Picnic As Usual In Genting Highlands, Minus The Tents

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Picnicking has always been a popular activity for Malaysians, especially up in the mountains where the air is cool and breezy.

Naturally, the popular tourist destination of Genting Highlands – that stands at 6,000 feet above sea level – would come to the minds of many.
Renowned for its casino, nightlife and luxury hotels, Genting Highlands is also perfect for picnickers.
Things got a little hand out lately though when outdoor lovers expanded from simple picnicking to tents.
READ MORE: Netizens Not Happy With New Trend Of Setting Up Tents & Hanging Out In Genting Highlands
Cars parked alongside the stretch of road which was previously ‘dominated’ by campers. (Credit: Fernando Fong)
Following the negative comments from netizens, it is believed that the campers were prohibited by auxiliary police from ‘habituating’ the place.
A recent check by TRP found that the spot, which is near a petrol station in Genting Highlands, remains a magnet for outdoor lovers albeit without the tents.
A number of visitors were spotted setting up tables and chairs from the back of their vehicles
Outdoor lovers setting up picnic tables along the road near the summit of Genting Highlands. (Credit: Fernando Fong)
They were also cooking hot meals by the roadside using portable stoves.
Among them is a group of youngsters who are studying to become teachers at a public university in Tanjung Malim.
They are not aware of the uproar triggered by campers.
We just want to have good clean fun without spending too much.Trainee teachers from Tanjung Malim to TRP
Nothing beats having a hot meal up in the mountains. (Credit: Fernando Fong)
Meanwhile, a local resident who lives near Gohtong Jaya (a satellite town of Genting Highlands) said the tents would not have sat well with any right-minded management.
The local resident, who only wished to be known as Chen, said businesses exist to generate profit.
He pointed out that Genting Malaysia has invested a lot more money in infrastructure for the public to enjoy, including a new theme park targeted to open in the second quarter of this year.
READ MORE: Genting SkyWorlds Theme Park Will Finally Open In 2021! Here’s A Sneak Peek
Just take the First World Hotel in Genting Highlands for example. It’s the world’s largest hotel with more than 7,000 rooms, and you expect people to put up tents as they like? Surely not.Gohtong Jaya local resident Chen to TRP.
An aerial view of Genting Highlands. (Credit: Fernando Fong)

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Some Of Malaysia’s Favourite Biscuit Brands Can Cause Cancer, Warns Hong Kong Consumer Council

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[Update: Hup Seng and Jacobs have responded to this article, saying that their products are safe. You can read more HERE.]

The Hong Kong Consumer Council tested 60 pre-packaged biscuits, and all of them were found to contain cancer-causing substances and many had misleading nutrition labels, too.
The biscuits contained the genotoxic carcinogens glycidol or acrylamide or both, which are contaminants produced during processing. These cancer-causing contaminants often emerge when processing certain ingredients, such as palm oil, at high temperatures.
What else are we going to have with our afternoon kopi now?(Credit: Morgan/Flickr)
Among the Top 5 biscuits with the most cancer-causing agents were Malaysian favourites such as Hup Seng Special Cream Crackers, Ritz Crackers Cheese Flavoured Sandwich, Jacob’s Original Cream Crackers 93% Wheat Cereal, and Oreo Mini Oreo Original.
Some of these are local favourites.(Credit: South China Morning Post)
Besides that, over 75% (46 products) of tested samples were found to contain 3 kinds of carcinogens (glycidol, 3-MCPD, and acrylamide) at the same time.
Misleading packaging
While legally, food manufacturing companies are allowed a 20% deviation between the actual nutritional value of the product and the stated value on the packaging, many were found to be blatantly lying.
The Hong Kong Consumer Council noted that 38% (23 products) had nutrient labels claiming values of more than 20% of the actual nutritional content of the biscuit. Three of the 60 samples were also exempted from such labelling rules.
A yummy little snack, but also full of carcinogens.(Credit: Andrew/Flickr)
Gilly Wong Fung-han, CEO of the Hong Kong Consumer Council, has claimed that such misleading labelling is “not very ideal”.
Consumers, especially patients who have chronic illness and diabetes, rely on these nutrition labels to purchase the product.Gilly Wong, CEO of the Hong Kong Consumer Council
“Although we understand that the nutrient contents in products could not be 100 per cent the same as described, the discrepancy should not exceed the regulation.”
She also says that while it is understandable that nutrition contents in products cannot be controlled to follow the packaging 100% as described all the time, there is already regulation in place that allows for such flexibility. Hence, the discrepency should not exceed this regulation.
[Update: Hup Seng and Jacobs have responded to this article, saying that their products are safe. You can read more HERE.]

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Man In Negeri Sembilan Whipped And Jailed For 2 Years For Stealing A Smartphone

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A jobless man was sentenced to jail for 24 months with whipping after robbing a woman in Bahau, Negeri Sembilan.

He was charged under Section 392 of the Penal Code (Act 574) which carries a 14-year jail term with a fine or whipping.
Mohamad Ali Zainal, 36, admitted to the charge when it was read in the Magistrate Court yesterday (26 May).
He stole an iPhone 12 Pro from a 42-year-old woman at an insurance company counter on 23 May around 5.30pm.
Harian Metro reported that the suspect rushed towards the counter and quickly grabbed the phone from the woman’s bag before he was asked by an employee to leave.
An argument ensued which scared the staff who ran and hid. A woman then realized the suspect stole her phone that was left on the counter.

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Pervert Motorcylist Gropes Woman Walking On The Road, Seen Circling Around To Make Sure The Coast Is Clear

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A pervert motorcyclist in Kota Baru, Kelantan was caught on camera groping a woman who was walking to work.

CCTV footage shared online showed the man had spent some time circling the streets before eventually spotting the lone woman. He then stopped and was seen conversing with her but drove away as a couple of cars approached.
Credit: @inforoadblockjpjpolis/Facebook
The woman was seen backing away from the conversation and even walked in the opposite direction for a bit before heading back to her intended destination. A few seconds later, the motorcyclist turned back towards the woman, waited for passing vehicles to go by and groped the innocent pedestrian.
As he sped off, she appeared to be frozen in shock by the sexual assault in broad daylight.
According to Kosmo!, the incident took place at 9.40 am at Lorong Limau Manis, Jalan Hamzah in Kota Baru.
The 18-year-old woman filed a police report on the same day. Kelantan Criminal Investigations Department chief, Assistant Commissioner Wan Khairuddin Wan Idris said that the police were looking for the suspect, estimated to be between his 40s to 50s, and rode a brown Honda C90 motorcycle.
Police are looking for this man estimated to be between his 40s to 50s, and rides  a brown Honda C90 motorcycle.(Credit: @inforoadblockjpjpolis/Facebook)
Investigations are ongoing under Section 354 of the penal code for assault or use of criminal force to a person with intent to outrage modesty.

Malaysia’s sexual harassment problem
A 2019 survey by the Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) revealed that 50% of sexual harassment occured in a public place or public transportation – most of which were sexual assault (unwanted touching in a sexual area), verbal comments of sexual nature, sexually explicit letters, pictures or texts, and flashing.
Credit: TRP
The NGO also points out that Malaysia’s existing legal framework for sexual harassment is seriously flawed and fails to comprehensively protect against sexual harassment. Currently, only the Employment Act 1955 clearly defines sexual harassment, but is limited to workplace interactions. Employers can also choose not to investigate if they believe that the complaint is “frivolous, vexatious or is not made in good faith”.
A 2016 landmark ruling by the Federal Court introduced the tort of harassment, which allows victims to sue sexual harassers and potentially obtain compensation. However, it is a very costly and time-consuming process that’s also public. The landmark case above took 7 years from her initial complaint and 5 years of legal battle before a verdict was ruled.
READ MORE: Sued By Her Sexual Harasser, She Fought Back & Opened The Door For Malaysian Survivors
Malaysia’s Sexual Harassment Bill has been in limbo for 9 years
Credit: Malay Mail
According to Women’s rights group Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG), the Sexual Harassment Bill is pertinent in bringing changes that protect survivors while punishing the harassers, among which include:
a clear definition of sexual harassment based on international best practiceminimum standards and oversight mechanisms of organisational obligationschanges to the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) that would render court process more sensitive to survivors of sexual offences
The Sexual Harassment Bill was initially scheduled to be tabled during the March 2020 Parliamentary session before the abrupt government change. Current Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun told New Straits Times in June 2020 that the Bill will be tabled “hopefully the next sitting (in November) or early next year.”
Credit: Malay Mail
However, with Parliament suspended until August 2021 until the state of Emergency is over, the Bill experienced yet another setback.
In February 2021, Rina Harun said the draft of the bill is in the final stage for scrutiny by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) and will be tabled once Parliament convenes. Until then, Malaysia’s sexual harassment survivors are forced to keep waiting.

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Source:
Polis buru suspek raba wanita
Rina: Sexual harassment bill ready next month
We Need a Sexual Harassment Act


Omicron XBB Strain, Most Evasive Against Vaccines, Detected In Malaysia

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Previously, Singapore’s Health Ministry said the number of Covid-19 cases in the republic had increased last month due to the Omicron XBB subvariant and expects the number of infections to peak in mid-November.

