the toughest watch of all time.
The idea came to him after losing his favourite pocket watch that was given to him by his dad which broke after an accidental fall.
Ibe’s ambitions were simple enough: create an unbreakable wristwatch that would withstand any sort of punishment thrown at it. But producing such a device would take an insurmountable amount of effort.
(Credit: CASIO G-SHOCK via YouTube)
The toughest watch of all time
For two years, Ibe and his team tinkered and toiled day and night, making nearly 200 different prototypes around the “triple 10” design philosophy — where their watch can survive a 10-meter drop, stay functioning while being submerged under 10-bars of water pressure and performed with a minimum battery life of 10 years.
They wanted to build something rugged and robust. Something that the common person can afford, comfortably wear and rely on while doing extreme tasks and backbreaking work (instead of those preppy dress watches worn by the elites to their fancy meetings and cocktail parties).
What they ended up with was the G-SHOCK, a watch so tough that you could drive a 25,000-kilogram lorry on it without a scratch!

40-year OG (original gangster)!
First unveiled to the world in 1983, the G-SHOCK slowly but surely became an iconic piece of hardware that’s adored by everyone from construction workers to the cool kids.
Even soldiers would wear these O.G. watches on the battlefield for their durability and multi-functionality — from being able to tell the time to having built-in GPS systems and even displaying the movement of ocean tides. The watches were so out of this world that astronauts would even wear ‘em in orbit!
(Credit: United States Navy/United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration via Wikimedia Commons)
For the last 40 years, the G-SHOCK has been perfected to a point where each watch is built to be shock-resistant, vibration-resistant, gravity-resistant, water-resistant, temperature-resistant, electricity-resistant, and as tough as nails.
“A shipping container dropped and it hit his wrist. Fortunately, he was wearing a G-SHOCK. The container hit the watch, and his G-SHOCK protected his wrist. The G-SHOCK is still all right, and their wrist also was fine. Was absolutely fine,” Ibe once said in an interview, sharing an account of how their line of super tough watches was able to survive the most extreme of impacts.
And throughout the years, the G-SHOCK has persistently evolved to include a variety of stylings and colours, and is made from a range of materials, from metals to resin, to state-of-the-art composites and renewable materials that are safer for the planet.
(Credit: CasioGshockMalaysia via Facebook)
To celebrate G-SHOCK’s 40th anniversary, Casio will be launching not just one, but three limited-edition renditions of its most iconic timepieces.
The exclusive anniversary lineup will feature two blazing hot solar-flare-inspired models and one cool collaboration with world-renowned street artist Eric Haze.
Blazing hot
(Credit: G-Shock/Casio)
Made to invoke the intense energy of our home star, the GWG-2040FR-1A and MTG-B3000FR-1A Flare Red models feature multicolour laminated bezels made with phosphorescent materials in G-SHOCK’s iconic brand colours that also glow in the dark.
The dynamic design of these watches is bound to shine brightly on the wrist as the timepieces are created in such a way that no two watches look alike.
The watches are also engraved with four stars to commemorate G-SHOCK’s 40-year accomplishments and a special G-SHOCK 40th anniversary logo designed by Eric Haze etched on the back case of the watches.
Hazy cool
(Credit: G-Shock/Casio)
Meanwhile, the brand new GMW-B5000EH-1 model was made in collaboration with Mr Haze and his iconic New Yorker street style as an exclusive tribute to the very first G-SHOCK ever made.
This uniquely designed metal watch features stylish artwork by Eric Haze that’s laser-engraved on the watch’s band, a commemorative anniversary logo engraved on its case back and a snazzy graffiti tag by Haze himself that fades in and out as the watch’s super illuminator LED backlight comes on.
There will only be 10 pieces of the Flare Red GWG-2040FR-1A and nine pieces of the MTG-B3000FR-1A models available in Malaysia, while only 10 pieces of the Eric Haze GMW-B5000EH-1 will be available for sale during an exclusive launch at the G-SHOCK Store Lalaport Bukit Bintang City Centre (BBCC), Kuala Lumpur from December 9 starting at noon.
The Flare Red and Eric Haze models are also available on Casio’s online store.
After that, the watches will be made available in all 18 official G-Factory and G-SHOCK stores nationwide from the third week of December onwards.
Head on over to the campaign page or Facebook for more information on the G-SHOCK Flare Red and Eric Haze and how you can get your hands on these special limited editions of the toughest watch of all time, today!

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Source:
Interviewing Kikuo Ibe, The Legendary Mastermind Behind the Casio G-SHOCK
Philosophy 40 Years Of Toughness


Covid-19: Still Positive After 7-Day Quarantine? This Is The Doctor’s Explanation

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If you are positive for Covid after seven days, are you still infectious?

Today is the 7th day of quarantine at home, but the result is still positive.
If you follow the Healthy Ministry’s guidelines, you can start work tomorrow.
But isn’t it dangerous to meet people when you are positive?
What about the family – do you still have to isolate yourselves from the family?
Perhaps many are experiencing the same situation as above, especially when the rules on quarantines and isolation periods are changing at a dizzying speed.
Recently, the Health Ministry has announced a new quarantine period for Covid-19 positive cases as well as close contacts.
The quarantine period in Malaysia has been shortened based on a re-evaluation of scientific data.
The decision is also based on the experience of other countries in handling COVID-19 positive cases and close contacts.
The Omicron Factor
Indeed, with the omicron variant, it is speculated that Covid-19 has a much faster infection process.
Recent studies show that approximately 19% of cases continue to test positive for Covid-19 in antigen tests seven days after infection.

The infection phase can occur starting from the 2nd to the 8th day. After that 7-day period, the infection phase will end.
This means you cannot infect someone and also cannot be infected during that time period.
How Long Does Immunity Last After Infection?
After a person recovers from Covid-19, the body will generate detectable antibodies for about three months.
Therefore, the swab test or RTK test will give a positive result.
Studies found that for those who tested positive for the Covid-19 virus on the RT-PCR test, no live virus was detected which could reproduce and infect other individuals.
In conclusion, the repeat test found that individuals who are no longer infectious are positive due to the tests picking up the dead virus from old infections.
This matter was also explained by virologist Dr Ahmad Samhan through a video on TikTok:
  @dr.samhan LEPAS KUARANTIN SWAB MASIH POSITIF #jombelajar #learnontiktok #tiktokguru #kitajagakita ♬ Here’s Your Perfect – Jamie Miller
If you are positive for Covid-19, do not get another PCR test for 60 days – unless symptoms return.
READ MORE: [Watch] Don’t Do PCR Test Too Many Times After Positive For Covid -19, Says Health Officer
When Will the Results Turn Negative?
The Gavi Vaccine Alliance explains that the time taken for a negative test after being infected with Covid-19 depends on the severity of the case, as well as on the test itself.
PCR tests hunt down parts of the viral genetic material (RNA in the case of Covid-19) in our body and amplify it.
The tests are so sensitive that they can even pick up the presence of some viral fragments.
This is because viral RNA fragments can remain in our body long after the infection is complete and the virus has been cleared from our system.
As your road to recovery becomes clearer and clearer, just continue to practice the SOPs and you can go on with your daily life as usual!
There’s no need to worry unless you are experiencing serious symptoms like Long Covid.
READ MORE: Are You Showing Symptoms Of Long Covid? Here’s Where You Can Seek Help
Current Quarantine Period
The following is the latest quarantine period prescribed by the Health Ministry.
Isolation period (quarantine) for positive cases:
Has received a booster dose: 7 daysComplete vaccination: 7 daysIncomplete OR no vaccination: 10 days
Note: The quarantine period is either asymptomatic or symptomatic

