Sexy Or Sexist? Malaysians Outraged Over “Tumbuk Sambal” Pantun Shared By DBP

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A very “spicy” pantun shared by Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka (DBP) online has been the subject of much furor as Malaysians argue if it’s sexist or sexy.

The four line pantun, which translates to “What’s the use of wearing batik, If one isnt wearing a capal (sandal); What’s the use of a beautiful wife, If one can’t pound sambal.”
Pantun#Pantun#DekadBahasaKebangsaan#DekadMembacaKebangsaan#BahasaJiwaBangsa#MalaysiaMembaca#KLWBC2020 pic.twitter.com/5Djr5I2OWK— Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (@DBPMalaysia) October 15, 2020
Immediately, a heated discussion ensued with many Malaysians interpreting the pantun to indicate that a wife is essentially useless unless she can cook.
I'm sorry, but are we living in 2020 or the stone age? Am i supposed to go purchase a set of pestle and mortar to menumbuk sambal in preparation for when I get married? To show that I'm a good wife? I thought that we weren't confining women to set roles (ie in the kitchen).— Jacalyn K (@Jacalyn_Kow) October 15, 2020
Aku rasa ini antara pantun bersifat misoginis/seksis menghina perempuan yang wajar dikaji semula penggunaannya.— The ZΛCH (@ibnzakuan) October 15, 2020
The real meaning of the “tumbuk sambal” pantun
Credit: keluarga.my
A UKM publication on Malay pantuns specifically mentions this contentious piece and describes it as one that highlights the responsibility of a wife to her husband.
One of the roles of wives in the community is to provide food and drink for her husband and children. In addition, family socialization is to teach children traditional Malay girls with various household management skills including cooking.Pantun Sebagai Perakam Norma: Penelitian Awal Terhadap Perkahwinan dan Keluarga Melayu.
However, some have argued against the sexist connotations of the pantun by pointing out that it was typical to have a “hidden” meaning – a very naughty meaning.
Nisah Haji Haron, a Malaysian writer and former lawyer argued that this specific pantun actually points out the importance of a husband being able to “please” his wife.
The Malaysian writer explains that she interprets the pantun as a reminder of a husband’s responsibility to his wife.
“Having a beautiful wife but if she is not appreciated, then it’s like an inner torture for her. Or in English “it is how you please your woman.”Nisah Haji Haron.
Screenshot from Facebook
She explains that old pantuns should be read in depth as private topics like these were often delivered in subtle, layered messages.
And she’s right.
Principal Research Fellow of the Institute of Malay World and Civilization (ATMA) at the National University of Malaysia (UKM) Professor Dr Ding Choo Ming explained that the pantun – the four line verses which is a hallmark of the Malays- was originally used to express sorrow, joy, love or lust for revenge through hints.
He explains that it functioned as entertainment, education and recited during festivals and the wooing of girls or marriage proposals.
However, Professor Ding points out that increasing literacy and the advent of technology has changed the role of the pantun from an oral tradition to a written format adapted for commercial purposes.
He also says that modern pantuns are lacking in the creative emotions usually attributed to verses found in traditional pantuns.
So, what do you think of the pantun – sexist or sexy?

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Source:
The Changing Role Of The Ever-Popular Malay Pantun
Pantun Sebagai Perakam Norma: Penelitian Awal Terhadap Perkahwinan dan Keluarga Melayu


First Look At Nobu Kuala Lumpur After It Finally Reopens At Four Seasons Place KL

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After months of anticipation, Nobu Kuala Lumpur has reopened its doors at Four Seasons Place Kuala Lumpur.

Opened in 2015 at Menara 3 Petronas as Southeast Asia’s first Nobu, the swanky Japanese-Peruvian restaurant’s move initially came as a shock to local gourmands who adored their unique dishes paired with one of the best views of KL’s skyline.
However, rest assured that the new location has injected the Nobu Kuala Lumpur team with renewed vigour – this time to the backdrop of KLCC Park’s iconic water fountain.

With almost six wonderful years at Petronas Tower 3, the 56th floor will always be special to us, not just because of the spectacular views, but because of the spectacular team who helped to build Nobu KL. We look forward to continuing the same Nobu standards of high quality food and quality service in a beautiful setting at our new home at the Four Seasons Place Kuala Lumpur.Nobu Matsuhisa, co-founder of Nobu Restaurant Group.
The food
Nobu’s signature dishes: (left) Black Cod Miso and  (right) Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeno.
As a Japanese-Peruvian restaurant, that’s exactly what guests can expect at Nobu Kuala Lumpur, including Nobu’s signature Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeno and Black Cod Miso.
Of course the three months of closure also gave Executive Chef Philip Leong some time to experiment with new dishes that now make its debut.
There’s the refreshing Pan Seared Scallops with Yuzu Truffle Sauce, the owner’s personal favourite Fresh Water Prawn with Anticucho Hazelnut Sauce and a nicely done New Zealand Lamb Chop with Rosemary Miso.
Tenderloin Truffle Teriyaki against the backdrop of KLCC Park’s water fountain.
Nobu will also be reintroducing the tableside experience for special promotions where a certain dish is prepared in front of the guest by the chef himself.
After roughly three months of waiting, I’m so excited to finally welcome back all our guests and see both new and old faces.Philip Leong, Executive Chef at Nobu Kuala Lumpur.
The drinks
One of the exciting new changes for Malaysians to now enjoy is the all-new Sake Room.
Serving sake from a brewery in Hokusetsu, Japan made exclusively for the Nobu Group, the new addition can take up to a dozen guests on an experiential journey of the perfect sake-dish pairing.
Of course, the crowd favourite Hokusetsu Nobu Daiginjo TK40 “The Premium Sake” makes a return to the eager arms of Nobu fans.
The all-new Sake Room at Nobu Kuala Lumpur can accommodate up to 12 people.
Speaking of drinks, the new Nobu Kuala Lumpur’s bar comes back strong with a delightful selection of liquors and cocktails.
Helmed by the Bar Captain, they now offer tipples inspired by the four seasons and, well, Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur.
This editor personally recommends guests request the Bar Captain for the Genmai Toddy Winter that’s a blend of Hennessy VSOP, smoked honey syrup and Genmai cha. Though Malaysia’s heat is hardly welcoming for warm drinks, this cocktail is still a lovely hug and definitely gives mulled wine a run for its money!
Genmai Toddy Winter
For inquiries or reservations, please call 03.2380.0028 or WhatsApp 019.389.5085 or email nobuklreservations@noburestaurants.com.

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Endangered Green Turtle Returns To Terengganu Beach After ‘Missing’ For 16 Years

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It was a night of celebration in the bustling beach town of Kuala Terengganu when a very pregnant Green Sea Turtle made landfall to lay her eggs at the Pantai Batu Burok beach on Monday (16 August).

By the looks of the viral videos and pictures going around on the web, it appears that beachgoers were beyond excited by the sight of the mama turtle who came to land at around 7 pm on a public beach behind a local hotel.
Nature is healing!!! Penyu kembali mendarat di Pantai Batu Buruk Kuala Terengganu gais. Ada kata fake, ni haa buktinyaa.p/s: Penyu Agar pic.twitter.com/ZdZo1GMsWT— Ashraf (@ashraffarhsa) August 17, 2021

Footage showed the giant reptile slowly making its way up the beach and finding the perfect spot to bury her eggs.
Those who were there had the awesome pleasure of witnessing the turtle diligently digging into the sand with her flippers before laying a batch of eggs and returning to the ocean. The whole delivery took mama turtle around an hour to complete, and she was back in the water at around 8 pm.

The turtle was identified to weigh around 100kgs, estimated to be between 15 to 18 years of age and had laid a batch of 50 eggs.
Quite somberly though, the eggs were quickly dug up and handed over to the Terengganu Fisheries Department (TFD) for conservation efforts to ensure that the baby turtles would hatch successfully and be released back into the sea.
(Credit: Bernama)
It is said that this is the first time in 16 years that a turtle had made landfall to nest in Pantai Batu Burok – a sandy beach that stretches for over 200km and is known to be quite the popular hangout spot for locals and tourists alike.
Experts speculate that the return of the turtle to the beach may have been triggered by it being cleaner and devoid of humans because of the movement control order (MCO).
Make Terengganu turtle again
According to the TFD, there used to be four different species of sea turtles that nest in Terengganu’s beaches and islands:
Leatherback Sea TurtleOlive Ridley Sea TurtleHawksbill Sea TurtleGreen Sea Turtle
However, the last time anyone saw an Olive Ridley Sea Turtle making landfall was in 2003, and the Leatherback has not been spotted anywhere since 2017.
Pollution, habitat loss, indiscriminate fishing activities and the illegal trade of turtle eggs remain the biggest threats to these aquatic creatures here in Malaysia and across the world.
It is also against the law for people to physically touch or disturb turtles according to the Malaysian Fisheries Act 1985 (Act 317) where no person shall fish for, disturb, harass, catch or take any aquatic mammal or turtle in or from Malaysian waters.
Read More: Turtle Egg Sales Aren’t Technically Illegal, But Terengganu May Finally Change That
Turtling things up
(Credit: Max Gotts via Unsplash)
Members of the public are advised to limit unnecessary activities at the beach in order to make Pantai Burok and other parts of Terengganu a turtle-friendly environment.
Since turtles are very sensitive to light and sound as well as very particular to where they chose to lay their eggs, people are encouraged not to crowd the seashore or burn campfires by the beach at night.
Local activists are also seeking cooperation from the authorities as well as owners of private properties near beaches (like hotels and resorts) to reduce the amount of lighting they have so as to not disturb any incoming turtles.
It would also be a good idea to plant trees at the shoreline to act as a natural barrier for turtles to safely come ashore and nest.
Read More: Today (23 May) Is World Turtle Day

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Source:
green turtle
Penyu kembali bertelur di Pantai Batu Burok
Tinggal dua spesis penyu mendarat di Terengganu
Ganding bahu pastikan persekitaran terengganu mesra penyu - pakar


Do You Know Where Your Cows Are Right Now?

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Animals usually have a high instinct in protecting their young ones. An example can be seen in a video that went viral on Twitter.

In the video, two motorists had quite a scare when a cow suddenly charged at them in Kampung Bukit Lintang, Melaka.