According to New Straits Times, the XBB strain has been detected recently in Malaysia following a small wave of infections.
In light of this, Malaysia’s Health Ministry (KKM) expects a slight increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in the next few weeks.
Its caretaker health minister Khairy Jamaluddin advised the public to keep cool and to stay vigilant as the country is still transitioning to the endemic phase.
The XBB strain is an Omicron subvariant. Image: TRP File
So far, Khairy said the Omicron subvariant XBB has not led to an increase in hospital admissions and deaths, noting that it’s the most important measurement of the spread of infections.
To what extent cases will increase, my officials at the ministry are making a projection based on the infection model we have before and next week I will be able to give a more accurate projection.Caretaker health minister Khairy Jamaluddin
For now, the ministry has no plans to reinstate any restrictions, including enforcing the wearing of face masks.
The transition to the endemic phase must take into account the mutation of the virus to a new variant, if an unexpected new variant can increase infectivity, effects and symptoms, only then will we review (face mask requirement), but so far it is not necessary.Caretaker health minister Khairy Jamaluddin
KKM has also sent a proposed standard operating procedure (SOP) to the Election Commission for the 15th general election (GE15).
Khairy explained that no additional measures or restrictions were introduced since the situation is under control.
What’s the XBB strain?
Based on a report by the Malay Mail, the XBB is a strain of the Omicron variant. Also known as BA.2.10, it evolved from the existing BA.2 Omicron subvariant strain.
The Edge reported that the XBB subvariant was first detected in August in India.
It has since been detected in more than 17 countries, including Singapore, Australia, Bangladesh, Denmark, Japan and the US.
On 12 August, The Star reported that the XBB strain, especially the XBB.1 strain that was detected in Hong Kong, has the strongest ability by far to evade vaccine protection.
Over in Singapore, the XBB strain is believed to be driving an increase in reinfections and has the government mulling the reintroduction of the face mask mandate.
Singapore’s Health Ministry said the XBB variant seems to be as transmissible as the current variants but there’s no evidence that it causes more severe illness.
Due to several false reports, the Singapore government clarified that there are no increases in Covid-19 deaths over the past month and no ‘pile up’ cases in mortuaries, funeral parlours and crematoria.

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The Upcoming ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Series Brings The OG And New Cast Together

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The Obi-Wan Kenobi series will take place ten years after the events of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005). At the end of the film, the Jedi were destroyed by Order 66 and Anakin Skywalker became the Sith Lord Darth Vader.

Baby Luke Skywalker was sent to be raised by his relatives – Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru – on Tatooine, while his twin sister Leia was adopted by the royal family of Alderaan.
Despite going into hiding like the rest of the survivors, Obi-Wan continues to keep watch on Luke from afar. The Obi-Wan Kenobi series picks up from this point onwards.
Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi. Image: Disney.
The upcoming series definitely excites some Star Wars fans because it reunites Ewan McGregor (who plays Obi-Wan Kenobi) and Hayden Christensen (who plays Anakin/ Darth Vader) on-screen.
During the global press conference, McGregor shared that they didn’t know the films were well-received when they both made the films years ago. Back then, the films didn’t get a good enough reception and there were no social media.
I think I became more aware of the fondness that the generation that we made the prequels for have for those films.  Because when we made them, we didn’t hear that.  We didn’t get that response, really.  So, gradually, I started realizing that people really liked them and that they meant a lot to that generation.  So, that made me — that warmed my feelings about them, I guess, or my experience of being in the Star Wars world.Ewan McGregor when asked how he felt reprising his iconic role in the franchise.
Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) in Lucasfilm’s OBI-WAN KENOBI, exclusively on Disney+. © 2022 Lucasfilm Ltd. & ™. All Rights Reserved.
McGregor also shared that he was excited to show a different side of Obi-Wan Kenobi by bridging the gap between his version of the younger Obi-Wan and Alec Guinness’s portrayal of an older, wiser and wittier version of the character.
In the new series, Obi-Wan is in a dark place during a pretty dark timeline. He’s living a solitary life since he’s in hiding and on the run. He can’t use the Force or communicate with any of his old comrades. In a way, it’s like he lost his faith, and it’s akin to someone losing their religion.
McGregor added that he hadn’t seen Hayden for years but when they were back on set doing stunts together, it was as if time had not passed.
Introducing new characters
The series will introduce the audience to the Inquisitors that Darth Vader governs. Their job is to hunt down the remaining Jedi who survived Order 66 at the end of the Clone Wars.
Moses Ingram plays a super driven Inquisitor and Darth Vader’s subordinate named Reva. Ingram describes Reva as a smart woman who’s always 10 steps ahead. What intrigued Ingram about Reva is the character’s fervour to do her job to the best of her ability.
As a newcomer to the Star Wars world, Ingram admitted she felt it was ‘dangerous’ the first time she read the script, but she was excited.
It was really fun. It’s fun to be bad.Moses Ingram, who plays the Inquisitor Reva.
Moses Ingram plays the Inquisitor named Reva. Image: Disney.
To create the essence of her character, she worked with director Deborah Chow and the makeup and costume department.
One major change they made was the style of her character’s hair. Ingram said the initial envisioning of Reva’s hair was something her hair didn’t do naturally. What they agreed upon in the end was to have her hair in braids, which the audience will see in the series.
But I think what’s cool about this is, like, you can fight like a girl and still, like, you know, be badass, which is pretty cool.Moses Ingram
Obi-Wan Kenobi will premiere exclusively on Disney Plus Hotstar on Friday, 27 May, with the first two episodes.
Following the premiere, the series will stream weekly on Wednesdays, until the finale on Wednesday, 22 June.

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Mâ€™sians freak out over â€œprison-styleâ€ room deco; turns out it’s a NSFW hotel in Vietnam

Innocence is a virtue.
OR IS IT???
Dun Dun Dun GIF from Look GIFs

Well, thatâ€™s what the admins of the super popular Twitter account Jomkita (@Jomkitamy) were asking themselves when a tweet of theirs went viral for a very naughty reason.
Known for promoting interesting local food and travel,Jomkita shared pictures of a room that looked like it belonged to the set of â€˜50 Shades of Greyâ€™.

[ JomKitaKongsi ] – Dekorasi Bilik Tidur Ala Ala Penjara!!! 😮 #JomKita .Lain Macam Wehhh Rasa Macam Tak Lena Pulak Nak Tido 😅 pic.twitter.com/7QcnqwFKtc
â€” Jomkita 🇲🇾 (@Jomkitamy) October 1, 2019

While the bordering NSFW pictures were reason enough for raised eyebrows, it was the oblivious caption that had Malaysians online sitting up straight with their backs erect.

â€œPrison-style room decoration!!!â€ â€œIt seems funny wehhh. Feels like canâ€™t fall asleep properly.â€
 @Jomkitamy

Credit: @Jomkitamy/Twitter

With 2.5K retweets, the tweet had netizens freaking out and falling over in laughter.
Some were sympathetic to the adminâ€™s naivetÃ©, while others were
in utter disbelief.

 pic.twitter.com/lGjTsGULRZ
â€” Raden Muhammad (@syahmi_pujaseti) October 1, 2019

Screenshot from Twitter

There were also those who wanted to know where exactly this room
wasâ€¦ for â€œreasonsâ€.

 Screenshot from Twitter

With a little investigating (and Google Image search), weâ€™ve discovered that these pictures are actually from a 50 Shades- inspired hotel in Vietnam called Honey Houses.

Credit: @Jomkitamy/Twitter

The BDSM-themed hotel went viral in Vietnam last year and
the owner got in trouble with the government who deemed the kinky accessories a
bit too stimulating.

 Credit: @Jomkitamy/Twitter

So, any items that were deemed violent, such as the iron cot,
chains, handcuffs and inappropriate pictures were removed.
Apparently, the hotel is operational and the, uh, comfortable
sofa and cage beds are still there.
In the end, Jomkita maintains their innocence by responding to the naughty replies with this tweet:

Hello Jais nak report ada ramai followers nakal kat sini. pic.twitter.com/27QKp6LuM5
— Jomkita 🇲🇾 (@Jomkitamy) October 2, 2019

Moral of the story: ALWAYS check before posting!
You Better Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself – The Hangover GIF from Wreck GIFs

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We’ll Miss Grandma & Grandpa This CNY, But We’ll Find Our ‘Door To Happiness’

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As we grow older, we’ll see our family grow bigger or sometimes smaller.

Though losing loved ones is an inevitable part of life, it doesn’t mean that the doors to their love and memories are closed to us forever.
This fact holds true as I watched the heartwarming lunar new year video made by Gamuda Land which features the tale of a young girl named Leah and her journey in search of happiness this Chinese New Year.