Quarantine period for close contacts:
1. Age group 18 years and above
A) With symptom
5 days for individuals who have received a booster dose;5 days for individuals who have received complete vaccinations;7 days for individuals who have not been fully vaccinated or have not been vaccinated.
B) Without symptom
NO QUARANTINE NEEDED for individuals who have received booster doses;5 days for individuals who have received complete vaccinations;7 days for individuals who have not been fully vaccinated or have not been vaccinated.
2. Age group 18 years and below
A) With symptom
5 days for individuals who have received complete vaccinations;7 days for individuals who have not been fully vaccinated or have not been vaccinated.
B) Without symptom
5 days for individuals who have received complete vaccinations;7 days for individuals who have not been fully vaccinated or have not been vaccinated.

READ MORE: MySejahtera Trace No Longer Shows “Yellow” Casual Contact Status

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[Watch] HappyFresh Rider Cleared A Path On Busy Road For Ambulance

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Lately, they have been reports of people not giving way to ambulances but to VIPs and incidences like these have been criticised by the public.

Fortunately, an ambulance driver had a helpful HappyFresh delivery rider clear a path ahead of the busy road.
The delivery rider weaved in and out of traffic while waving at the other cars to move aside for the ambulance behind him.
  @gyuki_kurosaki #StaySafeEveryone #fyp #happyfresh ♬ Unstoppable – Sia
His actions seemed to work because the cars on both lanes moved to create a path as best they could on the congested roads.
Netizens loved to see the kindness and teamwork in action between the delivery rider and ambulance driver.
They praised and thanked the delivery rider for doing his part to help another person in need.

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Grab Malaysia Ramps Up Effort To Provide Access To Additional Earning Opportunities

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Grab Malaysia, has announced its plans to ramp up efforts to help its driver-partners earn additional income during the upcoming Ramadan-Raya season.

It recently kicked off the “Raya Lagi Mantap Bersama Grab” campaign that offers driver-partners the opportunity to earn up to RM2,000 in additional earnings and savings. There are also prizes to be won worth up to RM20,000.
The campaign, which runs from 22 March to 30 April 2023, is part of Grab’s ongoing efforts to bring more driver-partners on board, better serve its existing driver-partners, and make transportation accessible for all passengers.
Grab intends to continue providing more earning opportunities and income safety net for those who join the platform. The campaign is one of many invitations for Malaysians to discover access to fair, sustainable and productive earnings.
To participate in the various initiatives within the campaign, driver-partners simply need to continue driving on the Grab platform and meet certain requirements. New and existing driver partners who sign up or recommend someone onto the platform will also have the opportunity to earn additional income and fuel vouchers.
Grab’s mission right from the start has been to provide safe, convenient transportation options, while improving the livelihood of Malaysians. As the demand for rides recover rapidly, we are focused on increasing active driver supply and optimising existing supply to cater to the increasing demand. We hope that these initiatives and other steps we are taking will encourage new driver-partners to come on board as quickly as possible to benefit from the additional earnings that are available to them.Rashid Shukor, Director of Country Operations and Mobility, Grab Malaysia
Driver-partners who are eligible for advance vouchers and flexible financing by Grab can win Duit Raya (in the form of cashback) worth RM125. Additionally, they can also stand a chance to participate and win in a Hari Raya Home Makeover campaign worth up to RM20,000.
More benefits for the community
Beyond earnings, Grab is well positioned to lead the way in looking after the wellbeing and stability of its active partners. Through GrabBenefits, a benefits programme for partners in the gig economy, partners have access to better quality and relatively safer work opportunities and financial security – such as reduction in operating costs, insurance, professional development and more.
As part of the ‘Raya Lagi Mantap Bersama Grab’ campaign we will be hosting a ‘Raya Sekampung Bersama Grab’ with our top performing driver-partners in all major cities across Malaysia this May. They are much more than just our community of partners – they are our ambassadors; they are the very reason for Grab to exist. We hope to ensure that our partners’ honest, hard work pays off and brings a better quality of life to their families.Rashid Shukor, Director of Country Operations and Mobility, Grab Malaysia
With these efforts, Grab is committed to supporting its driver-partners and providing them with opportunities to earn and save more money during the Ramadan-Raya season.
For more information, click here.

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Boy Falls Asleep In Cargo Container, Endures 6 Days Being Stuck As Ship Travels From Bangladesh To Malaysia

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Recently, Malaysians were shocked by the news of a foreign boy found in a container ship in West Port Klang, Selangor.

According to Klang Selatan district police chief ACP Cha Hoong Fong, the child, known as Fahim, is believed to be from Chittagong, Bangladesh and was found in a weak state by a worker at the dock around 7.30 pm last Tuesday (17 January).
The young boy was found by the worker after he heard a knocking sound inside the empty container. Due to the sound of knocking, the six containers that arrived at the port were brought down and inspected one by one by government agencies including the Marine Police Force, the Malaysian Immigration Department (Immigration) and the Klang District Health Department.
(Credit: Jabatan Netizen Malaysia / Twitter)
The ship, MV Integra, sailed from Chittagong on 12 January and arrived at West Port last Tuesday.
The boy said that he was playing around with his friends in the container back in Chittagong when he fell asleep and found himself locked inside.
The case had been referred to the Immigration Department and the boy, who had a fever was taken to the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital for treatment.
(Credit: Jabatan Netizen Malaysia / Twitter)
Earlier today, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution said that there were no elements of human trafficking in the case.
“He was the only boy found inside the container. We are not linking this to human trafficking because the initial investigation found that he entered the container, fell asleep and (was transported to) Malaysia,” he said, as reported by The Star.
They are currently in the process of repatriating the boy back to Bangladesh in the same cargo ship.
Seorang kanak-kanak lelaki warga Bangladesh ditemui dalam kontena yang baru tiba di Pelabuhan Barat (Westport), Pelabuhan Klang, malam semalam.Kanak-kanak ini dipercayai terperangkap 6 hari dalam kontena sebelum diselamatkan. pic.twitter.com/XHQbu55rdG— Jabatan Netizen Malaysia (@jnmalaysia) January 19, 2023

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Is Pfizer’s Covid-19 Vaccine Ready? Report Raises Concerns

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Two days ago, news outlets reported that Malaysia has agreed to buy 12.8 million doses of the U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine.