Kes lembu terbiar kejar penunggang motosikal di Kg Bukit Lintang, Melaka pada petang semalam.▪Tuan punya lembu boleh yang dianggap cuai boleh didakwa mengikut Seksyen 304A KK yg memperuntukkan hukuman penjara sehingga dua tahun atau denda atau kedua dua sekali. pic.twitter.com/rU3AmUEy6d— MYNEWSHUB (@mynewshub) February 27, 2023

The video was taken by a passerby in a car.
The two motorists were earlier riding behind the cow and its calf before the cow turned and charged at them.
Possibly the cow felt threatened and was just acting to protect its calf.
One of the motorists managed to escape on his bike while the other had to leave his bike before running of.
Luckily the motorists and the cow were not hurt in the process. However, the owner of the cows remains unknown.
The passerby who was taking the video can be seen asking the driver to reverse the car before anything happened to them.
While the video may seem cute, laws were broken.
As stated by a Twitter user, if anything were to happen to the two motorists, the owner of the cow is liable.

It is important for all animal owners to make sure that their animals are not causing harm to anyone and if you encounter a situation like in the video, it is advisable to stay away for your own safety.

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Almost 100% Of Malaysia Getting Heavy Rains & Thunderstorm Today, Warns Malaysian MET Department

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The Malaysian Meteorological Department (Met Malaysia) has issued an alert at 3pm today warning of heavy rains and thunderstorms in nearly every part of Malaysia.

This means that the entire state of Selangor, Perak, Pahang, Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya will be hit by the thunderstorm until 6pm today.
However, the thunderstorms are expected to continue until nighttime for the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia especially in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and parts of Pahang.
The only areas spared from the upcoming evening storms are Penang, Perlis and certain districts in Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Sabah and Sarawak.

Rainy weather & thunderstorms expected until mid-May
According to RTM, the wet weather is expected to continue until mid-May as Malaysia is currently experiencing the inter-monsoon season. This is between when the northeast monsoon has just ended in March and before the southwest monsoon begins in early June.
READ MORE: Why Malaysia Is Experiencing Horrific Rain Storms All Of A Sudden

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Teacher Accused Of Shortchanging Parents When Handing Out BAP Money

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A teacher had been accused of stealing money from the Bantuan Awal Persekolahan (BAP) monetary aid.

The teacher was accused of handing over RM100 to several parents instead of RM150, as announced by the government.
According to mStar, the matter was raised by a parent known as Shuhada, who shared it on Tiktok.
Based on the video recording on TikTok, she claimed that the teacher was dishonest and only handed over RM100 to her.
The incident allegedly happened when she came to collect the BAP money at her son’s school.
My first son is in fifth grade, he got RM150. Then I went to my youngest child’s class  and the male teacher gave me RM100.Shuhada on how she discovered that something was amiss.
Getting To The Bottom Of Things
Shuhada was surprised and immediately asked the teacher involved if he had made a mistake.
She claimed the teacher replied that it was RM100 and there was no mistake.
Shuhada then went to the class of another of her children in year six and asked the other teacher on duty about the actual amount for BAP.
Her complaint shocked the female teacher, who later met with the male teacher.
She said the male teacher took the money from a file and handed RM50 to the female teacher, who passed it to Shuhada.
Shuhada shared the incident in her son’s class WhatsApp group, which consisted of other students’ parents.
It brought more unpleasant surprises when some said they experienced the same thing.
In the meantime, the public was surprised by Shuhada’s sharing and urged the Ministry of Education (KPM) to investigate the matter immediately.
Public Outrage
At the same time, netizens also shared sad stories about BAP.
Many stories concern irresponsible parents who never take care of their children but show up to take the money.
The teachers were sometimes blamed for handing the money to such parents.

Some suggested that the money be banked directly into the student’s account instead of being passed in cash.
They added that most teachers would not know if the family had parenting problems.
Sepatutnya bantuan ni bank in ja ke akaun anak. Pastu senang nanti rakyat macam kau boleh salahkan kerajaan ja kalau jadi isu macam ni. Borang audit BAP dh berhelai, ingat ada masa nak ambik tau kisah rumah tangga?!! Orang macam hang ingat cikgu kerja goyang teloq ja kot. https://t.co/bH2SAVSkWn— |shud| (@shda_nur) January 19, 2023
BAP was first introduced in 2012 to ease the burden of children’s schooling expenses borne by parents or guardians, especially at the beginning of the year.
The aid is given to all students regardless of the parent’s income level.
Previously, the assistance was given to students from Year 1 to Form 5 and from families with a gross household income of RM3,000 and below.
  @ircn Happy masing ii dapat duit BAP #FYP #DUIT #KAYA #DUITBAP #150 #kv ♬ suara asli  – P
Recently, a headmaster landed in a tight spot after losing RM109,000 in BAP money, supposedly due to robbery.
Police are still investigating the matter.
READ MORE: Headmaster Leaves RM100K School Cash Aid In Car, Gets Robbed
The incident added more criticism on why the BAP should not be distributed in cash.
Or, Guru besar tersebut pakat dengan penjenayah yang rompak duit tersebut. it just a theory. Sebab yang tahu Guru besar tu ada duit sebanyak tu hanya guru besar sahaja. https://t.co/heFdy8pzHV— Irham_Anwar_Ibrahim (@1rham_1brahim) January 17, 2023

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NGOs And Good Samaritans Hindered From Sending Aid, Said Selangor MB’s Aide

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The restrictions imposed by the authorities have allegedly impeded aid for flood victims.

Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari’s political secretary, Saifudin Shafi Muhammad, said authorities such as the police are not allowing citizens from sending aid directly.
Citing an example, he said a group of volunteers had brought kayaks from outstation to Taman Sri Muda in Shah Alam to assist the flood victims.
A temporary operations post set up by the police at Taman Sri Muda. (Credit: Fernando Fong)
Upon arriving on Sunday (19 December), they were stopped at a roadblock about a mile away from the flooded area.
The police did not allow them to proceed on the grounds that they had not received any instructions.
The volunteers couldn’t bear to abandon the flood victims. They decided to go in any way by launching the kayaks a short distance away from the road block.Selangor MB political secretary Saifudin Shafi Muhammad to TRP on hindrance in delivering aid
Berjumpa mangsa banjir di flat Sri Muda waktu team kami berkayak memberi bantuan. Anak rantau dari Kunak Sabah yang membantu di sekeliling kawasan. Hero yang tidak didendang. #DaruratBanjir #KerajaanBangsat #ONRescue #KayakingPD #ClubhouseKGK pic.twitter.com/YKFP3MJmWB— Hirman Arsha (@hirman74) December 21, 2021
Volunteers taking a breather with their kayaks at Taman Sri Muda, while awaiting further calls for help. (Credit: Fernando Fong)
Saifudin was speaking to TRP when met on the ground at Taman Sri Muda on Monday (20 December).
He added that when the volunteers wanted to send the kayaks elsewhere to help, they had carried the kayaks for a mile as the police do not allow their vehicle to come in.
Where Are The Empathy And Urgency?
Saifudin regrets that the authorities could not see the significance of speed in getting help to flood victims.
Rescue personnel getting ready to send out a boat during nighttime at Taman Sri Muda. (Credit: Fernando Fong)
READ MORE: Taman Sri Muda Folks Helpless For Two Days: Residents Said There’s No Rescue Despite 999 Calls
He added that NGOs and good samaritans have no hidden agenda, nor any intention of against the authorities.
The only reason is none other than to lessen the impact of disasters on vulnerable members of the public.
Volunteers helping to distribute food and clothing donated by good samaritans to flood victims. (Credit: Fernando Fong)
As it is, people have taken to social media to voice their disappointment in not being able to help just because of bureaucracy.
Update from lapangan…Its a fucking shit show.. and diorg memang tgh buat damage control. Imagine kalo NGO jumpa satu family 10 orang lemas berpelukan… and they take photos.. it will look bad on this fucking useless Govt.Langgar je takleh ke? 🤬🤬 https://t.co/RTUcQYQasI— Joker 🏴 (@BadBoy2662) December 20, 2021
 Even the armed forces could not bear to stand by and do nothing while the people are crying out for help.
READ MORE: Malaysia’s Armed Forces Joined Flood Relief Efforts Without Approval
Tense Relations Undermining Aid Efforts
Saifudin added that good samaritans had to negotiate with the authorities on the ground when they want to send in aid.
He narrated his own experience in which a group of volunteers led by him tried to bring food to Taman Sri Muda.
Taman Sri Muda residents heading home at night with supplies and necessities. (Credit: Fernando Fong)
We had a tense conversation with the police before they finally allowed us to go in with the food. I wonder, why do we had to waste time in ‘negotiations’ when people’s life are stake.Selangor MB political secretary Saifudin Shafi Muhammad to TRP on authorities not being of help
He added that if VVIPs and big shots could easily come in and out in the name of ‘turun padang’ (going to the ground to meet the rakyat), there is no reason to hinder loyal citizens from helping their countrymen.
A Taman Sri Muda resident carrying her mother to safety in the darkness of the night. (Credit: Fernando Fong)
READ MORE: Ministers’ Visit To Flood-Affected Areas Draws Criticism Online
At the same, he expressed thanks to the rank and file in government agencies who had gone through hard days and nights to do the needful.
Saifudin said it is unfortunate that they are hampered by red tape and could not act – for better and for worse – without instructions from the top.
He pleads with them to be lenient and allow access to those who want to send aid to flood victims, so long as the SOPs and safety boundaries are adhered to.
Ahli parlimen/ADUN – Kuasa terhad, kurang aset² bantuan, tiada kuasa mengarahlan askar, anggotaMenteri Pertahanan – Kuasa command seluruh jentera ATM, PARA, NAVYMenteri KDN – Kuasa command MARIN, anggota polis terlatih untuk selamatkan mangsaMenteri KPKT – Bomba dia pegang— Nurul_Banjari #ANWARmyPM (@jan_banjari) December 21, 2021

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Railway Workers Union Want Anthony Loke As Transport Minister Again

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Railwaymen Union of Malaysia (RUM) president Abdul Razak Md Hassan has asked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to appoint former Transport Minister Loke Siu Fook to serve in the position again.