Because I too have experienced losing people who are very dear to me and my family
In truth, CNY is a modest thing in my family, but the way my grandparents would prepare for the celebration, and the entire family’s arrival back to our hometown, will definitely make many think otherwise!
Every year, my grandfather never fails to stock up on boxes of our favourite drinks and makes sure everything at home, such as the air conditioning units, are serviced way before we arrive to ensure that his children and grandchildren are always comfortable.
Meanwhile, my beloved grandmother would be busy decking out the entire house with the beautiful, huat decorations from top to bottom.
She’ll climb up the ladder to put up the red lanterns along the balcony and hang all the paper decorations on the walls of the house.
Her potted plants in the garden aren’t spared either. The plants will be decorated with her handmade ang pau fishes that the whole family adores.
Image: Angela Roma/ Pexels
When CNY day comes, grandma’s eagle eyes would always be scanning our outfits, up and down, as we make our way downstairs in preparation to head to the temple for prayers.
If we’re dressed in dark colours, her raised eyebrows would be her subtle signal for us to go up and change or be forced to stay locked up indoors.
Like many grandparents, my grandpa and grandma always make sure we’re fed until we’re bloated. They never fail to force ask us to eat every hour of the day throughout our stay – that I’m pretty sure all of us would go back home gaining more than a few pounds!
While it’s adorable how much they loved us, it can be annoying at times.
But despite all the fuss we’d make, it’s no secret that I and other members of the family loved the attention we’d get from them both.
Image: Angela Roma/ Pexels
Sadly, the coming CNY will be different for our family
Grandpa passed away several years ago, and we lost grandma just a few days before the 2021 CNY celebrations came to pass.
It was unfortunate that some of us in the family did not get a chance to say our last goodbyes to grandma during her final hours last year because of the pandemic travel restrictions.
This was why Gamuda Land’s CNY video pulled hard on my heartstrings.
I believe I speak for my whole family when I say that we wished we could celebrate one more Chinese New Year with grandma before she had to go.
But as the saying goes, “to die is to stop living, but to stop living is something entirely different than dying.”
Keeping the Door To Happiness open
So in memory of our late grandma and grandpa, we honour them by keeping our door to happiness open by maintaining the Chinese New Year traditions they’ve set for us.
Behind each door, we continue to cherish them by decorating the house, dressing up in bright and brilliant colours, having our family reunion dinner together, taking fun and funny photos and lots more.
Image: Kevin Malik/ Pexels
Though we might not be able to decorate our home as well as grandma did, or keep the house as tidy and comfortable as grandpa’s, we’ll do our best!
Like keys on a chain, the family will carry on these traditions, keeping their memories alive, and hopefully, open more doors to happiness when it comes time for me and the others to make our family larger with our own kids and grandkids someday.

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Which Countries Are You Sipping A Taste Of Your Coffee From?

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Coffee this coffee that, hey, we all need a cup of coffee when the times are intense and rough, right?

Have you ever stopped to think where that extracted marvel goodness came from?
Take a guess on which countries produce the most beans
 I mean we all can name a few countries that pop in our heads when we mention coffee. Brazil, Indonesia, Columbia, Starbucks. Wait, that is not a country, but I will give it to them, that is some excellent brand positioning. However, where do these beans really come from?
Coffee beans are cultivated in specific areas of the map called the ‘Coffee Belt’ due to its suitable growing conditions there.
You see,  the biggest producer of coffee beans now is Brazil with a staggering production of 2.68 million metric tonnes, followed by Vietnam with over 1.5 million metric tonnes, Columbia with 754 thousand metric tonnes, and Indonesia with 668 thousand metric tonnes per year.
Of course, there are other countries producing them such as Ethiopia, Guatemala, and Honduras to name a few.
Different beans, different taste, different sizes
Some countries produce Arabica and some produce Robusta, some even produce both. What about Liberica? What are those? Here is where our country plays a part.
Those are different types of coffee beans. There are three common types of coffee beans, namely Arabica, Robusta and Liberica. However, how can you tell them apart?
See the difference in their shapes and sizes?
Arabica beans are associated with a smoother, sweeter taste with a hint of chocolate, sugar, and fruits. They are said to be the superior variety compared to the latters because of their specific living condition. It also has lower acidity as well as lower caffeine content (0.8-1.4%).
Robusta, on the other hand, are believed to be harsher and bitter with a grainy or rubbery taste. Their plants are more sturdy and can endure unfavorable conditions, making them easier to cultivate than the Arabica variety, thus, cheaper to produce. Robusta has a high caffeine content (1.7-2.5%) which causes its added bitterness compared to Arabica.
Liberica, being the scarcest one to be produced in the world (around 1%), is actually produced the most, in Malaysia.  Find out more about how our kopitiam got its strong flavour from these beans.
READ MORE: Forget Arabica Coffee, Have You Tried Malaysia’s Own Liberica Coffee?
Now, which countries cultivate which cherries?
The typical anatomy of a coffee cherry.
Yes, you have heard it right. Coffee beans come from coffee cherries! Those little cuties.
The beans that we see today are actually the seeds of the rounded red cherries. They are pale green and come in pairs inside of a ripe cherry. They will get their dark colours once they are processed and roasted to the right levels.
 The three beans, Arabica, Robusta and Liberica came through a cherry such as this one, just with different living conditions and shapes. Top countries who are only producing the Arabica species are Columbia, Ethiopia, Honduras, and Peru.
There are no countries producing only the Robusta species but they do produce them in larger and vast quantities than the superior one. These countries are Vietnam, Indonesia, India, and Uganda.
Brazil however, produces both varieties along with some other countries but being the biggest producer of coffee beans in the world, they make around one-third of the world’s coffee. They produced around 69% of Arabica beans and 31% of the latter beans.
Liberica beans are commercially produced in countries such as Malaysia, Philliphines, and Indonesia. Liberica accounts for 95% of the coffee grown in Malaysia, can you believe that? Well, Malaysians and their Kopi O Kaw huh?
Credit: alfredsd & nathan dumlao/Unsplash
Want to know more on coffee culture in Malaysia?
READ MORE: From Kopitiams to Cafés, The Evolution of Malaysia’s Coffee Culture

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Malaysians Are So Stressed, Interest In Mental Health Apps And Stress-Relief Products Rose By 108%

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Malaysians are super stressed out, no doubt about it. As the rakyat try to pick up the pieces of our lives and carry on, it seems that more and more people are taking their mental health seriously and are taking steps to destress.

In fact, according to CodeBlue, our suicide rates have almost doubled compared to last year and the year before, increasing from a 1.7 daily suicide rate to a whopping 3.0. At highest risk are Selangor, Labuan, and Sarawak residents, as these states record the most suicide-related searches.
What are Malaysians doing about it?
According to iPrice Malaysia, Google searches for mental health services more than doubled in the first five months of 2021 compared to 2019. There was a 109% increase in professional mental healthcare treatment, such as therapy sessions with psychologists or psychiatrists.
Online mental health therapy apps have quickly gained popularity.(Credit: Envato)
This later translated to a 108% increase in mental health therapy mobile apps searches. The e-commerce aggregator tracked interest in a handful of mental health apps according to VeryWellMind.
The meditation app Headspace was most popular in Malaysia, followed by therapy app Talkspace, while mood tracker app MoodMission experienced the largest increase of searches at 800%.
However, most Malaysians have also turned to DIY solutions for stress relief, in search of stress relief products touted to reduce anxiety.
Essential oils are the most popular way to destress for Malaysians.(Credit: iPrice Group Malaysia)
Malaysians searched mainly for essential oils, herbal teas, and scented candles; followed by adult colouring books, weighted blankets, and therapy lamps. Surprisingly, back and neck massagers came in last.
In all categories, interest in 2021 is higher than in 2020 except for adult colouring books and essential oils, by a small margin.
Things are understandably difficult for the rakyat nowadays, but the people are coping with it the best they can.

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[Watch] Plus-Sized Ultraman Dyna Steals The Thunder At Cosplay Show In Ipoh

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Many superheroes, despite having miraculous abilities, are unassuming and look like everyday human beings.

However, there are some who are show stoppers simply by walking around in public.
A good example is what happened at the Cosplay Party event at Ipoh Parade recently.
Attended by various types of characters, a chubby Ultraman Dyna joined the event and later went viral in Malaysia due to his large body shape.
The chubby Ultraman Dyna turns heads during the event especially when he styled some iconic poses while on stage.
最強 #奥特曼 12/6/22怡保Cosplay动漫展网民分享: Tung Chris #ultraman #ipoh pic.twitter.com/Mj3Z7cYR5b— 李明霸🇲🇾 (@KuanChien) June 13, 2022
Plus-Sized Ultraman Is The Greatest Thing Ever
This cosplayer is named Asyraf Akashi, and people were impressed with his courage.
For some people, cosplay is a “difficult” hobby, and one of the reasons why it is difficult is because of the issue of “fat-shaming” or “body-shaming” from netizens and the community.
People who are obese or overweight are often belittled and never feel good enough to try cosplay.
But Asyraf has never stopped being interested in cosplay despite receiving criticism.
As a plus-sized superhero, Asyraf steals the limelight wherever he goes during the event. (Pix: Facebook)
Although some negative comments on Facebook were harsh, the overall feedback from Malaysian netizens was very positive.
Taking all the bad comments in stride, here is Ashraf’s response via social media :
Fuh, it is tiring and can still withstand leg pain today but I am very happy with friends and congratulations to my idol Adry Exrayde. This is my third Ultra suit, and I know my body isn’t pretty but that doesn’t mean I can’t be what I want right? Finally, thank you Cosplay Party by Ipoh Parade. You are the best!!Cosplayer Asyraf Akashi thanking the people for their support.

In fact, people even painted artwork as a show respect to Asyraf.