Last week, Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech SE said that according to early analysis, its vaccine is more than 90% effective at preventing symptomatic Covid-19 infections.
These findings have surpassed initial expectations and both scientists and politicians alike have welcomed the good news.
However, experts told NBC News in the US that there are still significant challenges and unanswered questions regarding the vaccine’s long term effects.
Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine is in phase 3 of clinical trials
The first patient enrolled in Pfizer’s COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine clinical trial at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore on 4 May 2020. (Credit: University of Maryland School of Medicine)
The third phase of Pfizer’s clinical trial started in late July and has involved over 43,000 study participants.
The purpose of phase 3 clinical trials is to evaluate how well a vaccine works. Scientists also need to demonstrate that the vaccine is safe and effective compared to other existing treatment options and this usually takes several years of testing.
In this case, Pfizer gave some participants the actual vaccine, while others received a placebo. As vaccine trials rely on a certain number of infections to occur, the point was to see how many more infections were reported among those that received the placebo.
The more infections reported, the more effective the vaccine.
Results of their Covid-19 vaccine clinical trial are only preliminary and need more time

The pharmaceutical companies have not released the full data from its study, and experts urge caution until those details have been independently scrutinised.
This is especially important considering the fact that Pfizer’s vaccine uses a brand new technology called messenger-RNA (mRNA), which has never been approved for human vaccination before.
The exciting thing is that these types of vaccines can be manufactured pretty quickly. The caution is that this would be the first mRNA vaccine to be used in humans, so it’s important to look carefully at the safety data.Dr Richard Besser, President of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Former Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) via NBC News
How it works is instead of using bits of a virus to provoke an immune response in humans, the mRNA trains the human immune system to target the spike protein found on the coronavirus’ surface.
Since it is this spike that allows the virus to invade human cells, in theory, blocking the protein would mean people wouldn’t become infected by the virus.
What we do know is that Pfizer has stated it will not apply for emergency use authorisation of its vaccine until the company has collected two months of safety information after the final dose has been given to its participants, next week.
Pfizer’s vaccine requires two doses, given about a month apart.
Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine issues experts highlighted
(Credit: Freepik)
So far, Pfizer has stated that those who received two doses as part of the trial saw 90% fewer symptomatic cases of Covid-19 than participants who were given a placebo.
This seems to indicate that the vaccine may not only be able to prevent major Covid-19 complications but also transform a severe illness into something a lot less dangerous and more like the common cold.
The infections that we’re really focusing on are the ones that lead to hospitalization. If those are the ones this vaccine can target, that’s a huge win.Dr Robert Citronberg, executive medical director of infectious disease and prevention at Advocate Aurora Health in Illinois via NCB News
Pfizer stated that one-third of its participants came from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds, but failed to mention if particular age groups would experience stronger protective effects.
It is also still unclear if those who received the vaccine were less likely to be contagious to others.
(Credit: Unsplash)
We don’t know anything about groups they didn’t study, like children, pregnant women, highly immunocompromised people and the eldest of the elderly.Dr Gregory Poland, Director of the Mayo Clinic’s Vaccine Research Group in Rochester, Minnesota via NBC News
Besides that, experts are also uncertain of how long immunity will last – months, a year, two years, or a lifetime. For comparison, flu shots are advised to be given on an annual basis.
Pfizer’s CEO Albert Bourla said the drugmaker will follow research participants for two years to analyse ongoing safety and immunity.
As time progresses, we will find out about the durability of the protection. We will see how long the immunogenicity lasts and how long the cell immunity lasts.Albert Bourla, Pfizer Chief Executive Officer via MSNBC
It is also important to note that on Pfizer’s claim of 90% effectiveness, this first analysis only includes data on 94 confirmed Covid-19 cases. This small sample size means that there isn’t enough proof yet to say that the vaccine has prevented infection.
Dr William Haseltine, an infectious diseases expert and president of ACCESS Health International predicted that if the vaccine indeed is proven safe and effective, it may work more like the flu shot.
It’s been about a year since the Covid-19 pandemic began. (Credit: Ahmad Zamzahuri/Malay Mail)
It’s not necessarily going to protect you from infection, and it may not work for everyone. But it should be useful for many people. And it should moderate the severity of the disease.Dr William Haseltine, Infectious Diseases Expert and President of ACCESS Health International via MSNBC
According to Alex Azar, head of the Department of Health and Human Services, the FDA will conduct an “independent review process” of the vaccine.
Until independent parties have a chance to scrutinize the details of Pfizer’s findings, experts say we can only be cautiously optimistic.

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Laksa And Bak Kut Teh Rank Top 50 Soups In The World

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What do you think is the best soup in Malaysia? ABC soup? Sup Tulang?