He said the union’s request is based on Loke’s performance as the Minister of Transport from May 2018 to February 2020.
Loke was no longer the minister after the infamous Sheraton Move, which led to the fall of the 22-month-old Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.
Memang function betul @anthonyloke ni masa jadi Menteri Pengangkutan dulu.Ucapan tahniah daripada KTMB kepada Anwar Ibrahim sebagai PM pun mereka sempat rekomen nama dia untuk jadi Menteri balik 👍🏼 pic.twitter.com/NiTqqVcxhm— Laga Cawan 🌺 (@LagaCawan) November 25, 2022
He pointed out that the association believes that if Loke becomes the Minister of Transport, it can bring spillover benefits especially to help improve public transport to be more efficient.
The union believes that the appointment would benefit the public transport, especially in making it more efficient. At the same time, he is very considerate, and will bring benefits to Malayan Railway Corporation and its employees.RUM president Abdul Razak Md Hassan calling for the reappointment of Anthony Loke as Transport Minister.
The Transport Minister post was given to MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong after Loke had stepped down.
READ MORE: Netizens Slam Wee Ka Siong, Call For Anthony Loke To Return After Rapid KL’s Poor Service
I remembered Anthony Loke riding an e-hailing motorbike to spot check LRT stations and found many faultsThis scared the uppers so much they changed government a few months later so that they can continue not doing work but stay richSurely won’t bite us back on the ass right? pic.twitter.com/8AkDJkqSuy— Brian Tan (@briantanlive) November 9, 2022
Abdul Razak made the request through a statement today, in which he congratulated Anwar on his appointment as the 10th Prime Minister and said that this reflects the people’s confidence in the Tambun MP.
Abdul Razak said under the leadership of Anwar, the country and the people will be able to reap benefits.
READ MORE: Loke Shares Bro Hug Moment With Anwar After Swearing-In Ceremony

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Driven By Love – A Father’s Quest To Get His Son Home For Raya

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What does a father, son and an old car have in common? They’re all driven by love.

And that’s the message myTukar wants to impart this coming Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
With this being the used car ecosystem’s first ever festive film, it highlights the importance of love, understanding and togetherness.
Available on myTukar and Carro’s YouTube channel, the short film tells the story of a father who is determined to get close to his son, despite the latter’s busy work schedule.
Will it be a Hari Raya reunion that the father hopes for? Can an old beat up car bring the two closer together?

As a Malaysian, I know how important Raya is for all of us. And as a Malaysian brand, we want to highlight the true significance of Raya. It is our hope that this short film will resonate with all busy, hardworking Malaysians, and remind us all to carve out time for our family members, not just during festive periods. During this time of the year, we are committed to safely bring countless families together as they balik kampung.Derrick Ang, myTukar CEO
Not only in Malaysia but the film is also being released in Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand, where myTukar’s parent company Carro operates in.
Kinship and love are important threads that bind us tightly and this homecoming story is one that is easily understood across the region. The journey to recognising the love that our family members have for us and vice versa takes more than just a drive home – it’s about the time and care that we intentionally carve out for each other.Simond Chew, Carro Creative Director
Have a menangful Raya with attractive myTukar offers
Customers can look forward to a massive giveaway with prizes worth RM100,000, and discounts of up to RM27,000 off selected myTukar Certified cars from 1 March to 19 May 2023.
Prizes include 5 sets of all-expenses paid trip for two to Seoul, South Korea worth RM11,600 each, 11 brand new Philips televisions worth RM1,799, and 300 petrol cardsworth RM100 each.
Other promotions include 30% discount on whole-car spray paint services, complimentary headlamp coating with all rims respray worth RM800 and 50% discount on alignment and balancing services.
For more information on the special Raya offerings by myTukar, click here or find your nearest myTukar Retail Experience Centre.

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Malaysia Remains Confident Despite China’s Growing Durian Industry

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China’s durian industry is making strides, causing concern among Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia.

Chinese growers have been cultivating tropical fruits in Hainan province since the 1950s, with durian cultivation taking off in 2020.
Hainan is preparing for its first durian harvest this year, with about 2,450 tonnes expected to go on sale next month.
Although Malaysia exports high-end frozen durians to China, the country remains confident that the Chinese tropical fruit crop will not replace imports anytime soon.
SCMP reported that Malaysian durian expert Lim Chin Khee visits China every two months to help farmers grow the fruit.
Could China’s durian-farming ambitions end up testing Thai and Malaysian market dominance? – Hainan’s first durian harvest is expected to send 2,450 tonnes of the pungent fruit to market next month https://t.co/BHpWub5r3z— Reddit Malaysia (@RedditMalaysia) May 23, 2023
He believes it’s more of a compliment than competition between China and Malaysia.
Challenges Facing China’s Durian Industry
Lim said he did not expect tropical fruit production in China to skyrocket because growers had to pay rent for farmland instead of owning it outright, and typhoons would occasionally wipe out their crops.
Hainan’s subtropical climate produced durians that were no match for the quality of fruits grown in Thailand and Malaysia, which already had an enviable reputation in China.
However, Hainan’s fruit production could take off with ambition, automation, and lower prices, shaking Southeast Asian self-confidence.
The year-old Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade liberalisation deal cut tariffs on Southeast Asian fruits bound for China, helping Philippine mangoes, coconuts, and durians reach China.
#Thailand's #durian sales to #China have been further boosted after #RCEP took effect. Faster customs clearance,trade facilitation measures provided by RCEP,launch of"Durian Express"&special fruit train services to China helped boost trade of Thai durians&reduce exporters' costs. pic.twitter.com/H1WnSql9pT— Ji Rong嵇蓉 (@JiRongMFA) July 8, 2022
They are waiting to see whether an island with a slightly smaller area than Taiwan could eventually replace imports as growing techniques improve.
Last year, China imported more than 824,000 tonnes of fresh durians worth more than USD4 billion (RM18.5 billion).
That volume of the thorny-skinned fruit with a love-it-or-hate-it smell was about four times more than in 2017.
READ MORE: Durian Liqueur Incorporating The Most Expensive Durian Hybrid, The Musang King Durian

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Johor Might Implement Four-And-A-Half Day Working Week Soon, Report Says

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The Johor state government is considering adopting a four-and-a-half-day working week, Malay Mail reported.

According to the report, the state government is mulling reverting its rest days back to Saturday and Sunday while also cutting short the working period on Friday to halve.
Quoting sources, the report stated that this proposal would allow ample time for the Johor Muslim civil servants to prepare for Friday prayers.
“As part of the proposal, the state government will end its Friday work day at noon, and civil servants will not be required to return to the office after Friday prayers.
“Saturday and Sunday will be observed as official rest days and the start of the working week will be the following Monday.
“From Monday to Thursday, there may possibly be an additional hour of working time from 8am to 6pm to make up for Friday’s half-day. At present, official work hours are from 8am to 5pm,” the unnamed source was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, another source who is privy to the information told the news portal that the new proposed working days had also been communicated to the Johor Ruler, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar.
The source went further, adding that the new working days may be implemented as early as September.
“As it is, we are fine-tuning the proposal to be approved and endorsed soon.
“Hopefully, the new weekend rest days can be implemented by this year,” said the source.
Johor became the fourth state to observe Friday and Saturday as its rest day since 2014 after Kelantan, Terengganu, and Kedah.
However, the new Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi on 14 June said that the state government is looking at the possibility of reviewing its rest days and reverting back to Saturday and Sunday.
Onn Hafiz said that this took into consideration the grouses from the people about the difference in rest days between the government and private bodies, adding that a solution to the matter could be announced soon.

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Villagers in Kedah killed and buried a HUGE snake after it attacked a woman

Over the weekend, a mother of 2 was attacked by a 6 metre python in Kedah.

via GIPHY
Halifah Othman had left her house at around 11pm to throw out rubbish when she was ambushed by the snake as reported by the Star.
Her children had rushed to help her but were unable to kill the snake so they called other villagers for help.

via GIPHY
The villagers were forced to kill the 50 kilogram snake as the Civil Defence Force (APM) only arrived about 30 minutes later as reported by Berita Harian.

via GIPHY
Halifah suffered several snakebite injuries to her leg, hand and head and was rushed for treatment in Kulim hospital.
Later, Halifahâ€™s eldest son, Mohd Rasil, 16, claims they buried the dead python.

via GIPHY


Mâ€™sian woman accidentally drives off with her cat stuck on car roof

We donâ€™t know about you but weâ€™ve accidentally left water bottles, thermoses, wallets, keys, and stacks of paper on our car roof, and driven away completely unaware.
However, the one thing we have never accidentally left on our car roof though, is our pet cat.
Unlike this Twitter user.

Some forgot that they placed their wallet/phone on top of the car. It was different in my case.I was absolutely unaware of my cat on top of the car. It was until I stopped at a traffic light that i heard MEOW. Ppl honk at me & they pointed up. I INSTANTLY KNOW EXACTLY WHATS UP😭 pic.twitter.com/5Qg6UhFHWG
â€” seno/reeta (@senoreeta_) July 18, 2019

@senoreeta_, shared CCTV footage of the front of her house showing her slowly backing her car out of her home with her cat chilling on top of her car roof.
According to her tweet, she was completely unaware that her cat was fast asleep on her car.

Picture credit: Twitter

Senoreeta only realised her cat was stuck on top of her car when she stopped at a traffic light and noticed people were honking at her and pointing to her car roof. That was when she noticed a meowing sound coming from above her head.

 Picture credit: Twitter

And it looks like the cat also didnâ€™t quite realise what was happening until senoreetaâ€™s car had completely reversed out of her house compound.
By the time the cat realised that he was a stowaway passenger, it was too late for him to hop off.

 Picture credit: Twitter

Explaining what happened, senoreeta said that her cat usually sleeps on top of her motherâ€™s car. It also tends to hop off when they start the car engine.
Her cat mustâ€™ve been really sleepy and groggy to not realise what was happening. Senoreeta suggests that he mightâ€™ve had a really late night.

Usually, he sleeps on the car but on my momâ€™s car. Every time we start the car, my cat would instantly wakes up and jump down. But i dont know what happen to him this morning 😂 TOO SLEEPY? HANGOVER MAYBE? pic.twitter.com/qOB12CVyUa
â€” seno/reeta (@senoreeta_) July 18, 2019

Twitter was entertained by the whole ordeal.

â€œI better stay, donâ€™t want to get lostâ€. Hold up! 😂
â€” shrimpobo (@syasyahiera) July 19, 2019

HAHAHAHAHHAHA
â€” aqila (@crestfallencat_) July 19, 2019

Bet your cat is the chillest 😂
â€” Dani (@GuyNameDani) July 19, 2019

Lawak gila hahahahah
â€” Who Am I? 🌩 (@imnotdamian) July 19, 2019

“So funny hahahahah”
FYI, cats like sleeping underneath cars and between car tires for safety and shade during a hot day because it enables them to see what’s going on around them without being seen.

via GIPHY
Similarly, cats sometimes sleep on car roofs to nap in the sunshine without fear of people being able to reach them.
So, moral of the story: check both below, and on top of your car for cats before starting your journey!