READ MORE: PJ Police Probing One Of Their Officers For Victim Blaming A Cosplayer, Says District Chief
Cosplay is not about our body size but how we show interest in a favourite character.
Hopefully, Asyraf’s courage will inspire more people who are too shy or lack the confidence to start their cosplay.
Cosplay is for everyone, regardless of gender, skin colour, race or body size so long it is within the proper boundaries.
READ MORE: [Watch] Man Waves ‘Gun’ In PJ Shopping Mall, Police On The Hunt

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Let Rakyat Withdraw From EPF, Use Their Retirement Funds To Save Country’s Economy

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In a move surprising no-one, the government is considering allowing the people to make withdrawals from Account 1 of their EPF- the retirement fund- to address the country’s slowing economy.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the government is studying suggestions to allow certain contributors such as laid-off workers to withdraw funds from this account so that they have some spending money to use.
The EPF is a mandatory fund for every Malaysian, taken out of your salary as a way for citizens to have a sizable retirement fund at the end of their career. Usually, it is not easily accessible to deter people from spending it carelessly.
However, the government has already allowed Malaysians to make use of their EPF funds twice this year. Mandatory EPF contribution has been lowered from 11% to 7% so that Malaysians have more spending money to use, while withdrawals of up to RM6,000 are now allowed from Account 2 of your EPF.
Muhyiddin also noted that a responsbile government must balance the short-term needs of affected individuals with their long-term needs for retirement savings.
Cash now or cash during retirement?(Credit: TRP)
Malaysian Trades Union Congress deputy president Mohd Effendy Abdul Ghani backed the government’s suggestion.
He claims that this is the right move to take, since people will spend money when they have money, which will help to boost the country’s economy internally.
However, not everyone agrees with this decision, such as Consumer Association of Penang president Mohideen Abdul Kader.
He claims that many Malaysians are already living without savings, so the EPF funds for retirement is their last line of defense.
The CAP has data which shows that those who withdrew from their EPF funds often finish spending it in just a few years and are unlikely to replenish their savings.
Instead he calls upon the government to extend the bank moratorium and provide loans to those in need to get through this current pandemic.

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Daphne Iking Shares About Her Scuba Diving Mishap, Stresses On Importance Of Safety

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News of the missing divers in Johor for the past few days has some people doubting the safety of scuba diving.

It worried more people, especially parents, when the 14-year-old diver Nathen Renze Chester didn’t survive the ordeal after floating in the sea for days.
READ MORE: “He Became Too Weak” British Diver Adrian Chesters Confirms 14YO Son Died Of Exhaustion
Malaysian television personality Daphne Iking shared on Instagram about her family taking up scuba diving despite knowing the potential risks of the extreme sport.
Her daughter Iman Daniella recently completed her Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Junior Open Water in December last year, while Iman’s older sister, Isobel Daniella, took the course five years ago.

Iking said that she had discussed in-depth with her husband, Azmi Abdul Rahman, before signing up their children for the junior open water course.
She added that choosing a skilful diving instructor and diving centre play a crucial role in ensuring safety.
It’s important to choose instructors who won’t cut corners and doesn’t push students who aren’t ready or comfortable.
As such, her family has flown back to Sabah previously just so they could be trained under a trusted dive instructor.
She’s not giving up diving
Iking, who has recorded over 100 dives, also shared that even adults face problems underwater.
There was a time when her mask came off underwater and she lost control of her breathing. She became disoriented so she made an emergency ascend.
She lost her confidence and self-esteem after the experience. However, she went back for the second dive to face her fears and loved scuba diving.
While the case planted doubts about whether they should go on a family dive together, Iking said she wouldn’t give up diving.
Iking said that it was a timely reminder to be mindful, be respectful of our surroundings, and never slack on safety checks.
What to do when you’re in trouble in the water?
Since there’s no way to fight strong currents, Project Life Aquatic shared some helpful tips that could be useful when you’re caught in a bad situation:
Don’t attempt to swim against the current. Follow the Japanese uitemate technique also known as the ‘float and follow’ technique. This technique entails floating face up in a spread eagle while waiting for help. According to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), this technique helps to prevent drowning.If you have a lifejacket or scuba equipment on, use the whistle attached to call for help.Make sure your body temperature is controlled the whole time. Don’t remove clothes and equipment such as fins and shoes on you.Don’t drink seawater because the salt content will cause dehydration. If you’re thirsty, drinking rainwater is a safer option.Stick together in a group and try your best not to be separated from each other in the water.

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Malaysians Sign Petition Urging The Government To Decriminalise Suicide

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On 31 December 2019, former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong announced that Malaysians would see suicide become decriminalised by mid-2020.

Liew said among the provisions being looked into were Section 309 of the Penal Code for attempted suicide; and Sections 305 and 306 of the same law for abetting suicide.
However, June 2020 has come and gone with news of the law being amended.
This unfortunate circumstance was probably due to the sudden change in government and Covid-19 crisis that hit the country in early 2020. There were a handful of law amendments we were looking forward to that have been left hanging.
But it seems as though Malaysians have not forgotten.

Recently, a petition was created on Change.org urging the current government to pick up where the former left off in the decriminalisation of suicide.
At the time of writing, the petition has received over 9,000 signatures.
The movement was likely triggered by a news report on Tuesday, 4 August of a 28-year-old man who was fined RM3,000 by the Magistrate’s Court for his suicide attempt.
The unemployed man pleaded guilty, admitting that he had tried to jump off from the balcony of his apartment building. If he fails to pay the fine, he will be jailed for three months.
The Star reported that Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurilya Ellyna Nor Azmal asked the court to impose an appropriate sentence as a lesson because he had inconvenienced many parties.
The petition urges the government to immediately repeal Section 309 of the Penal Code and suggests that mandatory counselling and psychological services are given to those who need it the most.
Malaysia struggles to collect reliable data on attempted and completed suicides in the country due to the stigma surrounding it. However, the Ministry of Health believes that as many as 10 people die by suicide in Malaysia every day.

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Why Malaysians Will Never Forget SEA Games 2019 ; The Good, Bad & Ugly

If you havenâ€™t heard, there was a sporting event that took place at the end of November in The Philippines that had people talking.
Yes, weâ€™re talking about the 30th SEA Games which finally drew to a close on the night of 11th December in Manila after many controversies.
With Malaysiaâ€™s final medal tally falling below target at 55 gold, 58 silver and 71 bronze, this is probably one of our most disappointing SEA Games performance.
But was it really all that bad?  We take a walk down memory lane to look at the good, the bad & the ugly of the 2 week-long games to decide.
The Good
1. Making History

Yew Weng Kean with his SEA Games gold medal in â€˜Hearthstoneâ€™ after overthrowing Thailandâ€™s Werit Popan.
(Credit: Bernama via Malay Mail)

Electrical engineering PhD holder, Yew Weng Kean, proved video games naysayers wrong by becoming Malaysiaâ€™s first ever e-sports athlete to bag a gold medal at the SEA Games.
What makes the academicianâ€™s gold especially amazing is that itâ€™s the first time that E-sports is included in the SEA Games and the debut of e-sports in a multi-sport competition recognised by the International Olympic Committee!
2. Checkmate!

Bravo!!! Kontinjen Malaysia
Emas Yang Ke 12 Dari Atlet Chess 🇲🇾♟Yeoh Li Tian Kategori Rapid Menâ€™s #KontinjenMALAYSIA pic.twitter.com/HrwlmBkUa4
â€” #TeamMALAYSIA 🇲🇾 (@AtletMalaysia) December 3, 2019

â€œCheckmate!â€, said Malaysia as Yeoh Li Tian made history by bagging Malaysiaâ€™s first chess gold medal in SEA Games.
Not only that, Yeoh beat out two-time gold medallist Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son from Vietnam in his very first SEA Games appearance!
3. Surprise Wins

Malaysiaâ€™s Kisona Selvaduray reacts after scoring against her opponent during their womenâ€™s singles badminton finals match at the 30th SEA Games.
(Credit: AP Photo/Aaron Favila via The Star)

Nobody was more surprised than national shuttler Kisona Selvaduray when she was declared a SEA Games champion, earning the womenâ€™s badminton
singles gold medal.
The World No 104 wasnâ€™t even expected to compete, let alone win, when she was called to step in after defending champion Goh Jin Wei had to withdraw from the games after a surgery.
Her surprise victory, along with menâ€™s shuttler Lee Zii Jiaâ€™s win, also marked the end of a 46 year wait for Malaysia to dominate both menâ€™s and womenâ€™s badminton singles titles at the SEA Games.
The last time Malaysia scored such a coup was in 1973 at the hands of badminton legends Punch Gunalan and Sylvia Ng.
The Bad â€“ The Disappearing Gold

Malaysian rhythmic gymnast Izzah Amzan with her posing with her SEA Games medals before all the confusion began.
(Credit: Bernama via Malay Mail)

For a beautiful sport, the rhythmic gymnastics competition was the cause of much headache as national athletes Izzah Amzan and Koi Sie Yan were both joint gold medal winners for the ribbon competition.
Initially, Sie Yan was declared winner and Izzah runner up based on the level of difficulty in their routine even though they had identical scores. But the Malaysian delegates launched a protest against the juryâ€™s decision, and the two were declared joint winners.
Unfortunately, Izzahâ€™s gold appeared to have been withdrawn and official results named her as the silver medallist for ribbon.
Naturally, the Malaysian camp was unhappy and protested for Izzahâ€™s gold to be reinstated. The result is a happy ending as The Philippines SEA Games Organising Committee (PHISGOC) has agreed to reinstate the ribbon event gold medal to Izzah after studying the technical regulations for the Games.
The Ugly â€“ The Controversial Kick

The controversial kick by Philippines pencak silat athlete Dines Dunaan on Malaysian
Faizul Nasir.
(Screenshot from Twitter)

It was the incident that sparked uproar all over Malaysian social media. The hashtags #SEAGamesFail and #SEAGames2019Fail were trending on Malaysian Twitter as Philippines pencak silat athlete Dines Dunaan was awarded a controversial win over Faizul Nasir after knocking him unconscious.
In a now viral video, Dines appeared to kick Faizul in the head after he fell down in the 55kg category of the menâ€™s tanding event.
As Faizul was unable to continue, Dines was declared the winner. However, many were upset at what was deemed a lack of sportsmanship combined with the delayed medical treatment for Faizul.
It was reported that Faizul was unconscious for 3 full minutes before he was rushed to the hospital where he was placed in the intensive care unit (ICU) as he did not respond to treatment.
As of writing time, New Straits Times reports that Faizul is now out of danger and awake although still hospitalised in Manila.