Perhaps the infamous Torpedo soup? Well, probably not everyone’s cup of tea.
READ MORE: 7 Unique And Exotic Foods That Can Be Found In Malaysia
Well, it turns out that our own Malaysian Laksa and Bak Kut Teh have been crowned the Top 50 best-rated soups in the world!
The list is made by TasteAtlas, a website that collects experiential travel guides to traditional food in every country in the world. They have a lot of lists for a variety of food but recently in August 2022, they updated their list of best-rated soups in the world.
Laksa ranks at 35th, behind Vietnam’s Pho
Laksa is one of the most sought-after dishes in Southeast Asia. They come in a variety of flavours and origins but the authentic ones come from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia.
Sarawak LaksaCredit: TRP
Laksa is a type of noodle dish with rich and spicy broth that sometimes has creamy coconut milk or sour tamarind in it. It’s a dish originating from the Peranakan roots where Chinese traders fell in love with the locals in the Malay archipelago as early as the 15th century.
The marriage between the two ethnicities created a diverse community with unique cultures merging together in terms of tradition, clothing, languages and also food. When the wives of these traders began adding their own spice and flavouring to traditional Chinese soups, the Laksa was born.
Assam Laksa(Credit: @ShanghaiHannah, @cookingsomjit / Twitter)
The word laksa was also said to originate from the Sanskrit word laksa, meaning a hundred thousand. This here could mean the many types of ingredients used to make a laksa (honestly, it’s not an easy dish to make!). Another word this soup might come from is Laksha in Persian, which means a type of vermicelli, which is typically found in laksa.
In Malaysia specifically, there are numerous kinds of laksa according to different states. There are the ones with curry, thick white broth, spaghetti, rice noodles, yellow wheat noodles, prawn, tofu, shredded fish, crabs and honestly a myriad more.
Laksa Terengganu, Laksa Kedah, Laksa Johor. (Credit: @ErenaTakeuchi, @aimnazm_, @fazhilrazak / Twitter)
From Assam Laksa to Laksam, check them all out here.
READ MORE: Types Of Laksa In (Almost) Every State In Malaysia
Bak Kut Teh stands at 44th place
Bak Kut Teh is undeniably good as some locals here claim. There’s just something about the succulent pork ribs that’s just incredible, they say.
Bak Kut Teh means meat bone tea in Hokkien and is introduced in Malaya (Klang, specifically) back in the 1940s. It is a herbal soup dish that consists of pork ribs stewed with a mixture of fragrant herbs and spices. It has a few varieties as well, as the Klang and Singapore versions are quite different.
READ MORE: 14 Top Foods To Try In Each & Every Malaysian State [Part 1]
Malaysian Bak Kut Teh(Credit: TRP)
It is said that the dish was introduced by a Hokkien man from Fujian, China to Klang when he set up a bak kut teh stall in Klang South. This dish used to be a coolies’ humble but replenishing meal. The coolies would get this as a hearty breakfast before embarking on their backbreaking tasks of the day.
Singapore Bak Kut Teh. (Credit: @FloraHui_ASHK / Twitter)
There are three main versions of the soup which are the Hokkien style (dark brown broth & commonly found in Malaysia), Cantonese style (more medicinal and herbal taste), and Teochew style (clear broth & popular in Singapore). There’s also one more bonus type which is the dry bak kut teh. Found in Klang and some parts of the Klang Valley, the broth is reduced to a thicker gravy and some additional toppings are added.
Dry Bak Kut Teh(Credit: Lim Yan Seafood Bah Kut Teh / Facebook)
There are also halal versions of the soup that are replaced with beef (beef bak kut teh) and chicken (chik kut teh) in some places. But a true blue fan says that the original Bak Kut Teh has a fattier texture that specifically comes from the pork collagen and marrow in it.
So Laksa and Bak Kut Teh made it in the global list. That would mean that they are some of the best soups in Malaysia, right?
Let us know the best Malaysian soup you’ve ever tasted. Perhaps there’s an even worthier addition to the Top 50 list!
READ MORE: Nasi Lemak Loses Top Spot As Indonesian Chicken Porridge Voted The Better Food In South East Asia
READ MORE: Langkawi Won An Award For Being One Of The Best Islands In Southeast Asia

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Breaking The Infertility Barrier One Fertility Treatment At A Time

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ByTMC Fertility And Women’s Specialist Centre

For over five decades now, Malaysia has been recording a steady decline in the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in women of reproductive age, causing a domino effect of declining population growth and the birth of an aging nation.
While this has been a topic long discussed, the infertility alarm bells rang after the Statistics Department revealed a sharp drop of births per woman recently.
The births per woman dropped to 1.7 in 2021 from 2.1 in 2010 and 3.0 in 2000. These figures show the average number of children a woman would have over the course of her reproductive years. To top it off, the statistics department also recorded the lowest births in 2021, with only 439,744 births – the lowest in a decade, a 6.7% drop from births recorded in 2020 totaling 471,50 and it is definitely affecting the birth rate in Malaysia.
This is highly alarming because according to the United Nations, a country’s fertility rate cannot be lower than 2.1 births per woman in order to maintain a stable population. The essence of procreation is what helps a country grow, flourish.
Without which, a nation will slowly turn into an aging society with a declining group of younger generations to help build the country and become leaders of tomorrow. It will also cause a serious manpower shortage, further affecting the country’s development.
An aging society would also mean an increased pressure on the government to put in place a lot more support systems and facilities for the elderly.
According to Women, Family and Community Development Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Maziah Che Yusoff, the drop in TFR is accelerating the aging process of Malaysia’s population where 15% will be over the ages of 60 by 2030.
If nothing is done about this, the population will reach its maximum population of 46 million in 2071 before experiencing population shrinkage by 2072.
That said, not everyone is blessed with fertility. Around 48 million couples and 186 million individuals suffer from infertility worldwide, where one in six couples face problems with fertility. Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive naturally after 12 months of having regular unprotected intercourse and six months of trying for those aged 35 and above. Infertility can be caused by either the male, female or a combination of both parties.
Meanwhile, on the other spectrum, there are also some who choose to put off having children due to a number of factors related to the economy, society, financial aspects and so on. Not forgetting the recent Covid-19 pandemic that has pushed more couples to hold off on having children due to the uncertainty of the economy and also fears of the virus and how it will affect pregnancy and newborn babies.
The act of delaying parenthood will cause fertility health to dwindle, as similar to women, men’s fertility also declines with age, where the quality of sperm is affected.
This is according to Irene Kwan, CEO of TMC Fertility & Women’s Specialist Centre who shared that infertility can be attributed to a myriad of problems ranging from an individual’s personal health issues to socio-economic factors or even lifestyle choices.
Factors surrounding infertility
One of the key risk factors for infertility is age, which can be seen as one of the major causes of infertility among Malaysians. For women, the peak of fertility is between the ages of 20 and 35.
After 35 years old, the ability to conceive declines rapidly due to both a decline in egg quality and the ability for a woman to regularly release an egg every month. As for women aged 41 and above, the chances of conceiving are even lower without the help of assisted conception as the quality of eggs deteriorates.
With that said, more and more couples are choosing to delay parenthood to pursue their careers and achieve financial stability. With the increasing cost of living, high childcare expenses and a shift in values among the younger generation, family planning has taken a backseat and climbing the corporate ladder is the ultimate goal for some.
Aside from this, there are also some inevitable factors surrounding a woman’s reproductive health that are beyond their control such as ovulatory disorders, endometriosis, pelvic adhesions, tubal blockage, womb abnormalities and so on.
Women aside, men are not spared from this as they too can encounter fertility issues with problems such as azoospermia (no sperm during ejaculation), erectile dysfunction and even lifestyle choices such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and diabetes affecting sperm quality and production.
As men age, so does the quality and quantity of their sperm. Although there are cases of much older men fathering children with younger women half their age, these cases are not the norm and should not be emulated.
“There are also arguments that associate infertility with stress. However, stress is in fact not a direct cause of infertility but can cause other problems that result in infertility such as hormonal problems and abnormal sperm count,” said Kwan, CEO of TMC Fertility.
She added that one key advice she would give for those experiencing fertility troubles is to get checked early and get the proper treatment needed by a specialist.
One of the ways to help increase the fertility rate in the country is to raise awareness on fertility health, being informed about the factors that affect fertility and being in the know of the various fertility treatments available.
The earlier infertility is detected and treated, the higher the chances of getting pregnant at a younger age. Lifestyle changes can also help boost fertility such as the reduction of caffeine and alcohol intake, reducing body weight to a healthier BMI and having a balanced diet.
“Knowing the cause of your infertility is a battle half won. By knowing the reasons behind your inability to get pregnant despite years of trying can get you the right kind of help needed – be it a lifestyle change, reducing stress, emotional support or a medical intervention and we are here to help in any way we can,” said Kwan who hopes that the advancement of technology can help change the future of infertility treatments and ultimately help Malaysia overcome its declining TFR.
To help patients who may be financially concerned, the Malaysian government has allowed for withdrawals to be made from Account 2 of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) for fertility treatment purposes.
This initiative was announced in Budget 2020 in a bid to ease financial burdens of young couples with infertility issues and also to increase TFR in the country.The fertility treatments allowed are Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI).