Employers Cannot Cut Salary For WFH Staff, Says Home Minister

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Employers are not allowed to deduct their staff’s salaries or allowances even if they’re opting to work from home (WFH).

Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan said that there is no provision in the national wage policy that allows employers to do so, adding that the idea cannot and should not be allowed to happen.
Saravanan said that employers have the power to decide whether an employee can work remotely or not.
“There are no obstacles (in this matter), employers can ask them (employees) to come into the office. (After all) No party can work from home without the consent of the employer,” Saravanan was quoted as saying by Bernama.
He was commenting on the recent Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) suggestion that WFH staff should be given smaller salaries, including a reduction in travel allowance.
“If an employer allows it, then they should not want to cut their salaries later.
“If the employer does not agree with the employee working from home, they can ask the employer to come to the office. Not give permission, (and then) we cut the salary,” added Saravanan.
On 24 April, MEF Executive Director Shamsuddin Bardan suggested the idea, claiming that some employees agreed with the move as working from home would save travel costs.

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[Review] Dress Up Your Pad Thai With Snazzy Toppings At Pavilion KL

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There’s a fresh new restaurant in Pavilion KL, one that was awarded the Bib Gourmand in the inaugural MICHELIN Guide Bangkok in 2018 right after it opened, and then every year since until 2022.

Yup, you can hit up the pad thai specialty chain restaurant from Thailand right here in KL! Baan Phadthai has just opened its doors to Malaysian diners in Pavilion, complete with vibrant interiors and decorated with Thai vintage paintings, photos, and wood-shuttered windows giving it an authentic Thai street-food ambience.
The Yum Kana Goong Sod, like a deconstructed salad for you to mix-and-match your favourite toppings onto raw kale leaf and eaten whole.(Credit: TRP)
The Taste Test
Despite looking quite similar, Pad Thai is starkly different from our own char kuey teow.
Phad Thai is a stir-fried rice noodle dish commonly served as a street food and at casual local eateries in Thailand. It is made with soaked dried rice noodles, which are stir-fried with eggs, chopped firm tofu, and flavored with tamarind pulp, fish sauce, dried shrimp, garlic or shallots, red chili pepper and palm sugar, and served with lime wedges and often chopped roast peanuts.
Baan PadThai claims that their one very important ingredient is the secret and delicate 18-ingredients sauce cooked together with the very best quality of “Sen Jan” rice noodle.
The noodles here are topped with premium choices of protein such as blue river prawns, whole mud crab, grilled beef, or grilled chicken.
Pad Thai served with grilled blue river prawns.(Credit: TRP)
The portions here are generous, so you’ll definitely be able to go home well-fed. Each pad thai dish comes with toppings such as pepper flakes, sugar, lime, and peanuts served on the side, so you can customize the flavours to your liking.
The Verdict
The starters are flavourful with a very distinct Thai palate. Pair it with a pad thai and your choice of protein, then end the meal with a surprising twist to classic desserts.
Most of the dishes are quite authentic but have a little twist, such as the classic Tub Tim Krob (red ruby water chestnuts in syrup), which features a special smoked coconut syrup that adds a layer of complexity to the dish.
The Tub Tim Krob is served in cute little jars for a really pretty dessert that packs quite a punch.(Credit: TRP)
However, prices are rather steep for noodles due to the premium ingredients used, as a pad thai main starts at RM26 for the grilled chicken and can go up to RM58 if you’re getting grilled river prawns.
Still, Baan PadThai is pretty great for people who want to impress but still enjoy staple Thai foods and hearty portions and the crowd visiting the mall.
Pavilion KL strives to continuously meet shopper demands and evolve to deliver the right combination of retailers to keep shoppers engaged and  back  for  more. This time, we are very excited to present diners with a fresh new concept. Baan Phadthai is a multiple award-winning MICHELIN Bib Gourmand restaurant, and the first-in- Malaysia at Pavilion KL, reinforcing our commitment to providing diners with a truly international, authentic and enjoyable dining experience.Datuk Joyce Yap, Chief Executive Officer of Retail, Pavilion KL
Baan Phadthai is pork free and located at Connection Precinct, Level 3, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.

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Home Ministry Ordered By High Court To Register Muda Within 14 Days

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The Home Ministry (KDN) was today directed by the High Court to register the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) as a political party within 14 days.

According to a tweet by Muda today, the judge also ordered the ministry to pay legal costs of RM10,000 to Muda.
Hakim telah membuat keputusan berpihak kepada kita. MAHKAMAH TELAH MENGARAHKAN MENTERI DALAM NEGERI UNTUK MENDAFTARKAN MUDA DALAM MASA 15 HARI DAN MEMBAYAR KOS GUAMAN SEBANYAK 10 RIBU RINGGIT.— Parti MUDA (@partimuda) December 14, 2021
Previously, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin rejected the party’s application to be registered as a political party and gave no reason for the decision. After that, Muda had taken legal action to challenge the rejection.
Muda founder Syed Saddiq Syed Syed Abdul Rahman told reporters as saying that the decision is also a victory for the country’s democratic system.

He said this is because Muda now has a place to voice opinions, criticisms and suggestions to develop Malaysia.
Today is an emotional day because this year has been full of obstacles and challenges. But with the court’s decision today, we build on the commitment and passion to fight for our beloved country after a year and a half of challenges and intimidation (in registering Muda).Muda founder Syed Saddiq Syed Syed Abdul Rahman on the High Court’s decision
Muda founder Syed Saddiq Syed Syed Abdul Rahman. Credit: Syed Saddiq/Twitter
He said today’s decision will not divide the nation, but develop the country, strengthen civil service, elevate the voices of young people and build the country into a family that represents all Malaysians.
Our journey begins today and we will prove to the people that we are there to work for them.Muda founder Syed Saddiq Syed Syed Abdul Rahman on the High Court’s decision

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Justice served, Taman Mutiara MRT assaulter sentenced to 18 years prison

Remember the Taman Mutiara MRT assault and robbery incident which was caught on video last Valentineâ€™s Day?
Today, 26-year-old G. Thinathayaalan, who brutally mugged a woman in an elevator at the said MRT station in Cheras was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
The man had been arrested last February, with police also noting that he had been a hardcore drug addict at the time.

via GIPHY
The verdict was made at the KL Sessions Court earlier today where Judge Mahyon Talib also included five strokes of the rotan as punishment for his crimes.

via GIPHY
The defendant, who reportedly was not represented by a lawyer during the hearing, had earlier pleaded for a lighter sentence. (which was obviously denied)
The accused was charged under Section 394 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail sentence of 20 years and strokes of the cane.
Earlier this year, the country was left shaken when footage of the atrocious assault and robbery became public.

via GIPHY
The 57-minute viral recording of a closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) showed a man in a black shirt violently punching and kicking the 48-year-old victim several times before making an escape.

Police are looking for this man who attacked and robbed a 48-year-old woman in a lift at the Taman Mutiara MRT station on February 14 at 6.45am. The victim was not pregnant as has been circulated but has received outpatient treatment for  her injuries. pic.twitter.com/KVUMDoyWwf
â€” Sumisha Naidu (@sumishanaidu) February 16, 2019

The horrific incident had been at the top of public discussion for months with Malaysians across the country condemning the ghastly crime.
Well the nation would be glad to know that justice has been served at last!

(Picture Credit: quickmeme)


Queensbay Mall Flooded After Ceiling Collapses Due To Heavy Rain

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A section of the third floor of a mall in Bayan Lepas, Penang “flooded” after a portion of the ceiling collapsed due to continuous heavy rain on Valentine’s Day (14 February).

No one was injured in the incident but a lot of videos of the flooding went viral on social media.

Due to heavy rain which lasted about an hour, water seeped into the third floor ceiling, sprouting a leak in front of the Mix Store outlet. That’s when customers at the nearby Haidilao Hotpot Restaurant started to notice the leak and proceeded to record it.
In one video, a person managed to record the moments of the 10-metre ceiling board crashing down in front of them.

Another video of the flooded scene after the ceiling collapsed on the third floor was also recorded. One person nearly slipped as the floor was so slippery.
  @mcs.tv Omg Queensbay mall #news #penang #queensbaymall #omg #flood #rain ♬ Boy’s a liar Pt. 2 – PinkPantheress & Ice Spice
Additionally, as reported by FMT, the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has instructed the building owner to get a consultant to inspect the area to determine the cause of the ceiling’s collapse.
A state official also revealed that the greater Bayan Lepas area where the Queensbay Mall is located, recorded almost 70mm of rainfall per hour alone on the night of the incident. Generally, the area only receives around 200mm of rainfall each month.
The premises were opened the next day
Earlier yesterday, the management of the Queensbay Mall made an announcement on their social media portals explaining the situation.
According to them, due to heavy rain last Tuesday night, water was overflowing into parts of the mall at 11.10 pm in the South Zone of Level 3.
The areas have been cleaned up and all premises were open the next day. However, a section of their level 3 is currently being cordoned off for maintenance.
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Queensbay Mall (@queensbaymall)

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UK Now Has 2nd Highest Deaths & Lowest Recovery Rate From Covid-19 In The World

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Since it began, the epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic has been shifting across countries and continents around the world.
Figures provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) now show the United Kingdom (UK) as the nation with the most fatalities from Covid-19 in Europe and the 2nd highest deaths in the world behind the United States (US).
Where Malaysia stands as compared to other nations.(Credit: Twitter/MOH)
As of writing, the country has recorded over 30,000 deaths from coronavirus, overtaking its Italian neighbor which lost over 29,000 lives from Covid-19.
The UK also has the lowest recovery rate out of all other Covid-19 affected countries in the world with less than 1,000 patients getting better with treatment.
As of date, 10 nations across the world such as the United States (US), Spain, Italy, and Russia top the charts with the most deaths from the pandemic recording over fatalities since the crisis began.
Globally, the Covid-19 pandemic has infected over 3 million people and taken over 200,000 lives.