Dah jatuh brader tu, disepaknya lagi muka.
Bukan main kau punya lagak. Bukan main. pic.twitter.com/tn54JCDILM
â€” 🇲🇾 XIØ±ÙŠÙ…Ø§Ùˆ (@RimauXI) December 3, 2019

Looking at all the highs and lows of the 30th SEA Games, itâ€™s safe to say that this event is definitely one for the history books.
We congratulate our athletes for putting up a good fight in their bid to bring glory to Malaysia. But for now, weâ€™re glad the games are over.

What did you think of the 2019 SEA Games? Share your favourite or least favourite moments of the Games on TRPâ€™s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


Deputy Speaker Azalina Othman Confirms Resignation, Cites Multiple Reasons

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Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said has confirmed that she will be resigning from her post.

In a statement Azalina said she made the decision for several reasons, following the appointment of the new Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and the people’s strong and clear demand for multi-party cooperation.
She also mentioned that among the reasons for her resignation was to put public speculation to rest – with rumours linking her to the Cabinet.
It’s reported by Berita Harian that the Pengerang MP has sent the letter of resignation to Parliament.
I am resigning today so that the government and the opposition have more room to reorganize the Dewan Rakyat so that it can truly function as a forum for competition and professional cooperation between the parties on policy and governance.Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said
She was appointed on July 13 last year, under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration, replacing Teluk Intan MP, Nga Kor Ming. In total, she held the position for 13 months.
Conflict of interests
In the statement, Azalina also said she was thankful for the opportunity to hold the post and said that she tried her best to perform her duties faithfully and impartially, but mentioned that she could not run away from weaknesses and shortcomings.
There is a conflict of roles and responsibilities between being a member of the UMNO Supreme Working Council (MKT) and a Member of Parliament in a coalition government. What has happened before shows the opposite result in UMNO as a party and Member of Parliament of a coalition government.Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said
In the future, she said, the the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat should be suspended from any political party post to ensure that the person does not take sides in politics, which Azalina said is key for them to carry out their functions effectively without fear or favor.
Azalina wants nonpartisan Speaker and Deputy Speakers in the future
The Pengerang MP also reflected on the developments over the past 17 months, on things such as institutional flaws in Parliament and her limits to performing her duties well without compromising her professional integrity.
She also said that the lack of consultation and joint decisions also affected her performance as Deputy Speaker.
My personal value system related to the rule of law, parliamentary democracy, check and balance since the Declaration of Emergency in January 2021 is consistent. My frustrations and difficulties are well known and the reasons are known. My official capacity is guaranteed by the law and the process of upholding the Federal Constitution and the Rules of the House of Representatives by all means.Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said
She cited the Parliament’s Standing Orders, that disallows the Deputy Speaker to make their own decisions in the House.
Shared decision making and responsibility, impartiality, fairness, and mutual respect are the key elements which I wish to see in the Malaysian Parliament.Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said

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Temporary Covid-19 Quarantine & Treatment Center At MAEPS Is Almost Ready For Patients

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The government is almost done converting the halls located at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) into a temporary makeshift hospital to house Covid-19 patients.
The facility will be used as a quarantine and treatment center for low-risk patients who are displaying asymptomatic or mild symptoms, with the capacity to treat up to 600 patients at a time.
The makeshift hospital has reportedly has 604 beds in total.(Credit: Facebook/MAEPS)
The temporary healthcare center was built as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of the outbreak and manage the burden on the nationâ€™s healthcare systems should a spike in infections occur.
Essentially, low-risk patients would be sent to the facility so that hospitals could better tend to other serious cases or non-coronavirus related patients. However, if a patientâ€™s condition were to worsen, the facility houses its own emergency and resuscitation rooms that are able to deal with 2 patients at once.
The facility will provide all the necessary clinical services for infected patients as well as having some comfortable amenities such as lounge areas complete with TVs, books, board games as well as full internet access.
Patients will be partitioned according to zones depending on the severity of their illness(Credit: Facebook/MAEPS)
The center would also have its own internal WhatsApp channel to allow patients to communicate directly with doctors and nurses, as to maintain a certain level of contactless communication and social distancing to better manage the facilityâ€™s manpower and resources.
As a standard procedure, the Health Ministry requires recovered patients to be tested twice over a period of more than 24 hours before being cleared of infection. Patients would be placed in a special â€œdischarge areaâ€ while they await the results of their tests before being discharged from the facility.
Frontliners stationed at the center would also find everything they would need available from medication to medical equipment, laboratories as well as adequate staff facilities like pantries, locker rooms, and rest areas.
Medical staff are required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times inside the facility.(Credit: Facebook/MAEPS)
Reportedly, the center is expected to receive its first wave of low-risk patients from public hospitals in the Klang Valley, Negeri Sembilan, and Perak once it’s fully up and running.

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Another viral dance craze takes over Malaysia: the #woahchallenge

Does anyone remember the harlem shake? Whip/nae nae? Or the best one so far, the Keke challenge?

via GIPHY
Well guess what? The kids have evolved, now we have the  #woahchallenge.

Oh no…here comes the new challenge
“merebak ke seluruh malaysia” pic.twitter.com/ykYCnmFQVi
â€” Abam Hura (@AbamHura) July 1, 2019

So what is the #woahchallenge?
Initially started on TikTok, the #woahchallenge is when a dancer makes a quick, small circular motion with their fist and leans into a freeze position when the beat drops.
However, Malaysians have replaced the “freezing” with “air netball”, passing the ball to one another until the beat dies.
Here’s some examples…
These teens executed the #woahchallenge so well in their telekung in the surau that it has 141,000 views in a mere 2 days.

#woahchallenge pic.twitter.com/HNAUZoiUsm
— far (@farahhnadhirah) June 30, 2019

The challenge has even been caught in classrooms filled with diligent students.

Our version hahaha saja suka2 😂 pic.twitter.com/vTIhYW7RTU
â€” Ø§Ù†ØªØ§Ø´Ø§ (@TashaNajwa3) July 1, 2019

#woahchallenge hek last year together 💩✊🏼 pic.twitter.com/aBuUwP0HLf
â€” skz (@raisyahazman) July 1, 2019

Masuk poket je la last sekali #woahchallenge pic.twitter.com/1z7m5GBL3M
â€” Syafeeq (@syafeeqtyrnn) July 2, 2019

These guys even made a boomerang!

Kami pun ada… pic.twitter.com/7I4ANwZsHf
â€” dnieaz_ (@dnazmn1) July 1, 2019

You guys better get your driving license faster. Cuz you  look like you can’t wait to get behind the steering wheel!
Some have even upped the game.

#woahchallenge chemistry version gittew 😂🤟🏻 pic.twitter.com/qoNlC0tnYo
— 🌱 (@fff4rhana) July 2, 2019

Whatever the move, we wonder what’s next.

via GIPHY
What other viral dance can you remember? Share it with us on our Facebook page.


Catch The Final Supermoon of 2020 (aka Super Flower Moon) As It Rises On Thursday

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This Thursday, 7th May, Earth will witness its fourth and last supermoon of 2020, which is also known as a Super Flower Moon.
Despite the pretty name, the moon will not look like a flower. The name is derived from the colorful blossoms of spring that occur at the same time.
What makes this moment special is that the next supermoon will only appear in April 2021, almost a whole year away!
So on the night of 7th May, people on Earth can witness the supermoon, a full moon that closely coincides with its perigee, or the moonâ€™s closest point to Earth in its monthly orbit.
From here, the moon looks up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter than a normal full moon.

Best time to look at the supermoon
According to Forbes, the best time to witness the supermoon is when itâ€™s close to the horizon as it rises. Do take note that the moon will be rising from the East-Southeast, almost in opposition to sunset.
This particular moment is great to watch the moon because you can see how much bigger it looks in contrast to landmarks as it rises.
Jamie Carter of Forbes also writes that youâ€™ll be looking at the moon through the thickest part of Earthâ€™s atmosphere, which will give it a pale yellow to deep orange hue.

As the moon enters its full phase, it will be entirely lit-up by the Sun and can be seen from Earth at 10:45 Universal Time, or 6:45pm local time on Thursday, 7th May. However, those on Peninsular Malaysia can only see this when the moon rises at 7.20pm.
If you miss the moonrise, donâ€™t worry as itâ€™ll still hang around in the sky all through the night. But donâ€™t forget to check the weather forecast for your location in case it rains.
Happy viewing!