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M’sian Entrepreneur Caught A Scammer Red-Handed, Police Allegedly Refused To Accept Report

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Scams are running rampant these days due to harsh economic times and the lack of enforcement from the authorities.

A Twitter user Megat (@MegatAD) shared his ordeal when three different customers scammed about RM19,000 from his cake shop business, SugarCandy, which he runs with his wife.
These customers scam businesses by editing and forging the sales receipts so Megat warned business owners to be alert when they accept payments through manual bank transfers.
Megat shared an incident in which a scammer ordered a long list of cakes from SugarCandy on 11 separate occasions.
The list of cakes includes Pull Money Cake and Pinata Cake, in which cash is hidden inside the cake to surprise the birthday person.
Megat believed that the scammer only wanted the money from the Pull Money Cake and Pinata Cake.
siapa kt sini buat bisnes and customer bayar secara transfer manual? pls hati hati ya. kedai kek saya SugarCandy dah dapat tangkap 3 customer yg berlainan ni yg menipu : edit gambar resit. yes serious. sindiket edit gambar resit ni mmg benar wujud! total RM19,000 kami terkena 😬 pic.twitter.com/b6ARdByKkD— Gatdi (@MegatAD) March 31, 2022
The scam started on 5 November 2021 until 1 February 2022 and this caused the bakery to lose almost RM15k in business.
In the police report, Megat admitted that the fault was theirs for not checking whether the transaction was in the bank account. However, they asked for help from the police to stop the scammer from swindling other victims.
After lodging the report, the police told Megat that an investigating officer would be in touch and to wait for the call.
A week later, he was told the customer’s name was false but the same scammer made a cake order for the 12th time. This time, the scammer wanted RM2,000 inside the cake.
Setting the trap
Megat and his wife made a plan to trap the scammer. Megat pretended to be a deliveryman while his wife recorded from a car nearby.
He confronted the woman and asked her to show the receipt. The woman pretended that she wasn’t the customer and they were mistaken.
After a lot of back and forth, she finally admitted to the scam. Megat insisted that she pays back RM15k but she couldn’t because she didn’t have the money.
lepas ayat tu keluar sendiri dari mulut dia. punya la aku kecewa dgn dia ni. hati aku mcm remuk. tak sangka. unbelievable. aku kerja mcm org gila. team aku kerja penat penat bg 100% effort utk bg the best. dia boleh senang scam 😤 aku tahan sabar je dari maki. kalau kau mcm mana? pic.twitter.com/YqoDe2V2O4— Gatdi (@MegatAD) March 31, 2022
Megat had no choice but to call the police. Little did he know, the police would give him a run around too.
When they got to the police station, the woman’s husband was already waiting. The police gave them the option to settle at the side by paying in a lump sum or in instalments or proceed to put the suspect in jail and make a court case.
The discussion lasted 2 hours but it wasn’t fruitful. The husband insisted he wasn’t aware of his wife’s activities and begged Megat to allow them to pay back in instalments because they have three young children to care for.
Megat was adamant that they paid up on that day or he’ll open a case because he didn’t trust that they would pay in instalments.
To rub salt to the wound, the woman and her husband claimed that they didn’t know what happened to all the cash they scammed from SugarCandy.
I don’t know. It (the money) suddenly finished just like that. It’s true what people say, dirty money finishes fast.The woman’s husband told Megat.
The runaround begins
Megat also found out that the woman’s husband is close with one of the police officers there. No wonder the police insisted that they talk it out instead of opening an investigation.
The police allegedly gave all sorts of excuses not to open a case such as claiming the investigating officer was busy. They even asked Megat to return the next day with the suspect.
They added that they couldn’t arrest the suspect because there was no arrest warrant and the investigating officer didn’t open a case.
Megat was livid because he has brought all of the evidence, proof and even the suspect to the police station and received no help whatsoever.
In the end, Megat insisted to call the investigating officer’s boss to open a case. After speaking to his boss, the investigating officer said they can put the suspect in lockup at IPD PJ because the suspect has admitted her crimes but they have to wait for the letter.
The police told Megat to wait and to go for a meal first. They said the police from IPD PJ will bring the suspect over an hour later.
After coming back from having a meal nearby, they found that the woman was no longer in the lockup and was told she was allegedly brought to IPD PJ already.
pastu dia ckp "suspek ni perempuan. kita kena jaga aib dia. takkan nak record pula. so kita buat senyap2 ikut belakang. tp semua dh settle dah. inspektor *** yg uruskan td". kitorang mcm " errr okay.." then kitorang nak buat cover report utk cerita what happen today. tiba-tiba..— Gatdi (@MegatAD) March 31, 2022
The police officer got angry when they insisted on making a report but reluctantly acquiesced. However, the officer kept editing and deleting the report. Megat only managed to go home late at night.
The ordeal goes on
Near midnight, he got a phone call from an investigating officer who told him that they were now only opening the arrest warrant.
When he got to the police station the next day, the investigating officer showed Megat the arrest warrant that was complete with the suspect’s full name and identification number.
The suspect would be remanded for four days during the course of the investigation and be taken to court in three to four months.
Megat expressed his disappointment online and wondered whether the police would help him if he didn’t insist on making the police report that day.
Netizens shared their similar experiences with scammers and showed sympathy for Megat.
They were also disappointed by the lack of action by the police that day.
A few netizens suggested that the people should go to another police station if they weren’t taken seriously.
betul. kena ada depo baru proceed. mcm kes ni. bayar full payment. tp tak check account. hahaha. sbb resit dia nampak real gila!— Gatdi (@MegatAD) March 31, 2022
Aku pon dah kena RM100. Betul2 nampak real. Tapi bila tak masuk2, dia pulak suruh kita call bank kenapa tak masuk. Anjir Scammer. pic.twitter.com/AcMecBlwJO— NazRin (@NazrinProperty) April 1, 2022
Bila baca all this. Super duper kecewa dgn polis. N makin membuak2 menyampah. Rasa mcm terang2 ketidakadilan dia tu. Tambahan pula bila kawan sesama kawan kan. Rosak betul. Moga dipelihara dr semua ni 🤲🏻 nak maki takboleh. ☺ Semoga dipermudahkan brother Megat.— hizbullahamiddin (@HizbullahH_) April 1, 2022
Yes. Some balai dont want to do that. If they refuse, can go to other balai.— fireflyyy (@meforevermy) March 31, 2022

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A DIY keropok lekor hack exists; it’s made from Mi sedaap

Malaysians are so ingenious with their creativity, and we are not talking about technology like homemade powerbanks or RFID locks, but FOOD!
Guess you donâ€™t need to go Terengganu for keropok lekor now because all you need is a packet of Mi sedaap!
Plus, an egg, a sprinkle of some tapioca flour and voila!

via GIPHY
Recently, a Facebook user shared their Keropok Lekor hack made through 8 easy steps where Mi sedaap was used as the main ingredient.
Here’s how you can make it:
1. Boil mee as per usual.