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Source:
UK Covid-19 death toll tops 32,000, world's second-highest


Another Incident On Penang Bridge; Authorities Search For Woman Who Falls Into The Sea

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A 47-year-old woman left her Perodua Myvi on Penang Bridge before falling into the sea.

According to authorities, the incident happened at Kilometer 2.8 heading towards the mainland on Friday afternoon.
Penang Maritime Director Maritime Captain Abd Razak Mohamed said in a statement that the Seberang Perai Tengah District Police Headquarters gave the alert at about 4.50 pm.
The information received was then channelled to the Langkawi Maritime Rescue Sub-Center (MRSC) which deployed its boats to search for the woman.
Operation CARILAMAT was activated at 5.30 pm and involved the Fire and Rescue Department, Civil Defense Force and the Batu Uban Marine Police Force.
The victim known as Kung Lai Im is believed to be from Bukit Mertajam.
The victim, Kung Lai Im, from Bukit Mertajam. (Credit: China Press)
The search for the victim had to be postponed to 7.30 last night without any clue, and the search will continue tomorrow at 7.30 am.Penang Maritime Director Maritime Captain Abd Razak Mohamed on the ongoing rescue efforts.
Members of the public who have any information on incidents or cases of emergencies and accidents at sea can call the 24-hour MERS 999 emergency line or the Penang Maritime Operations Center at 04-2626146.
The victim’s vehicle was found on the bridge. (Credit: China Press)
Bridges And Suicide
There had been many incidents on the Penang Bridge.
In March, two press photographers – Ahmad Zhafaran Nasib from The Star and Masry Che Ani from theSun – rescued a woman from falling into the sea at the Penang Bridge.
Two newsmen save woman from suicide leap off Penang Bridge https://t.co/u92YRUXi8Y— Malay Mail (@malaymail) March 9, 2022
But not everyone could be saved in time, and lives had been lost over the years.
Berlaku Di Jambatan Pulau Pinang Pertama,Dilaporkan Dari Seorang Kanak-Kanak Menahan Kereta Dan Memberitahu Bahawa Mak Dan Bapanya Terjun Jambatan,Maklumat Awal Mendapati Maknya Terjun Dari Jambatan Kemudian Bapanya Pulak Terjun Untuk Selamatkan Isterinya Dan Mereka Hanyut Hilang pic.twitter.com/1ZvbJGvY8w— Jabatan Netizen Malaysia (@jnmalaysia) April 16, 2021
There had also been similar incidents at the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge or Penang Second Bridge.
Law student attempts to commit suicide from new Penang bridge http://t.co/uSQykk5qzk— 🇲🇾Astro AWANI🇲🇾 (@501Awani) March 5, 2014
The government had since taken preventive measure such as installing loudspeakers to deter suicide attempts.
Amid suicide cases, gov't mulls loudspeakers on Penang bridge https://t.co/UOA7ftolJq pic.twitter.com/urBKQJpSuD— malaysiakini.com (@malaysiakini) September 14, 2019
If you or someone you know is struggling or feeling suicidal, you are not alone. You can contact The Befrienders KL at 603-76272929 (24 hours) for emotional support.

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Woman Who Rammed 10 Cars With Stolen Honda City In Wangsa Maju Has 14 Criminal Records

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A viral video recently showed a woman being surrounded by angry drivers after she rammed almost 10 cars, including a Mercedes Benz, with a stolen Honda City yesterday (17 February).

One of the victims recorded the partial chase on a dashcam and it showed the car thief trying to squeeze her way in between two cars at the Wangsa Maju traffic lights near Setapak Central.
my sister was on her way pergi hantar barang. this white honda (kereta curi) rempuh everybody to get through. shout out to abang tepi tu baling batu kasi pecah tingkap!! pic.twitter.com/mPlfdz2ERV— 🌷 (@ptryhmzh) February 17, 2022
Fortunately, her escape plan did not work and she was sandwiched between the vehicles. The other affected road users surrounded the car to prevent her from escaping.
One of them threw a rock to break the car window and dragged her out of the window. She tried to run away and bit those who tried to restrain her so she was beaten up as well.
dia gigit orang yang pegang dia. kena lempang siap kena tendangggg dengan owner kereta. berdaraah hidungg pic.twitter.com/De3x9FYhNg— 🌷 (@ptryhmzh) February 17, 2022
Another netizen apparently caught the suspect sniffing glue in the bus before the entire carjacking incident took place.
Perempuan yang sama hisap gam dalam bas.Dah high terus curi kereta agaknya. pic.twitter.com/9MmWID2k9o— Too Tall ™ (@Nick_hesri) February 17, 2022
According to Majoriti, the white Honda City belongs to a husband and wife who were on their way to drop things off for their child at Kolej Vokasional Setapak.
They stopped by the petrol station around 2.30pm. Seeing that they left the engine running, the suspect quickly jumped into the car and drove off.
The husband borrowed a security guard’s motorcycle to get to the nearest police station. However, he found his stolen car and the other road users when he reached the traffic lights.
Wangsa Maju police chief Superintendent Ashari Abu Samah said the suspect is 38 years old and has 14 criminal and drug records.
The case will be investigated under Section 379A of the Penal Code for vehicle theft and Section 279 of the Penal Code for driving recklessly in public.

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Penang Cleaner Hit By Forklift, Sustains Severe Leg Injuries

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A 75-year-old woman, Jami @ Jumi Shariff, who worked as a cleaner in the MASKargo Complex in Bayan Lepas, Penang, got into a work accident on 27 February.

In a video of the accident which has since gone viral, she could be seen crossing the road when she was hit by a forklift. Berita Harian reported that both of her legs were seriously injured.
TW: The video below might be triggering for some viewers.
Wanita warga emas dipercayai bekerja di bahagian pembersihan, hilang kedua-dua belah kaki selepas digilis forklift dlm kejadian di Kompleks MASKargo, Bayan lepas smlm.Video tular. pic.twitter.com/zcqKysZWg4— Mohd Redzuan Abdul Manap (@redzuanNewsMPB) February 27, 2023
Southwest District Civil Defence Force officer, Lieutenant (PA) Noor Azizan Zakaria said they received an emergency call at 12.16pm and sent four personnel to the scene.
Jami was still conscious when they administered treatment. Once she was stabilised, she was sent to Penang General Hospital where her right leg had to be amputated due to the severity of the injury.
Her husband Marzuki Omar, 68, only knew about the news when he got home. He was initially waiting for Jami’s call to pick her up at 12pm from work.
It was their routine so he was puzzled when he didn’t receive her call. He decided to head home to call her.
Once he was home, he received shocking news from a MASKargo staff who called to inform him and he quickly rushed to the hospital.
Hopefully, Jami will make a swift and smooth recovery.
READ MORE: [Video] Kaki Wanita Warga Emas Cedera Parah Selepas Dilanggar Forklift Di Pulau Pinang
TW: The post below might be triggering for some viewers.

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Michelle Yeoh Makes History As First Asian Best Actress Oscar Nominee

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Michelle Yeoh, 60, became the first Asian actress to be nominated in the Best Actress category for the Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars.

The Ipoh-born actress was nominated for her role as Evelyn Wang in A24’s sci-fi action Everything Everywhere All At Once, also making her the first from Malaysia to be nominated in this category.
She’s going up against 2-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett (Tár), 5-time Oscar nominee Michelle Williams (The Fabelmans), Ana de Armas (Blonde) and Andrea Riseborough (To Leslie).
As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Yeoh told them that “it’s taken a long time” but she believes this is more than just an achievement for herself.
At the present moment, constantly, all the time, having Asians walking up to me saying, ‘You can do it, you’re doing it for us.’ It’s like, ‘I understand. I totally understand.’ All this time, they’ve not been recognized, they’ve not been heard.Michelle Yeoh
Yeoh landed Everything Everywhere All At Once at the age of 59, which was her first lead role in a Hollywood film.
For the 94 editions of the Oscars since 1929 under the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), there has never been a woman who identifies as Asian nominated in the Best Actress category.
The 95th edition is history in the making indeed, and Yeoh has a hand in it.
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Michelle Yeoh 楊紫瓊 (@michelleyeoh_official)
Previously, Yeoh won the Golden Globe for Best Actress (Comedy or Musical) at the 80th Golden Globe Awards on 11 January.
READ MORE: Michelle Yeoh Becomes First Asian Actress To Win At National Board Of Review Awards In US
The 95th Academy Awards Ceremony will be held on March 12 in Los Angeles and till then, let’s all hope for the best.
READ MORE: Time Magazine Names Michelle Yeoh Icon Of The Year

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Is A Sugar Baby Really A Prostitute? We Find Out

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In Malaysia, the conversation of “sugaring” intensified after several billboards of a local sugar dating app, Sugarbook, were spotted around a couple of affluent neighbourhoods in KL.
The uproar was focused on public display of something
immoral, with many decrying sugaring as prostitution.
This got us wondering, is sugaring really prostitution?
First things first, we look at what a sugar baby and sugar daddy/mommy relationship is like.
Sugar Daddy defined by the Cambridge Dictionary.(Screenshot from Cambridge Dictionary)
According to the founder & CEO of Sugarbook, Darren Chin, “sugaring” is basically a mutually beneficial relationship between two parties.
The two discuss and agree on their list of needs and wants. This list includes monthly allowance expectations, rent payment, companion for dinner or concerts and any form of emotional or financial support.
Darren clarifies that on their platform,  members come from all walks of life.
The sugar daddies are generally middle-high income individuals who are business owners, lawyers, doctors and politicians.Meanwhile, the sugar babies could be isolated working adults, struggling single mothers, divorcees, unaccompanied widows and housewives in search for a second chance in lifeDarren Chin, founder & CEO of Sugarbook to TRP
An astute observation from a TRP reader.(Screenshot from Facebook)
So in the sugaring relationship, it seems that the relationship is one of mutual benefit where the “baby” gets financial support while the “daddy/mommy” receives attention and companionship which may, but not always, include sex.
Screenshot from Sugarbook
What about prostitution?
The general consensus of prostitution is someone having sex for money. Legally, the Malaysian Penal Code defines it as:
“Prostitution” means the act of a person offering that person’s body for sexual gratification for hire whether in money or in kind; and “prostitute” shall be construed accordingly. Section 372 (3), Act 574, Malaysia Penal Code.
Interestingly, being a prostitute and prostitution isn’t illegal in Malaysia, but it is restricted.