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Malaysians Are Talking About The Hagia Sophia In Turkey. Here’s Why

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The Turkish government has reportedly changed the status of Hagia Sophia, which has been a museum for the past 80 years, back to being a mosque.
International news agencies reported that the announcement about the historical building was made by Turkish President himself, Recep Tayyep Erdogan.
If you’re wondering why this is such a big deal, the Hagia Sophia is the most important Byzantine structure, and one of the world’s greatest monuments. It might be the one and only structure that has been used as a place of worship for three different religions.
The structure originally built on the site of Hagia Sophia was a Christian cathedral called the Megale Ekklesia (Great Church in Greek), because of its immense size. Prior to that, the site had been the location of a pagan temple.
Around 430CE, the church then came to be known as the Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom in Greek). After being destroyed in several riots and fires, the building was recommissioned in the 6th century under the Byzantine emperor Justinian I who was the ruler of Constantinople, present-day Turkey.
Inside the Hagia Sophia, the word Allah, as well as the names of Islamic caliphs written in Arabic, can be seen together with an image of the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus. (Credit: Unsplash)
Much of what you see today of the Hagia Sophia was completed in the 6th century, some 1,500 years ago.
When the Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople in 1453, Sultan Mehmed II had the church repurposed as a mosque. A wooden minaret, a great chandelier, a mihrab (niche indicating the direction of Mecca), and a minbar was added to the structure.
It would remain a mosque until being converted into a museum in the 1930s after President Kemal Atatürk secularised the building.
Now it is considered a Unesco World Heritage site, many consider the building a bridge between two faiths, and a symbol of co-existence.
Like all our mosques, the doors of Hagia Sophia will be wide open to locals and foreigners, Muslims and non-MuslimsPresident Recep Tayyep Erdogan via BBC
According to President Recep Tayyep Erdogan, the first Muslim prayers will be held inside the building on Friday, 24 July 2020.

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Want To Help Fellow Malaysians? Caremongering Is Here To The Rescue

The average Malaysian may take the Movement Control Order as a little bit of an inconvenience, but there are plenty more people who would have to completely rearrange their lives.
In times of crisis, the ones who suffer the most are the vulnerable.
The elderly who live alone, the homeless, the single-parent families are among those may face uncertainty these two weeks.
If you have elderly relatives or neighbours, maybe reach out to them and offer help if they need it.(Credit: Freepik)
In an effort to provide help where help is needed, Malaysians have started a trend of “caremongering”.
“Caremongering” was first coined in Canada where people’s acts of kindness sparked the term as a positive outlook to the pandemic.
Now, while Malaysia is under the Movement Control Order, the name has been adopted to provide help to the needy.
You never know who needs help.(Credit: Unsplash)
Whole communities are coming together to provide aid for those who need it.
Caremongering Malaysia is a Facebook group that was set up to help connect the people who need help and the people offering it.
An example of a post offering help on the Caremongering Malaysia Facebook group.(Credit: Facebook)
You can find help as an individual or as an organisation. Similarly, you can offer help as an individual or an organisation.
An interactive Google Map was created in conjunction with Zero Waste Malaysia, to make it easier to connect the local community.

If you want to do some good during this period, feel free to add your name to the list on this Google Form! And if you need any sort of help, don’t hesitate to ask on behalf of yourself or another person.
Additionally, online services are still running, so your life can continue as usual.

Keep up with the latest updates on our Facebook, Twitter, or Telegram!


Tissue Seller Kowtows To Customer At Traffic Light Intersection In KL

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How far would you go to get business?

Sometimes, the more desperate you appear, the less likely people will buy from you.
A viral video on social media showed a tissue seller ‘kowtowing’ (the act of kneeling and touching one’s head to the ground) to a customer.
The customer was stopping at a red light in a Perodua Axia.
The incident, believed to have occurred in Klang Valley, showed the man repeatedly ‘worshipping’ in front of the driver’s side door.
In the 19-second recording, the man appears to prostrate seven times.
Ingat kat luar negara tadi rupanya kat Malaysia . Untuk peringatan tolong la jangan support orang meniaga kat trafic lite ni. Menyusahkan dan membahayakan. Nak harap kan majlis perbandaran ambik tindakan memang sampai kiamat la tak nampak isu ni. pic.twitter.com/Lxuy5xPrRh— MALAYSIA MOST VIRALL (@MALAYSIAVIRALL) October 12, 2022
The man then got up and collected several tissue packs placed on the road.
His disappointment was seen in a tired face, exacerbated by the scorching heat.
He then switched his attention to another car to look for customers who might be willing to buy.
To Pity Or Not To Pity
Various reactions emerged among netizens who sympathized with the plight of the tissue seller.
Some said it was a desperate act to survive and it’s better than turning to crime like those robbers or snatch thieves.

Others pointed out that the intention to survive does not justify the means, as the law must be obeyed.
They said doing business in the middle of the road is dangerous even if the traffic light is still red, and urged the authorities to take action.
Furthermore, the drivers will be at fault if there is an accident.
Some said Malaysia is slowly becoming like Indonesia, where many street peddlers sell items ranging from fruits and mineral water.
Causing Harm And Disruption On The Road
While it may sound like honest work, such roadside selling methods are not new.
These roadside traders mushroomed during the Covid-19 pandemic, which left many people struggling to survive.
In the past, the authorities had raided such operations and issued fines.

The most notorious of the bunch are the pickled fruit sellers, who are said to make good money earning between RM3,000 to RM7,000 a month.
In March 2022, authorities discovered that the fruits were kept in unhygienic conditions under the bridges, by the side of drains and near sewage treatment plants.
Jeruk traffic LightHasil operasi yang dijalakan mendapati makanan yang dijaja iaitu " buah jeruk" disimpan dan disorok di lokasi yang tidak sepatutnya iaitu di dalam longkang dan berhampiran kawasan kumbahan bagi menggelak tindakan diambil oleh pihak penguatkuasa. pic.twitter.com/u5L7xjiTnP— ZaYeD ZulFikLi (@ZZulfikli) March 28, 2022
Such illegal selling methods have also been proven dangerous, with the sellers being hit by vehicles.
Orang yg jual buah dekat Traffic Light Petronas Kota Tinggi kena langgar.Actually memang bahaya modus operandi perniagaan buah dekat traffic light ni. Harap majikan kena lebih peka dgn keselamatan pekerja.Sumber : Group Whatsapp Kota Tinggi . pic.twitter.com/VAQjrc4dN6— Thawab Kassim (@thawab_johor) February 6, 2021
Deputy Director I, Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT), Datuk Mohd Nadzri Hussain, had said that buying and selling business at the intersection or any road is an offence.
Offenders are punishable under Rule 10A (1) of the Road Transport Rules 1959 (LN 166/59).
Individuals involved in buying and selling can be fined not more than RM2,000 or imprisoned for up to six months if convicted.
READ MORE: Selling Fruit Car-To-Car At Traffic Lights Is Illegal And If You Buy, You Could Get Fined, Too

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Kelantan To Be Ketum (Scientific) Experts By 2022

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By 2022, the Kelantan branch of the Malaysia Chemistry Department (JKM), which operates in Kampung Telok in Panji, is expected to be the Ketum Analysis Centre for the eastern zone.

The department proposed the idea to the Science, Technology and Innovation Deputy Minister (Mosti) as ketum contributes around 40% of the drug cases in the state.
The matter was proposed by the Kelantan Department of Chemistry in view of the current developments here. With the findings of a study by the Department of Chemistry, it will help various quarters. Under the Chemistry Department itself there are several centres, among them the DNA Analysis Centre, Water Analysis Centre and now a centre for ketum analysis has been proposed.Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti) Deputy Minister, Ahmad Amzad Hashim via Malay Mail
It’s reported that for 2018 and 2019, the Kelantan Department of Chemistry had received 2,477 and 2,492 ketum cases respectively with a total of 24 tonnes of ketum leaves.

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These 5 Southeast Asian Countries Allow Quarantine-Free Travel For Malaysian Tourists

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Starting from 1st April, as Malaysia is entering our endemic phase for Covid-19, our international borders are also going to be open on the same date.