2. With a pestle and mortar, pound the boiled noodle.

3. Add the prepacked seasoning with an egg and mix thoroughly.

4. Slowly add about a ladle full of tapioca powder till the mixture becomes a ball of dough.

5. Roll the dough out into 4 long equal parts.

6. Proceed to boil the dough in boiling water

7. Cut the dough into small pieces, each about half an inch thickness

8. Finally, fry to a golden crisp!

Wee Good GIF from Wee GIFs

Naturally, the internet is divided, with some looking forward to this clever recipe; tagging their friends to try it out in hostels.

via GIPHY
However, some are doubting its taste, questioning what the â€œkeropok lekorâ€ would taste like.

Some though, feel this recipe is a waste of time.
Especially when you can easily get ready made keropok lekor by the roadside.

(Pic Credit: thesmartlocal)

(Pic Credit: quick meme)

We havenâ€™t tried it yet so we can’t say for sure if it’ll turn out well.
But, since it looks pretty legit, we encourage you guys to try it out and share the results with us on our social platforms Instagram, Twitter and Facebook!


This Singaporean Nearly Lost A RM30,000 Radio Contest Because Of His… Accent?

https://www.facebook.com/gold905/posts/2836202096478993https://www.facebook.com/ayu.shalehan/posts/10157816229139702
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Muhammad Shalehan found himself in the strangest scenario when a Singaporean radio station said he lost their SG$10,000 (~RM30,700) quiz prize for apparently “mispronouncing” a celebrity name.
But it looks like the radio station, Gold 905, changed their minds following a huge online backlash, a BBC article and with the celebrity himself, Tony Hadley – former lead singer of 80s English new wave band Spandau Ballet – saying that Salehan pronounced his name correctly.
Tony Hadley, English singer-songwriter who was also the lead singer of the 80s new wave band Spandau Ballet.(Credit: Tony Hadley/Twitter)
The quiz, called The Celebrity Name Drop, requires listeners to name 14 celebrities based on an audio clip of them saying the station’s tagline. Callers would name their guesses and people mostly got the names wrong.
But with every correct guess, anyone who’s been actively tuning in would eventually be able to come up with the right names. That someone was Muhammad Shalehan.
He told BBC that he was hooked, tuning in at work whenever possible, and even having the station on for 11 hours on some days.
On 21st April, 32-year-old Shalehan called in to Mediacorp radio station Gold 905 after paying close attention for month, ready with his answers:
Tony Hadley. Madonna. Maggie Wheeler. Ellen DeGeneres. Jim Carrey. George Clooney. David Bowie. Belinda Carlisle. Julie Andrews. Lionel Richie. Stevie Wonder. Meryl Streep. Michael Buble. Rebecca Lim.Muhammad Shalehan
Muhammad Shalehan with his family. His wife also helped with the quiz.(Credit: Muhammad Shalehan/Facebook)
They told him he got one name wrong and Shalehan thought that was that – until two weeks later when a caller named Jerome Tan gave the exact same answer and was declared the winner.
When Facebook users pointed out that Salehan had the right answer much earlier, the station replied saying that the rules require callers to pronounce the celebrities name accurately and “in the case of Shalehan, he mispronounced Tony Hadley.”
Screenshot from Facebook.
Shocked by the reason, Salehan e-mailed the radio station, but they stood their ground.
So he e-mailed Tony Hadley for back up – who replied back with a video supporting Salehan’s pronunciation!
There’s a slight accent, but as far as I’m concerned, you said my name correctly. So you should be entitled to whatever the prize was.Tony Hadley.

The station still held firm, releasing a video comparing the pronunciation of “Tony Hadley” from Tony Hadley, Salehan and the official winner Jerome.

https://www.facebook.com/gold905/videos/248736369544149/?v=248736369544149

This time, though, the station softened a little and said that they’ll be giving Salehan a token of appreciation for his “exceptional commitment to the contest and loyal support”.
Netizens, however, were unimpressed.
Screenshot from Facebook
After weeks of backlash, international articles and a celebrity endorsement, Gold 905 conceded and finally announced today (22nd may) that Salehan will receive the full prize of SG$10,000 cash and shopping spree.

To which Salehan responded on his Facebook with “ALHAMDULILLAH..SYUKUR!!”, suggesting that the money will used by him and his wife for charity work.

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Source:
Tony Hadley, a radio quiz, one syllable - and a $10,000 riddle
Singaporean lost US$7,000 when Celebrity Name Drop said he got Spandau Ballet star Tony Hadley’s name wrong. Singer says it’s not True


NUTP: SPM Must Go On Despite MCO Rumours, Students Need It For Their Future

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The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) wishes that the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination will continue as planned despite the uncertainty over rising Covid-19 cases in the country.

The SPM examination was scheduled to be held in February 2021, which was delayed from the end of last year due to the pandemic.
The president of NUTP Aminuddin Awang said that the SPM examination is a crucial certificate for students, whether to help them enter the workforce or to allow them to continue their tertiary studies.
The SPM certificate is required to take the next step after a student’s secondary school education.(Credit: Farhan Najib/Malay Mail)
Awang also noted that the students sitting for the SPM examination are adults at the age of 18, and would be mature enough to comply with current Covid-19 SOPs.
Additionally, the examination is also recognized internationally, so further delays to the examination may affect students at more than just a local level.
However, Awang has agreed to abide by any decision made by government in regards to the examination or to schools opening.
The NUTP is confident that the ministries involved will be able to make the best decision with advice from the National Security Council and the current risk analysis.

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No Special Parliamentary Sitting For The Much Anticipated Anti-Party Hopping Bill

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The government has decided against holding a special parliamentary sitting for the proposed anti-party hopping bill, said Law Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

Wan Junaidi said that the bill will instead be discussed during the scheduled Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara sittings in July.
According to The Vibes, the decision was reached taking into consideration that the government will have to fork out more than RM1 million to hold the special sitting for both the lower and upper houses.
“On the whole, the total cost the government will have to bear is approximately RM1,077,600, excluding operating costs, if special sittings were to be held in the lower and upper Houses,” the de-facto law minister was quoted as saying.
He also added that a number of MPs will not be present if the special parliamentary sitting were to be held in early July as many of them are involved in programme held overseas.
Wan Junaidi also mentioned the move would assure that lawmakers across the political divide will have ample time to study and debate the bill when it were tabled in the upcoming Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara sessions.
The anti-party hopping bill is scheduled to be debated during the second meeting of the fifth session of Parliament starting from 18 July.
It will then be presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah for gazetting.