What’s illegal is offering prostitution services aka advertising themselves and living on the earnings of prostitution. It’s also illegal to be a pimp and to seek out prostitutes.
According to AskLegal, it appears that Malaysian laws on prostitution are aimed at preventing the trafficking and exploitation of individuals into the life of prostitution.
So is sugaring really prostitution?
Based on TRP’s Facebook poll, many people believe so.

However, the argument for sugaring is that the sex -if it
happens- is consensual and agreed upon by both parties and there is a relationship
between the sugar baby and the sugar parent.
Darren points out that sugar babies are not sex workers who are forced into labour and they do not trade their bodies for monetary value.
However, it is important to note that a Norwegian businessman was handed 6 months suspended sentence in Belgium for promoting prostitution in May 2019. BBC reports that the sentence was meted out in relation to his dating website that advertised sugar daddies to Belgian university students.
(Credit: TRP)
Verdict: We’ll wait for the courts to decide.

Do think sugaring is the same as prostitution? Share your thoughts on TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Source:
Malayia Penal Code Act 574
Is prostitution illegal in Malaysia? You might be blown by the answer.
BBC News


Muse To Perform In Bukit Kiara, Ticket Details Out

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Musers! Are you ready for the big reveal of the Muse: Will of the People World Tour Concert In KL?

READ MORE: Muse Is Coming To Malaysia As Their Only Stop In Asia & We’re Hysterical!
Hello Universe has just updated its social media with the updates and here’s what we know.
Venue – Bukit Kiara Equestrian Resort
Usually done outdoors for massive crowds, Bukit Kiara Equestrian Resort has also hosted numerous concerts over the years.
Some of them include Rock N’ Riuh with local talents last December and Live & Loud with the queen of R&B, the late Whitney Houston in 2007.
Since this looks almost like a fully standing concert, it would probably be held outdoors as it has to accommodate nearly 50,000 attendees, both locally and regionally (since Malaysia is Muse’s only stop in Asia).
Tickets are divided into four categories, A – D with D being the seated ones only.
The map and ticket prices are pictured below:

Tickets will go live for presale on 2 March at 2 pm local time. You can get the tickets at golive-asia.com. You can even buy the tickets in instalments at Go Live Asia.
For the normal sale, tickets will go live a day after on 3 March at 10 am at ticket2u.com.my.
Set your reminders everyone, it’s going to be a tough fight with other non-Malaysian musers too!
For more info, follow Hello Universe’s Instagram and Twitter.
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Hello Universe (@hellouniverse.my)
READ MORE: 2023 Sees Concert Scene In Malaysia Alive And Kicking, Check Out What’s In Store February Till May

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Parents Of Murdered Malaysian Student Refute Suicide And Drug Reports

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The parents of a Malaysian student who was found dead in her apartment in Taiwan on 13 October have confirmed that their daughter was murdered.

READ MORE: Malaysian Student In Taipei Murdered, Believed To Be Strangled In Her Apartment
They rubbished claims in Taiwan media that their 24-year-old daughter, Kristine Chai, committed suicide.
According to the death certificate, she died of homicide and manual strangulation. It is not suicide. The death certificate is in the hands of the family.Kitson Foong, one of the family’s lawyers.
The Star reported that the family also denied a Taipei Times report that said the autopsy showed drugs in their daughter’s system at the time of death.
The toxicology report is not even out (yet), so where is the Taiwanese press getting this information from.Chai’s parents said during a press conference before their daughter’s wake.
Taiwan police apprehended a man named Chen Bo Yan who claimed to be Chai’s boyfriend after he admitted to strangling her over money matters.
The police said the couple met online and only dated for less than a week before her death.
Chai’s younger brother was seen at the airport’s arrival hall with a box containing her ashes, accompanied by their parents. Image: The Star
According to Malay Mail, Chai’s parents couldn’t confirm if Chen was her boyfriend because they weren’t aware of the relationship and did not know the young man’s existence before this.
Chen was arrested and held for questioning after he was discharged from the hospital on 17 October after a failed suicide attempt.
Chai’s family has also appointed a Taiwanese lawyer to advise on legal procedures and provide options concerning civil suits for wrongful death in the Taiwan courts.
The family’s lawyers said the family is leaving the investigation to Taiwan police. One of the lawyers, Goh Siu Lin, urged local and international media to be more sensitive and respectful in their reporting.
We cannot police the media here and overseas, but we just want to say – please don’t forget that Chai was the victim of a horrible crime. We don’t want to re-traumatise the family, so please verify or check the facts with us.”Goh Siu Lin, one of the family’s lawyers.
The Star reported that the family arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport today around 2.40pm with Chai’s remains.
A prayer and a memorial service are scheduled to be held at Yi Yuan Life Care Centre in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, today (26 October).

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[Watch] Lee Chong Wei Wows Netizens With His Basketball Skills

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Datuk Wira Lee Chong Wei may have hung up his badminton racket for good, but his recent video on Instagram showed that he might have picked up a new sport instead.

In the video, the former World Number 1 player showed off his basketball skills in court with some friends and even scored some goals during the game.
Chong Wei also teased his followers with a joke in the caption and wrote, “I’m LeChon James.”
The video, which was posted yesterday, received 69.2k likes and counting.
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Datuk Wira Lee Chong Wei (@leechongweiofficial)
Netizens were excited to see Chong Wei show off his athletic skills on the basketball court.
A few of them praised Chong Wei for ‘conquering’ basketball as well as badminton.

Another netizen pointed out how agile Chong Wei was on the basketball court.

Aside from that, they also loved his song choice in the video. It’s a remix of the song called Masih Mencintainya by an Indonesian group Papinka.

Chong Wei made the painful decision to retire from badminton on 13 June 2019 after consultations with doctors in Japan.
After 19 years playing badminton for Malaysia, Chong Wei earned various achievements and titles including winning 3 Olympic silver medals, and is known as a Malaysian hero.
READ MORE: Chong Wei announces retirement today

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[WATCH] Woman Confronts “Security Guard” Harrassing Her For Riding Her Bike At Night

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The majority of women in this country don’t feel safe wherever they go.  That’s a fact.

There was even a parody of it in a video where a woman walking alone was relieved to find a Pontianak (female vampire) in her car instead of a man.
Read More: [WATCH] ‘Spooky’ Video By Local Content Creators Is Scary, Funny, And TRUE
Just goes to show that truth is scarier than fiction and this viral TikTok video posted a few days ago is a testament that you can’t even go cycling in peace without some creep who doesn’t know how to mind his own business.
  @psychomoonchildbuddy Was just riding a bicycle to exercise & developing new hobby but this creepy dude been following me everywhere i go 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄 ♬ original sound  – psychomoonchildbuddy
The video was posted by TikTok user psychomoonchildbuddy three days ago and has amassed over 1.5 million views to date.
It starts with the woman asking the man on the motorbike why he was following her.
Without giving a direct answer, the man later claimed he was a security guard and questioned why she was out late at night.
The man then also asked her several times where she lives to which the woman told him that it was none of his business.
The 3-minute video was an uncomfortable watch with the woman’s voice noticeably trembling and furious asking him to go away.
In another video, the woman can be heard screaming for help but she claimed people only came out to see what was happening from inside their gates.
Events leading up to the stand-off
Following the initial video, psychomoonchildbuddy explained what happened prior saying she was out cycling after work at 8 pm until around 10:30 when the incident happened.
She saw the man coming towards her from one side of the street and after changing her cycling route a few times, she noticed the man did too which made her realise she was being followed.
Police report made
In an update posted yesterday (28 October), the woman posted that a police report has been made.
It was also confirmed that the man was NOT a security guard and if he’s seen again, he could be arrested.
The woman thanks her followers for their concerns and then warns people to never believe strangers who claim to be security personnel.
What to do in this position
(Credit: Free Photos / Pixabay)
Several netizens took to her posts to advise she shouldn’t have been out so late.
While this may hold some truth, harassment can happen at any time of the day.
There are some measures you can take to ensure your safety such as:
Letting someone know your plans and where you will be.Always carry your phone with you in the event you need to make a call, or in psychomoonchildbuddy’s case, to capture the face of the suspect.Saferwatch also recommends avoiding suspicious people and areas like dark, isolated areas. If you feel someone is following you, ring a neighbour’s door or find a neighbourhood store to duck into.Carry a non-violent deterrent if you can, like a whistle to alert others. You could also carry around pepper spray but some types are considered illegal here in Malaysia. There’s also the risk of the spray landing in the wrong hands (e.g. perpetrator).Also, walk with confidence and make eye contact with passers-by as this makes you less of a target to potential attackers.

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This Is Why Klang Valley Keeps Getting Water Cuts & It’s Annoying AF

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Tempers are flaring up online with angry Malaysians demanding an explanation as nearly 1,300 areas in Kuala Lumpur, Petaling, Klang/Shah Alam, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Selangor, Gombak and Kuala Langat are affected by the water supply disruption that began on 3 September.