READ MORE: Malaysia Enters Endemic Phase Starting 1 April, Eateries Open 24 Hours Again!
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that Malaysia is now an open destination and can be visited by all, starting April 1st. No quarantine is needed for fully vaccinated travelers but a PCR test and RTK test is required (PCR before departure and RTK after arrival).
However, we are not the only ones opening our borders this year. A lot of South East Asian countries are opening their borders for travelers too, quarantine free.
Here are some of  the destinations that we can now travel without quarantine.
Thailand
Who’s craving for Tom Yum, Pad Thai and Mango Sticky Rice?
Thailand has opened it borders since February 1, resuming their “Test & Go” quarantine-free travel for all nationalities, including Malaysians. Visitors can enter Thailand via air, land and also water.
Thailand is known as the ‘Land of Smiles’ for a reason. (Credit: Sasin Tipchai/Pixabay)
Fully vaccinated individuals can enter Thailand through the “Test & Go” entry scheme or “Sandbox Programme” (stay in sandbox areas for 7 days) quarantine-free given a valid RT-PCR test.
Meanwhile unvaccinated or non-fully vaccinated individuals can also travel to Thailand via the “Alternative Quarentine” plan given that they stay in quarantine for 7/10/14 days.
You can get more and updated (as of 27 February) information on the travel procedure and documents here.
Covid-19 test: PCR test required before 72 hours of traveling to Thailand and a self-ATK test is required on Day 5 of your stay.
Cambodia
Who wants to visit Angkor Wat?
According to their Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia has already opened its gates to fully vaccinated travelers since 15 November 2021.
(Credit: @chrisgbrenning / Twitter)
You would only have to do a PCR test 72 hours before traveling and a 20-minute Rapid test upon arrival. If the test is negative, you are free to go explore the wonders of Cambodia.
International  travelers who have not been vaccinated must take a PCR Test upon arrival and undergo a 14-day quarantine.
Check out more info on their procedure here.
Covid-19 test: PCR tests are required 72 hours prior departure to Cambodia and Rapid Test are required upon arrival.
Philippines
Wanna visit some of the most beautiful white sand beaches in the world?
Philippines has opened its borders since 10 February, welcoming various tourists from all over the world.
(Credit: @Iamsyieddy, @BrightWinLocale / Twitter)
Fully vaccinated individuals are not required to quarantine but PCR tests are required. Apart from valid proofs of vaccination, travel insurance is also needed for someone that wishes to travel here.
For non fully vaccinated individuals, quarantine is required until the release of negative results. Swabbing on Day 5 is also required.
You can get further information here.
Covid-19 test: PCR tests are required 48 hours prior departure to the Philippines and self-monitoring for symptoms must be done within first 7 days of arrival.
Bali
This popular place for a honeymoon is also open for visitors!
Starting March 7, travelers from 23 countries can enter Bali with a Visa on Arrival plan. The countries include USA, UK, Turkey, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and more.
(Credit: @wonderfulid, @theflorafiona / Twitter)
Fully vaccinated individuals should do a PCR test at the airport and another one on the third day of the stay.
Do note that you would have to book for a 3 nights and four days stay in a government certified hotel (CHSE) before going there.
If your PCR test comes back negative on the third day, only then can you travel to another hotel in Bali.
Click here for further COVID-19 traveling procedure to Bali.
Covid-19 test:  PCR test is required upon arrival and on Day 3.
Singapore
As for Singapore, although it hasn’t fully opened for all tourists, Malaysians are in luck as we can enter Singapore via the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL).
The VTL allows quarantine-free travel to Singapore via air, land and sea.

READ MORE: The Step-By-Step Guide To Travel From Malaysia To Singapore Via VTL (Air) & Everything You Need To Know
Covid-19 test: PCR test is required 2 days before departure and an RTK test is required after arrival within 24 hours
Other countries such as Laos and Vietnam are still in various stages of restricted travel.
With more countries settling to an endemic phase from the pandemic phase for Covid-19, a lot of the rules are loosened to get the economies back on track. However, we have to always be vigilant and take proper precautions.
Do practice good hygiene while you’re enjoying yourself abroad!
READ MORE: Australia Is Now Back Open For Malaysian Tourists & Travellers!

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Kelantan Woman Aspires To Be Great Farmer, Many Others Embark On Road Generally Not Taken

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A 20-year-old Kelantanese woman known as Siti Hajar Che Satar has proven that women can aspire to have successful careers in farming. She proved this by successfully cultivating her own paddy field in Kampung Lepah since she was 18.

Her dream is to become the best female farmer in Kelantan someday.
According to Siti Hajar, she was involved in farming works since her childhood as her father, Che Satar Nor, 63, was also a farmer.
However, she decided to take farming as a career path once she completed her SPM two years ago.
As usual, her father did not agree with her decision and wanted his daughter to continue her studies. However, Siti Hajar managed to convince her father when she first cultivated the paddy field in 0.4 hectare plot of land and managed to get RM4,000 out of it.

Siti Hajar is the youngest among eight siblings in her family. Other than her dad, her two brothers have also helped her to improve her knowledge in farming by helping her learn how to operate tractors and drone.
According to Bernama, Siti Hajar said that farming is not easy as it needs a lot of mental and physical strength. However, she is determined that with her commitment, she will be able to handle the various challenges in the field.
She also added that farming has many career prospects because food is always in demand anywhere.
“Who knows, one day I might cultivate a bigger rice field, have many workers and a paddy factory together with my own rice brand,” she added.
Siti Hajar is not the only Malaysian who chose a different career path to escape the rat race and succeeded.
Here are some of our fellow Malaysians who ventured on the road less travelled.
Bayu Harvest
Pic Credit : Bayu Harvest/Instagram
Jeannette Goon and Faezrah Rizalman have successfully created an app which connects the farmers in Sabah and restaurants in cities like Kuala Lumpur.
This was done to help the farmers who are still undervalued.
In order to help the women sell their products directly to consumers at prices higher than those they currently receive, Goon and Faezrah created a digital platform.
“The women have their own recipes and their own ingredients that you won’t be able to find outside Sabah,” said Goon in an article published by APEC.
This is a wonderful idea as restaurant owners and other company owners in Kuala Lumpur are eager to obtain premium ingredients, many of which are cultivated exclusively in Sabah and have distinctive flavours.
Pic Credit : Bayu Harvest/Instagram
The Sabah-based Goon and Rizalman team won the 2019 APEC Digital Prosperity Award for the Bayu Harvest app they created.
Shyshy Project
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by shyshy project (@shyshyproject)
After 3 years of being a patternmaker and 7 years of being designer, Johorean Saw Shy Yng decided to start her own business known as the Shyshy Project where she creates art of pets such as dogs and cats using wool.
She stumbled on this handicraft when she was working as a patternmaker in a rural place in Taiwan after graduating as a fashion designer at a Taiwanese University.
Pic Credit : Shyshy/Instagram
“I was working in a very rural place and there was no entertainment after getting off work, so I started to search for various handicrafts on the Internet for entertainment,” she stated as reported by Vulcan Post.
Soon after recognising that the brand could support all of her living expenses and activities, she launched it in 2018. The business began as a way for her to practise her craft. She was so delighted when it received favourable feedback from clients.
She compared the entire process to painting, but with wool and a needle as her instruments instead of paint. The craft needs a lot of mindfulness, patience, and colour-matching abilities.
Pic Credit : Shyshy/Instagram
Saw said that she hadn’t really done much preliminary research into the industry when questioned about the market in Malaysia for wool felt artworks. However, it was stated in the report that there is a sizeable local demand for it.
Despite the triple-digit pricing, people are still prepared to pay for her work.
A majority of Saw’s works are custom-made and normally require a one-month wait. One pet photo can be finished in two to seven days.
Shyshy Project also produces natural dyes to bolster sales of its wool felt products.
Rebarre
        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by rebarre (@rebarre_)
Starting a business from scratch is hard enough and Carmen, founder of Rebarre, did this while she was pregnant and after quitting her job in London.
Rebarre is a fitness studio that teaches people the barre workout. It is a workout that combines techniques and motions from ballet, yoga, and pilates and is possibly most known for using a bar. Stretching and low-impact strength training exercises are frequently performed to music to increase coordination.
Carmen spent 15 years training as a ballet dancer and has always had a passion for movement, fitness, and dance.
Later in adulthood, due to her propensity for dancing, she discovered pilates and barre. She ultimately received both qualifications.
Pic Credit : Rebarre/Instagram
“Since I was young, there has always been a spark within me that one day I would pursue a career in fitness and allow myself to embrace, live, and share the passion I strongly believed in,” she stated as reported by Vulcan Post.
Carmen found barre while she was pursuing her studies in London. She studied economics and received an honours degree. She is also a graduate of the Imperial College Business School with a degree in science (management).
Carmen believes that the appeal of barre is that it enables everyone to benefit from dancer-like training without undergoing the arduous training that professional dancers perform.
These advantages include better posture, increased flexibility and mobility, increased mobility, and lengthening and toning of the muscles.
Carmen claims that while some Malaysians are aware of the barre concept and its advantages, a majority of people are still unaware of it. Therefore, raising awareness of barre has been and still is a major problem and goal for Rebarre.
Nevertheless, the studio has received excellent feedback. During its soft debut, every class was completely full.
Pic Credit : Rebarre/Instagram
“Given its accessibility, benefits, and fun nature, I believe many Malaysians will enjoy barre once they have the opportunity to try out the classes.” she stated.
Around 10 instructors make up the Rebarre staff, but there are already plans to grow.
Women are capable of a lot of things, and this is a fact that the world needs to understand. In fact, women are the backbone of this world. Thus, it is time that we appreciate them and allow them to fulfil their potential instead of discriminating against them.

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No more Mr Nice Guy – MBPJ is clamping down on illegal â€˜chup parkingâ€™ in SS2 & Section 17

Admit it, how many times have you cursed/screamed/rammed into cones, when looking for parking in PJ?
ESPECIALLY IN THE WILD, WILD WEST OF SS2??

via GIPHY
On one side, you have a**h**e double-parkers. On the other side, c***i business owners who chup parking overnight with cones, palangs (metal barriers) and even ugly chairs.

Picture Credit: The Star

We feel your pain, and so does Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).
Picture Credit: Aduan MBPJ & Yarn
MBPJ has actually been really strict about the illegal booking of parking bays. Just last November, they announced that rented parking bays MUST be open to public after 6.30pm.
They even specifically stated that shop owners CANNOT paint the parking bays in red paint and that auto workshops can only put METAL ramps in front of their shops that must be REMOVED after 6.30pm.

via GIPHY
But of course, business owners being business owners, they
carry on with the selfish hogging of the already limited parking spots.