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KFC’s Golden Egg Crunch Chicken Makes A Comeback For CNY

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KFC’s Chinese New Year offering this year is the return of fan-favourite salted egg flavour, the Golden Egg Crunch.

The salted egg flavour was first introduced a few years ago, but they are finally back again for 2022.

The Taste Test
We’ve come to expect KFC’s limited-time flavours to be generously coated with savoury seasoning on the crisp skin.
The seasoning features powedered salted egg yolk and a generous hint of herbs with a light touch of chili.
The resulting combination is a rich flavour bomb the moment you bite into the juicy chicken.
The Golden Egg Crunch meal comes with mashed potato, coleslaw, and a mango drink (not pictured).(Credit: Anne Dorall/TRP)
The Verdict
Those who have enjoyed KFC’s previous limited-time options will enjoy the Golden Egg Crunch just the same, with it’s delicious blend of rich and umami flavours.
However, this recipe isn’t quite the same as the wet versions of salted egg chicken, which is classically more of a sauce coating. This version trades a more authentic salted egg taste for the crunchiness that a powder seasoning can bring out.
The Golden Egg Crunch with its generous coat of savoury salted egg seasoning.(Credit: Anne Dorall/TRP)
This year’s Golden Egg Crunch can be on the drier side with its powder coating, and could be rather jelak after a while due to its richness, although the mango cordial that comes with the meal helps to refresh your taste buds.
They also have a burger version of the Golden Egg Crunch, which features the same savoury flavours on a Zinger patty.

Fans of KFC will likely enjoy both versions, so why not give it a shot?

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KL: Not As Affected By Covid But Way Overworked

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A recent survey noted that Malaysians were severely overworked, which surprises no one. However, the good news is also that compared to other cities, Malaysians have not been as badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last year, we ranked dead last– 40th on a list of 40 cities- on keyless access technology company Kisi‘s survey conducted on work-life balance.
This year, they added an additional 10 cities to their survey, and as a result, we are no longer dead last. We are, however, still pretty low on the list, at 47 out of 50.
Credit: Kisi
Kuala Lumpur has dismal work-life balance.
We are the fourth most overworked country, coming in behind Hong Kong, Singapore, and Seoul. Surprisingly enough, even Tokyo has slightly better work-life balance, coming in at 5th.
The main reasons for our sad working life is the longer commute hours and lack of vacation days. Additionally, it was also noted that while KLites were offered vacation days, not many of us actually use them.
The survey also took into account other factors, such as total hours worked per week, paid parental leaves, total percentage of population in the city that is overworked, percentage of unemployment in the city, and percentage of people who work multiple jobs.
Workload seems to have increased as many Malaysians have transitioned to working from home.(Credit: Freepik)
NGOs have long been campaigning for paid paternal leaves among other demands to raise the Malaysian quality of life, but it looks like it will still be some time before it becomes a widely offered incentive.
Still, it’s not all bad.
Kuala Lumpur is considered pretty resilient against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Kuala Lumpur is also ranking on the bottom of this list, but that’s a good thing! We are the 13th least impacted city by the pandemic, and the 5th with lowest projections of unemployment.
The survey took into account factors such as mobility of the people during this time, the rate of Covid-19-related deaths, and projected economic forecasts to rank the cities in terms of being impacted.
You wouldn’t really think that there’s a CMCO happening with the amount of traffic on Federal Highway, either.(Credit: TRP)
This means that while KLites have felt a great deal of restriction from our various stages of movement control orders, they’re really not that bad compared to other cities across the world.
Then, for rate of unemployment, the survey took the projected percent change for 2020 and compared it to the rate of unemployment in 2019.
Once again, while many KLites reported job losses or loss of income, as a whole the city is not suffering as much as other cities. In fact, three major cities in the USA have the highest rates of unemployment: Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Cleveland respectively.
However, the survey was conducted and processed in August, before the country hit our third and deadliest wave, so things might have changed by now.
TLDR: We’re working ourselves to death, but at least we still have jobs, right?

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Government Spent Over RM 1 Million Of Taxpayers Money To ‘Upgrade’ Ministers’ Offices

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Over RM1 million of taxpayer’s money was spent by the Federal government on upgrading the offices of four ministers at the Prime Minister’s Department (JPM) between 2020 and 2021.

In a written parliamentary reply sent by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to Segambut Member of Parliament (MP) Hannah Yeoh, the PM explained that the upgrades had involved renovations and replacing old furniture at the offices of Parliament and Law minister, and the Sabah and Sarawak Affairs minister as well as their deputies.
Renovations costing RM380,000 were made to the Parliament and Law minister’s office with an additional furniture cost of RM90,000, while upgrades to the deputy ministers office had cost RM192,870 plus another RM10,000 spent on furniture.
Meanwhile, RM145,977 was spent on renovating the offices of the Sabah and Sarawak Affairs minister and his deputy with an additional RM245,733 spent on furniture.
In total, the upgrades had involve an expenditure of RM1,073,580.
But the PM said that all of the upgrades were done according to JPM’s Guidelines and Regulations for Building Planning by the Standard and Cost Committee, Economic Planning Unit.
Hannah Yeoh had earlier criticised the government on social media for not providing a complete answer to her parliamentary queries which requested a detailed breakdown of how much taxpayer money was spent to upgrade the offices of Federal ministers and their deputies instead of just the offices at JPM.
The MP also alluded to the fact that these upgrades came when the country is grappling with the Covid-19 crisis.
Soalan saya mengenai perbelanjaan ubahsuai pejabat Menteri dan Timbalan Menteri. Yang dijawab hanya mereka di JPM. Ini semasa pandemik ya. pic.twitter.com/8ukfn03ZSL— Hannah Yeoh (@hannahyeoh) September 21, 2021
She later poked fun at how the PM had approved to spend RM1 million to strengthen and stabilize the banks of Sungai Kemensah in Selangor, which she says cost less than the upgrades made at JPM.
Hampir sama harga ubahsuai pejabat Menteri dan Timbalan Menteri di JPM https://t.co/0yPpRxl0Rk— Hannah Yeoh (@hannahyeoh) September 21, 2021
Previously, under former PM Tan Sri Mahiaddin Md Yassin’s administration, the Law and Parliament minister’s portfolio was held by Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan while the deputy position was held by Tasik Gelugor MP Datuk Shabudin Yahaya.
They were later replaced by Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and Deputy Minister Datuk Wira Hajjah Mas Ermieyati Samsuddin following Ismail Sabri’s rise to power.
Kota Marudu MP Datuk Seri Maximus Johnity Ongkili retained the position of Sabah and Sarawak Affairs Minister during both administrations.
Read More: New Cabinet Announced: Most Ministers Return, With Some Reshuffling

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Namewee’s Taiwan Tourism Video Wins Best Music Video Award At US Film Festival

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Controversial Malaysian rapper and filmmaker Wee Meng Che, better known as Namewee has just won Best Music Video at the annual Arpa International Film Festival 2021(Arpa IFF) based in Los Angeles, United States.