So, what’s happening?
Several water treatment plants – Sungai Selangor Phase 1,2,3 and Rantau Panjang Water Treatment Plants- were shut down at 10 am on 3 September, Thursday due to raw water pollution in Sungai Selangor.
Despite efforts to dilute the polluted water by pumping in water from the Sungai Tinggi Dam and a pond in Bestari Jaya, barometres showed that the odour pollution was at the 1 tonne level at 7am on 4 September. The reading must show 0 tonne for the water treatment plants to reopen again.
SIARAN MEDIA: LOJI RAWATAN AIR SUNGAI SELANGOR FASA 1, 2, 3 DAN RANTAU PANJANG MASIH BELUM BEROPERASI pic.twitter.com/N1x97wIkLU— Air Selangor (@air_selangor) September 3, 2020
Following investigations by several agencies, including Air Selangor and Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS), it is suspected that effluents with solvent-like odour from the Sungai Gong industrial area is the cause of the pollution.
Currently, odour sampling is being done around Sungai Gong, because we suspect industrial premises there may have released effluents with solvent-like odour into the river.Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS) via NST.
This is not the first time pollution from industrial areas has caused Klang Valley’s water cuts, though.
Credit: Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS) via Malaysiakini
Sungai Gong is one of the rivers that flows into Sungai Sembah, which feeds into the Sungai Selangor where the Rantau Panjang water treatment plant is located 17 kilometres downstream.
Industrial waste dumping at Sungai Gong is also one of the main sources of pollution of Sungai Selangor, leading to several water cuts in the last decade.
Credit: Koh Jun Lin/Malaysiakini
In August 2013, diesel pollution dumping into Sungai Bakau and Sungai Gong sparked a water crisis in the Klang Valley on Merdeka Day.
Then a year later in 2014, industrial hydrocarbon waste dumping into the river caused another widespread water cut.
Earlier in March 2020, a solvent-like odour at Sungai Gong and Sungai Bakau led to another water disruption incident.
This September’s water pollution incident has been traced to a machinery maintenance factory in Rawang that had failed to store oil waste according to conditions set.
It is determined that this factory had been compounded RM60,000 for the same offence in the past before. The authorities have ordered the factory shut.
So what’s being done to fix this problem?
Well, since 2019 the Selangor government has been threatening the illegal factories with shutdowns if they fail to register themselves by this year.
The state government has also seized the lands where these illegal factories operate, while culprits have been charged under the Environmental Quality Act 1984 and the Selangor Waters Management Authority Enactment 1999.
FYI, Malaysia also has the Water Services Industry Act 2006, which carries the death penalty for those whose action of contaminating a water source had resulted in death.
Environmental Protection Society of Malaysia vice-president Randolph Jeremiah told NST in 2019 that it was important to find the culprits and impose severe fines and punishment as a deterrent.
Monitoring and enforcement can be difficult due to the size of water catchment areas. However, we have adequate laws.Randolph Jeremiah, Vice-President Environmental Protection Society of Malaysia to NST.
President of Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia S. Piarapakaran points out that laxity is a reason for the frequent pollution of water sources. He tells NST that it is sign of negligence by the authorities in protecting river reserves.
He also says that LUAS should have intensified checks along riversides and get tough with the unscrupulous parties who are channelling effluents or dumping waste into rivers and other water systems.

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Source:
Effluents believed to cause Sungai Selangor pollution
Sungai Gong factories linked to latest water disruption
Legalise or risk being shut down, Selangor factories told
Yeo: 100 illegal plastic waste recycling plants to be closed down
Sungai Selangor pollution due to industrial waste - Azmin
Company director, his wife charged with Aug 30 Sungai Selangor pollution (Update)
Solvent-like odour suspected cause of water purification plant's shutdown
It's time to get serious about water contamination
'Frequent water cuts sign of laxity'
Gotcha! Sg Selangor pollution traced to repeat-offender Rawang factory


Dewan Rakyat Told That Ex-PNB President And CEO Jalil Rasheed Is Not An LSE Graduate

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The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) has confirmed that Jalil Rasheed, former Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) president and group chief executive officer is not one of its graduates.
What you need to know: The information came to light after Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming asked Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin during Parliament about Jalil’s resignation.
The written reply said the Securities Commission (SC) had made further enquiries on the matter after inconsistencies in Jalil’s academic and employment background were found. The SC had a meeting and discussion with Jalil for further clarification on 11 June.
By 13 June, Jalil tendered his resignation, citing personal reasons. His resignation was accepted by PNB board of directors during a meeting on 15 June.
Who said what: Jalil claims that his decision to resign was due to harassment he was facing that made him worry for his family’s safety. On his personal Twitter account, Jalil shared that he had received abuse calls from private numbers for a week prior to his resignation. He also shared that some of his social media accounts and corporate emails had been hacked.

Today, I have resigned as President & Group CEO of PNB. There were so many rumours going around, allow me to clarify through this thread.— JR (@jrmanajemen) June 15, 2020

How it got here: Jalil was appointed by the government of former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed on 1 October 2019. Prior to that, he was with UK fund manager Invesco, where he was the Singapore-based CEO for Southeast Asia. Upon his appointment, Jalil was the youngest person to head PNB in its 42-year history.
After eight months at the helm of the country’s largest fund management company, he suddenly resigned.
Despite his resignation, SC insisted on investigating the issue saying that a Capital Market Services Licence (CMSL) holder like PNB is required to seek SC’s prior approval before appointing its chief executive. It added that PNB must also ensure all information submitted to the SC for approval are true and correct after conducting due diligence enquiries.
Read more:Jalil Rasheed not an LSE graduate, Dewan Rakyat told (Malay Mail)Malaysia’s PNB CEO Jalil Rasheed resigns (Asia Asset)Securities Commission confirms discrepancies in former PNB chief Jalil Rasheed’ qualifications, work experience (Malay Mail)New twist in ex-PNB chief’s appointment drama (The Star)

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Muhyiddin Has Been Appointed The National Recovery Council Chairman

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Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has been appointed as the National Recovery Council chairman.

The Cabinet made the decision on Wednesday (1 September), said Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali.
The appointment has also been presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“The appointment was made as the government is confident with the ability of Muhyiddin to spearhead the national recovery strategy to achieve the best economical impact and restore the lives of people severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic,”
Muhyiddin chaired the council when it was first formed back in July, as the prime minister.
READ MORE: How Malaysia’s 8th Prime Minister Was Installed And Resigned In 17 Months
The National Recovery Council include now prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, and a panel of experts including Khazanah Research Institute chairman Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, former Khazanah Nasional Berhad managing director Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar, AirAsia Group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, and Yayasan Chow Kit co-founder and child rights activist Dr Hartini Zainudin.
Other members of the council include Universiti Malaya Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases Professor Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, Star Media Group adviser Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, SME Association of Malaysia president Datuk Michael Kang, former Education director-general Datuk Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim, and Monash University Malaysia Associate Professor Dr Sivakumar Thurairajasingam.

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M’sian Thriller ‘Stone Turtle’ Selected To Compete At Swiss Film Festival, A First For Local Films

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Stone Turtle, an upcoming local film by Malaysian director Woo Ming Jin, has been selected for the Main Competition (Concorso Internationale) at the 75th Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland next month.

The film produced by Greenlight Pictures marks a first for a Malay language film to be selected in Locarno’s main category.

According to Malay Mail, Stone Turtle director Woo Ming Jin is also competing for the coveted Golden Leopard award and is in the running for the Best Director award.
The Golden Leopard award is the highest honour attainable at Locarno.
I’m very proud that the hard effort of our entire team has resulted in a film that we’re very satisfied with, and that a top-tier film festival like Locarno has selected this film for its Main Competition section. This is our World Premiere, so it is the beginning of our film’s journey. We are looking forward to present our film alongside other great filmmakers in the world at the festival.Stone Turtle director Woo Ming Jin
Woo added that the film was made with some of the great talents from different countries with the intention to preserve the memories of some of our long-forgotten local folklores.
Woo and the film lead actors Bront Palarae and Asmara Abigail are expected to attend the festival, which begins on 3 August and ends on 13 August 2022.
What’s the film about?
Stone Turtle is a Malaysian-Indonesian time-travelling thriller about a woman living on Malaysia’s east coast and her deceptive entanglements with a man.
The film stars local actor Bront Palarae and Indonesian actress Asmara Abigail as the lead actors. Both actors are in the running for the Best Actor and Best Actress awards.
The rest of the cast includes Amerul Affendi, Maisyarah Mazlan, Samara Kenzo, and Alison Khor.

Stone Turtle was filmed in Terengganu in January 2022 and finished filming in the same month.
Edmund Yeo, the acclaimed filmmaker who worked in Japan and Malaysia, served as the executive producer and editor. The production design was helmed by award-winning filmmaker Liew Seng Tat (“Flower in the Pocket,” “Lelaki Harapan Dunia”).
The live-action flick includes animation done by a British animator who has worked with Studio Ghibli.

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RM1 For A Kancil: Melaka Man Helps Out 70YO Woman To Get Her Own Car

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A workshop owner in Durian Tunggal, Melaka, sold an elderly woman a Perodua Kancil for RM1.

Berita Harian reported that Shikh Muhammad Makhdad Haron, 49, was approached by Jamilah Mazaki, 70, who wanted to buy a used car.
However, she didn’t have enough money to pay but was willing to pay in instalments. Jamilah had been getting around using e-hailing services or carpooling with someone else for work and grocery shopping.
Shikh pitied Jamilah so he decided to look for an affordable used vehicle for her. His search led him to the owner of a Perodua Kancil who was willing to give the old car away. The owner wanted to remain anonymous.
Shikh brought the vehicle back to his workshop for repairs and made sure the car was safe to be driven before selling it to Jamilah.
He added that he appreciated the help from his colleagues, the community and Puspakom to help realise Jamilah’s wish to own a car.
Although there were hurdles to overcome along the way, the car was finally passed to Jamilah.
He said he only asked for RM1 as payment as a sign of care and effort to help those in need.
Upon getting the car, Jamilah was touched by Shikh’s effort and was surprised to be only charged RM1.
Only Allah can repay everyone who helped realise my dream.Jamilah Mazaki

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Cheap Illegal Cigarettes Are Ruining Malaysia, Here’s How

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Ask any smoker and they’d tell you that smoking cigarettes is a disgustingly expensive habit.

Costing between RM12 to more than RM20 a pack, after taxes, the average smoker can easily spend more than RM100, a week just, to scratch that nicotine itch.
Because of this high upkeep, it’s no surprise that most Malaysian smokers are turning to cheap, illegally smuggled cigarettes to fulfill their cravings.
According to an international consumer advocacy group, the Consumer Choice Center (CCC), over 60% of Malaysia’s 5 million smokers are regularly consuming illegal cigarettes.
Moreover, it was revealed that Malaysian enforcement authorities had managed to stop more than 450 million cigarette sticks from entering the country between January and June 2020 alone, compared to the over 230 million sticks confiscated over the same period the previous year. Proving that the tobacco black market is flourishing more than ever in the country.
The reason for this is simply because these illegally smuggled cigarettes are way, way cheaper than premium brand buds found over the counter, only costing between RM3 to RM5 depending on where you get them.
A selection of illicit cigarette brands available on the market.(Berita Harian)
However, these cheap cigarettes do pose more danger to the country than we may have realized.
Healthwise, a 2015 study by University Malaya (UM) revealed that illicit cigarettes have been found to contain three times more tar and nicotine than that permissible by Malaysian law, besides having the tendency to be laced and contaminated by other unknown chemicals and substances, which would probably do untold damage on a smoker and secondhand smoker’s lungs.
Economically, the cigarette black market drains the country out of its tax income. The CCC reports that Malaysia suffers an annual loss of RM5 billion from Malaysian choosing to go for the cheap illegal option.
The existence of such black markets is also detrimental to the country itself, as the income gained from the trafficking and sale of illegal cigarettes inevitably supports criminal gangs and the import of other illicit goods such as drugs, knockoff products, even people.
To address this problem, the CCC suggests a radical reform to the country’s tax on cigarettes.
Given price is a key factor causing consumers to turn to illegal cigarettes, the Government should consider tax and price reforms for tobacco products as a measure to address illegal cigarettes. At the end of the day, reducing the demand for illegal cigarettes by way of tax reforms will also help reduce the sole burden on enforcement in addressing the tobacco black market.CCC Managing Director Fred Roeder

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[Watch] Couple Travels From Singapore To Penang On Autopilot In Tesla

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Many people are still reluctant to switch to electric cars (EVs) because there might be problems with mileage and the extra leg work to find charging stations (other than the hefty price tag).

A TikTok user @sgpikarchu made a few videos to share their experience travelling from Singapore to Penang, Malaysia, while on autopilot mode in their Tesla Model 3. It looked doable and not as difficult as most would think.
The couple joined the queue to cross the border into Malaysia on 1 April and got through within 45 minutes.
  @sgpikarchu Crossed the custom within 45 minutes at midnight. Drove past KL, continuing up north! Go Tesla 🤓 #SgTeslaGoesMsia #EVboleh ♬ Vacation – Dirty Heads
Before reaching Penang, they passed through 6 Malaysian states and showed some of the different EV charging stations they used along the way.
While waiting for their car to charge, they used the time to catch up and have a meal with a friend before continuing their journey.
  @sgpikarchu Hope this video is somewhat useful for those driving to to Malaysia with EV. For accurate distance, please use Google Map, the animation is just an estimate. Happy driving! 🤩 #SgTeslaGoesMsia #EVboleh ♬ Electric Love – BØRNS
Where to charge?
In a separate video, they shared how to look for more charging stations via a website called PlugShare and that there are fast chargers available at certain stations.
However, they suggested calling stations in rural areas in advance to check if it’s working. You don’t want to get stranded on a holiday after all!
  @sgpikarchu You can find most of the EV chargers on PlugShare website/ app. Green = AC normal charger. Orange = DC fast charger. As of now, do plan well when driving up north or along the coastal road. Tried and tested for SG to Penang area, it’s possible! 🤓 Happy driving. #SgTeslaGoesMsia #EVboleh ♬ In Love With You – BLVKSHP
Curious netizens asked about the cost to charge the Tesla. According to @sgpikarchu, some stations provide free charging services, but it varies from station to station.
Netizens also wondered whether they felt stressed out if the battery runs low.
In response, they said they were used to it by now and it was easier this time around because there are more chargers in Malaysia.
However, some netizens might need more convincing to switch to electric cars because they find it takes too long to charge the vehicle.
The only consolation so far is to charge the electric car at home. It might be easier to install a charger in landed properties than in condominiums and apartments though.

There’s definitely still a long way to go for electric vehicles in Malaysia but it looks like some progress has been made at least.

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Consanguineous Marriage & A Baby’s Genetics: A Higher Risk Of Inherited Disease [OPINION]

ByNasuha Syahira SanusiStudent, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)

Consanguineous marriage is a marriage between two individuals who are related as cousins or close relatives.

This tradition is quite common, highly practiced and socially favoured especially in North Africa, West Asia and South India.
Looking on the positive side of why this marriage is culturally favoured, sociological studies showed that consanguinity strengthened family relationships and there was higher compatibility between husband and wife, as well as other family members.
Credit: Axios
Why it doesn’t work in the first place
However, as the maxim goes, everything in nature is bipolar, or has a positive and negative pole. Genetically, consanguineous marriage highly induced the expression of autosomal recessive diseases and syndromes that will be inherited to the offspring, countering the social and cultural benefits.
The offspring from a marriage will carry identical gene copies from both parents. Thus, if both parents have diseases that can be inherited, for instance sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis or even thalassemia, there will be higher risk for the newborns to inherit them.
Infant mortality and birth defects rates has a double increase compared to nonconsanguineous marriage.
The closer the biological relationship between parents, the greater is the probability that their offspring will get the recessive genes.
Consanguineous marriage also increases the incidence of multifactorial disease such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiac disease for instance atherosclerosis, obesity, and certain types of cancers such as breast cancer, blood cancer and list goes on. These may in turn affect the reproductive outcomes.
How are diseases inherited via consanguineous marriage and why is the risk for the infants to get affected doubled?
Generally, the offspring will get the identical gene from both parents; half from the father and the other half from the mother.
There are 22 pairs of autosomal chromosomes and 1 pair of sex chromosome (XY for boys and XX for girls). Autosomal recessive diseases are usually due to mutations, genetics, or even environment that will affect the sequence and structure of the autosomal chromosome.
Let’s take sickle cell anemia, a genetic disease of red blood cells, as an example.
Normally, red blood cells are discs like shaped , which gives them the flexibility to travel through even the smallest blood vessels. However, in sickle cell anemia, red blood cells have an abnormal crescent shape resembling a sickle. Sickle red blood cells are sticky, rigid and easily clump in the blood vessels.
Credit: Wikipedia
This will lead to the blockage of blood supply from reaching the whole body. Lethargy, tired, muscle weakness, and severe pain are the common symptoms that can be shown in patient with sickle cell anemia.
How is sickle cell anemia inherited to the offspring? When both father and mother have sickle cell traits (as carriers), the chances of the offspring to have sickle cell anemia is 1 in 4 ,or 25% as there is a higher likelihood of having a child with a recessive condition.
According the Clinical Genetics Handbook, children of non-related couples (nonconsanguineous marriage) have a 2-3% chance of being born with a birth defect, and children of first cousins (consanguineous marriage) have a 4-6% chance.
Besides having higher risk to be inherited with certain diseases, another reason is consanguinity can reduce human antigen leukocytes (HLA) variants in human population.
Marrying someone that is close to us will reduce the variety of HLA. One of the main functions of HLA is as immune defensive mechanism.
HLA detects the antigen or bacteria that get invaded in our bodies. The more population of HLA variant that we have, the more our immune cells in our bodies ,the lower the risk for us to have a certain disease.
Thus, when there is low population of HLA variants, as in consanguineous marriage, the higher the chance for the offspring to get infected.
Even Islam doesn’t encourage it
In Islam, consanguineous marriage is allowed and not prohibited but it is not encouraged.
As Allah (SWT) says in Al Quran, Surah An Nisa ,verse 23:
“Also forbidden to you for marriage are your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your paternal and maternal aunts, your brother’s daughters, your sister’s daughters, your foster-mothers, your foster-sisters, your mothers-in-law, your stepdaughters under your guardianship if you have consummated marriage with their mothers—but if you have not, then you can marry them—nor the wives of your own sons, nor two sisters together at the same time—except what was done previously. Surely Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful”.
Allah has stated in Al-Quran, the prohibited group to marry and the people who are not allowed to be married. In Islam, marrying our own cousin does not go against the syariah law but it is not encouraged to do so as this practice can give negative impacts to the offspring genetically.
In short, consanguineous marriage has been proved to be one of the causes that contributes to increasing the number of inherited diseases in offspring. Couples who have a recessive trait disease and still want to have consanguineous marriage are advised to seek a doctor for screening test and premarital counselling.
Credit: History.com

Nasuha Syahira Sanusi is a second year student at the Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM).

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Najib Drops Zaid Ibrahim’s Team For SRC Final Plea, Teams Up With Hisyam Teh Instead

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Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had dismissed solicitors from Zaid Ibrahim Suflan TH Liew & Partners (ZIST), in his final bid to overturn his conviction for misappropriating funds from SRC International Sdn Bhd.

The Federal Court was informed of the decision early today at the start of the hearing today.
“The solicitors have been discharged by the appellant,” Najib’s lead counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik told the court.
According to The Vibes, Najib is currently being represented by Hisyam and two other lawyers, Low Wei Loke and Kee Wei Lon as co-counsels.
Hisyam was appointed as Najib’s lead counsel on 26 July after the latter replaced his long-time lawyer Muhammad Shafee from the law firm Shafee & Co with former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim’s firm, Zaid Ibrahim Suflan TH Liew & Partners.
The experienced lawyer had repeatedly sought an extension from the court to prepare Najib’s case, but a five-panel judge led by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat rejected his applications.
He even sought to recuse himself from representing the former premier yesterday but this application was denied by the Federal Court.
Today’s hearing continues with lead prosecutor Datuk V. Sithambaram making his submissions.
In a statement to the press, Najib said that he had appointed Zaid’s firm to argue his case after the former law minister said that he would be able to bring legal experts from India through his Singaporean partner Niru Pillai.
“I was then introduced to two senior counsels from India, who initially impressed me with their ideas. Ultimately, they were to do the back-end work while Datuk Zaid’s firm facilitated the court process.
“Datuk Zaid and team came with a condition that their engagement must include his firm being placed as a solicitor on record and a new local counsel come onboard,” the statement reads.
Najib had been found guilty of one count of abuse of power, three counts of money laundering and three counts of criminal breach of trust linked to the SRC scandal by the Kuala Lumpur High Court in July 2020.
Following the verdict, he was imposed with 12 years of jail time and a fine of RM210 million.
His conviction was subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal on 8 December last year.
READ MORE: Najib To Apex Court: “It’s My Life & Liberty That Is At Stake Here”

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Covid-19: It’s Malaysia’s Deadliest Day So Far With 21 Deaths

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A new record was set today, 2 February 2021, with 21 deaths reported in Malaysia due to Covid-19 in the past 24 hours.
The previous highest number of deaths was 18, on 22 January.
With today being the highest number of Covid-19 deaths in a day to date, Malaysia’s coronavirus death toll now stands at 791.
3,455 new Covid-19 cases were also recorded today with the highest number of cases from Selangor (1,145), Johor (708) and Kuala Lumpur (619).
Malaysia currently has 47,847 active infections, whereby 327 patients are in ICU with 145 patients on the ventilator.
Status Terkini #COVID19, 2 Februari 2021 Kes sembuh=3,661Jumlah kes sembuh=173,990 kes Kes baharu positif=3,455 kes (3,450 tempatan, 5 import) Jumlah positif=222,628Kes kematian=21Jumlah kes kematian=791 kes Kes dirawat di ICU=327 kes Bantuan Alat Pernafasan=145 pic.twitter.com/SLElLpet9X— KKMalaysia🇲🇾 (@KKMPutrajaya) February 2, 2021

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