The impressive accolade was given to his catchy Getaway To Kaohsiung tourism music video done for the Taiwanese city.
In light of the joyous news, Namewee took to Facebook to celebrate his win and called it the best New Year gift.

When I made this music video, I merely wanted to highlight the beauty of Kaohsiung, who knew it would be so well-received!Namewee via Facebook.

He then thanked Arpa IFF, the judges and everyone who played a part in making the music video a reality.
The Arpa International Film Festival has been running for 23 years in pursuit of cultivating cultural understanding and global empathy by creating a dynamic forum for international cinema.
According to Arpa IFF, the Best Music Video win is a tie between Namewee’s Gateway to Kaoshiung and Catalyst Bars & Alexi’s Smash Again.

Last year, Namewee’s controversial film surrounding gang violence in school, Babi, also received multiple accolades from the likes of Open World Toronto Film Festival, Around International Film Festival Berlin, International Thai Film Festival 2020 and the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival 2020.
READ MORE: Namewee’s Controversial Film ‘Babi’ Nominated At Multiple International Film Festivals

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Johor Couple’s Pufferfish Purchase Via Facebook Takes Deadly Turn

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An elderly couple ate fish for lunch, but the meal ended up costing the life of a woman and left a man fighting for his life in the intensive care unit (ICU).

The couple from Jalan Sin Tiam, Chamek, had pre-ordered the pufferfish via Facebook and received the item on Saturday morning. It’s believed that it’s the couple’s first time eating pufferfish.
The 83-year-old woman and her 84-year-old husband allegedly cleaned and cooked the pufferfish for lunch. She started experiencing breathing difficulties and shivering around 3pm.
Her husband displayed the same symptoms an hour later.
Their son who lives nearby rushed them to Hospital Enche’ Hajjah Kalsom’s emergency unit around 5pm.
Sadly, the woman died around 7pm the same day. Her husband is still receiving treatment in the ICU.
The cause of death was identified as food poisoning with neurological manifestation resulting in respiratory failure and irregular heart rate, The Star reported.
According to Malay Mail, the fish is traced to a fisherman from Endau, Mersing, who sold it to a distributor in Batu Pahat for processing.
Johor health and unity committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said the online seller, who’s also from Batu Pahat, sold 15kg of pufferfish to four customers in Chamek, Paloh, and one in Yong Peng.
Luckily, the other customers have yet to consume the fish and they have been seized by the Health Department in Kluang and Batu Pahat.
Preparing to serve puffer fish requires training
Pufferfish is one of the most poisonous seafood in the world. The fish contains the neurotoxin tetrodotoxin and there’s no known antidote.
The pufferfish is a popular delicacy in Japan where it’s called fugu. Due to the fish’s poison, only chefs with extensive training in Japan are qualified to serve it.
According to Nikkei Asia, the length of training differs from region to region so the cooking license is valid only in the designated district.

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Health DG: Recovered Covid-19 Patients May Still Test Positive, But No Longer Infectious

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Most patients who’ve recovered from Covid-19 may still show positive for the virus through long-term rt-PCR tests, according to the Ministry of Health.
Although they are still detected to be positive, they do not have symptoms, do not fall sick or spread the disease to their immediate families.Health D-G Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, via Malay Mail
Malay Mail also reported that repeated studies shows that virus failed to breed.
Due to the findings, the Ministry concluded that the positive results could be caused by dead viruses or virus fragments.
Dr Noor Hisham said the findings were similar in other countries, including in South Korea, China, Singapore and Germany.

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Today Is The Last Day For Malaysians To Renew Their Expired Driving License & Road Tax

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Somehow it feels like October is the month of dues.

September 30 is the deadline for Malaysians to renew their driving licences and road tax which expired during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period.
The Road Transport Department (JPJ) reminds more than 2 million road users that today is the last day of exemption for their expired on-the-road documentation.
JPJ requests road users to complete their renewals as soon as possible, following around 6 months of extended exemptions during the MCO.
Additionally, September 30 would also be the last day that road users would get to pay off their non-compoundable summons at a 70% discount.

Malaysians can proceed to pay off their summons at any JPJ outlets and kiosks nationwide or online via JPJ’s mobile application or the mySIKAP portal.
Summons could also be paid with the MyEG payment service platform.
If you’re not sure that you have an outstanding JPJ summon, online enquiries can be made on the JPJ website, HERE, by imputing your MyKad identification number or your vehicle’s license plate registration.

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Source:
Funs Over, Time To Renew Licenses & Road Tax, Says JPJ
Time to renew road tax and driving licence


‘Elderly Man Who Died Protecting Dog’ Collapsed In Front Of House – Bentong Cops

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Bentong police have released a statement regarding the death of a senior citizen after he tried to protect his dog from dog catchers.

Police said a 79-year-old man, not 85 years old as previously reported, collapsed during a dog-catching operation.
The police received a report lodged on the same day by a 53-year-old woman, who’s the daughter of the victim. She was informed by a neighbour that her father collapsed in front of the house.
The victim’s body has been sent to Bentong Hospital for post-mortem and the cause of death is said to be “respiratory arrest secondary to acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.”
The case has been classified as sudden death.
Bentong police chief Superintendent Zaiham Mohd Kahar advised the public not to speculate on the matter or make any unnecessary or racial comments online.
Witnesses are encouraged to come forward to help with the investigations and contact IPD Bentong at 09-2222222 or head to the nearest police station.

Previously, it was reported that an elderly man named Law Sei Kiew was allegedly involved in a tug-of-war with the dogcatchers outside his double-storey home in Taman Saga in Bentong, Pahang.
According to Sin Chew, the man’s name in Mandarin is Huang Yunhong (a transliteration).
Law’s seven-year-old mixed breed dog was allegedly in the house compound but exited the house when a group of council dog catchers came near the gate.
The dog catchers caught the dog using a noose. Law allegedly grabbed hold of the pole attached to the noose and refused to let go.
Law then collapsed and fell into a nearby drain. He was pronounced dead by the paramedics who arrived at the scene.
Bentong Municipal Council’s Public Health Department head Norizam Saad said the council had made a police report on the matter.
READ MORE: Senior Citizen In Pahang Dies Allegedly While Defending His Pet From Dog Catchers
Clear guidelines on dog catching needed
The incident prompted Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman to call for authorities to issue clear guidelines on dog-catching procedures to prevent similar incidents from happening.
She also visited the victim’s family and expressed her condolences but refused to comment any further.
There have been reports about pet owners and dog catchers getting into fights and altercations.
In one of the previous cases, an elderly man, who was hit by a dog catcher while protecting his dog, was charged with obstructing government officials from carrying out their duties.
READ MORE: Uncle Who Tried To Protect Dogs In MBPJ Case To Be Charged Friday

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