Picture Credit: Imgflip

So MBPJ got busy and has issued 52 compounds and 11 notices altogether to the parking rule-breakers in SS2 & Section 17 from January to May this year.
Picture Credit: The Star
Not only that, City council Treasury assistant accountant Zay Iskandar has also warned these sneaky, inconsiderate shop owners that they could face serious implications to the extent of having their business license revoked!
These parking obstructions are considered an offence under the Road, Drainage and Building Act 1974 (Act 133) where guilty offenders are issued fines from RM250 to RM1,000.
What to do if you see an illegally chup-ed parking spot?
 Picture Credit: Malay Mail
You can remove the illegal obstruction after 6.30pm.
But, that could be a risky move as weâ€™ve heard many stories of cars being scratched and tyres slashed by these selfish people.
So the best option is to go directly to MBPJ la and do what every Malaysian was born to doâ€¦
COMPLAIN
(jk jk.. not really)

Original Image: Azmin Ali/Twitter

You have a couple of options to report this offence:1. E-mail to aduan@mbpj.gov.my2. Call the 24-hour hotline at 03-7954 20203. Facebook message MBPJ Aduan4. Through the “eAduan MBPJâ€ mobile app
Go forth and report the offenders, people. The more we report, the better MBPJ can do their jobs. To quote a peribahasa we haven’t used since SPM:

â€œBersatu teguh, bercerai robohâ€

Translation: â€˜United we strong stand, divorce collapse divided we fallâ€

via GIPHY


Wanted Singaporean Man Nabbed In JB During Family Holiday

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The police had detained three Singaporean men, believed to be connected to the disappearance of RM3.17mil from a money changer in Johor Bahru two years ago, reported The Star.

The first suspect, aged 54, was detained when he entered Malaysia via the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex, for a holiday with his family.
The authorities were alerted by the man’s identity when he presented his passport at the CIQ, before he was handed over to the police who subsequently managed to track the other two suspects, aged 48 and 49, who are also in Johor Bahru.
All three suspects are businessmen in car-dealing operations, the report added.
The police are also on the look for a Malaysian national who is also involved in the 2 March 2020 heist.
According to the report, the suspect and his co-workers are transporting the money to a bank before he staged a chest pain and duped his co-workers to return to their office for his heart medication before he fled with the company’s bulletproof car containing the money.
The suspect abandoned the company vehicle at Danga Bay, where has was believed to divide the loot with the other three Singaporeans.
Johor Commercial Crime Investigations Department chief Asst Comm Amran Md Jusin refused to comment further on the matter aside from confirming the arrest of the three Singaporeans.

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PN Says Pahang BN Is Greedy For Demanding The Menteri Besar And Seven Exco Posts

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Perikatan Nasional (PN) in Pahang has accused Barisan Nasional (BN) of being greedy because it wants the position of Menteri Besar.

In addition, BN also wants seven exco seats if it forms a state government with the coalition.
Pahang PN chairman Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah also claimed that Pahang BN only agreed to give one exco seat to PN.

He claimed that the matter proved that BN is greedy and wanted to ignore the people’s mandate.
The party that received the biggest mandate from the people of Pahang is PN. That is the will of the people that needs to be respected.Pahang PN chairman, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah on why he thinks Pahang BN is asking too much.
In last Saturday’s 15th General Election (GE15), Pahang PN won 17 seats in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN).
Pahang BN won 16 seats, and Pakatan Harapan (PH) won eight seats, which means no party obtained a simple majority to form the government.
Any party must win 22 state assembly seats to obtain a simple majority to form the state government.
Therefore, it depends on the negotiations carried out by the three parties concerned, namely PN, BN and PH, in forming the government.
Commenting further, the former foreign minister claimed he did not know what kind of goodies PH agreed to offer BN.
I hope there are no deviant things offered for the sake of power and position.Pahang PN chairman, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah on the deal between BN and PH.
Both sides are set to clash again in the upcoming Tioman state seat election, postponed to 7 December.
The previous PN candidate died on GE15 after suffering a heart attack.
Calon-calon bagi #PRU15 DUN Tioman menyantuni masyarakat Rompin ketika berkempen di Pasar Minggu Kuala Rompin, Pahang hari ini.Antara calon yang hadir berkempen ialah calon Perikatan Nasional (PN) Nor Idayu Hashim, Osman A. Bakar (Pejuang) & Datuk Seri Mohd Johari (BN). pic.twitter.com/SxWrOHXXc3— BERNAMA (@bernamadotcom) November 27, 2022
Meanwhile, netizens said Saifuddin should look at himself in the mirror before criticising BN.
They reminded the Indera Mahkota MP that he was part of the infamous Sheraton Move, which toppled the PH government in 2020.
😂😂😂😂😂 dah lupa #sheraton ker Din? Respect people’s mandate, says PN’s Saifuddin on forming Pahang govthttps://t.co/v0RVEHWKW1— Firdaus Abdullah (@firdyfire) November 27, 2022

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Long Queues On Singapore-Malaysia Causeway Today As Travellers Try To Enter The Country Before Midnight

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After the daily number of new Covid-19 cases started increasing again, and news of people flouting their home quarantine orders went viral, the Malaysian government announced on 21 July, that travelers from abroad will again be required to undergo their 14-day quarantine and government facilities.

The order was to come into effect on 24 July, and individuals involved would also have to pay for the accomodation themselves.
The announcement seems to have resulted in the Singapore – Malaysia Causeway seeing crazy long lines of visitors today (23 July) one day before the order’s implementation.
(Credit: Malaysia-Singapore Border Crossings/Facebook)
The queue was so long it was even visible on the traffic camera footage.
The long queues were even visible from traffic cameras. (Credit: Malaysia-Singapore Border Crossings/Facebook)
According to reports, it seems that these travellers from Singapore were hoping to cross the border and enter Malaysia before midnight tonight so that they could still serve their quarantine order at home.
Pictures shared online which were apparently taken at 9am this morning showed snaking meter long queues of people holding onto their luggage bags on the road leading to the Johor Bahru Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine Complex.
(Credit: Malaysia-Singapore Border Crossings/Facebook)

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Malaysian Artist Creates Portrait Of Health D-G Using Over 4K Black Screws

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A Malaysian artist called Choong Chee Leong has been gaining traction online for the unique portrait he made of Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
Chee Leong, or better known as Ahguu created an impressive portrait of the respected civil servant using 4,219 tiny black screws on a plain white board as a tribute for his hard work in leading the country in its fight against Covid-19.
Speaking to Malay Mail, Ahguu said that he believes Dr Noor Hisham deserves to be honoured for all his hard work and effort.
(Dr Noor Hisham) is a respected person for the way heâ€™s handled Covid-19 and a lot of people see him as a good and humble leader. I think he deserves to be honoured and I just wanted to do something to pay tribute to the hard work heâ€™s done.Choong Chee Leong via Malay Mail
For the pleasure of Malaysians online, he shared the process of creating the art piece on his Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/534842740189701/videos/276895883470853/

Ahguu started the whole process by first sketching an image of Dr Noor Hisham and then used the sketch as a reference while he carefully drilled each screw onto the board by hand.
The whole thing took two weeks to complete and involved 4,219 screws in total.
According to Ahguu, creating art using materials like screws and strings was a â€œgambleâ€, because you canâ€™t tell if the portrait resembles the person until it was complete.
Each individual screw needs to be placed precisely, otherwise, itâ€™ll end up looking like another person. On top of that, a misplaced screw would leave a hole in the board when removed, thus corrections are difficult to make.
Thereâ€™s some touching up at the end to make Dr Noor Hishamâ€™s features pop out, but in general the screws have to be exactly where they need to be.Choong Chee Leong via Malay Mail
The 33-year-old, who works in the tobacco industry by day and pursues his passion for art during his free time, has been experimenting with string art for the last couple of years and used screws as art material as a way to challenge himself.
Dr Noor Hishamâ€™s portrait isnâ€™t Ahguuâ€™s first time creating a likeness of a Malaysian icon.
Previously, he created a similar portrait of Datuk Lee Chong Wei in conjunction with the top badminton playerâ€™s retirement in June 2019.

https://www.instagram.com/p/By4tO48Jqw8/?utm_source=ig_embed

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Man arrested over tweet claiming Nora Anne was raped and killed

A man who posted a tweet claiming that 15-year-old Irish tourist, Nora Anne Quoirin had been raped and killed by Orang Asli was arrested by Police on Thursday (August 15).
The claim made by the account user identified by the name Zikri Armstrong via the Twitter handle @tertumbuk, recently went viral while the country was still in shock and saddened over the disappearance of the teenager.

(Image Credit: Twitter)

“Nora Anne’s rapists are the Orang Asli…”
wrote Zikri Armstrong in the Tweet
Zikri Armstrong later issued a public apology for his troubling allegations which also made its rounds on social media.

(Image Credit: OhBulan)

His Twitter account has since been deleted.

(Image Credit: Twitter)

According to police, the 29-year-old suspect was detained in Seremban and is currently being investigated.
The tweet sparked public outrage among Malaysians who were offended and disgusted over the unsupported claims made by the account.

It could take years to solve a case like this but still , your statement was irresponsible. Do you have any supporting evidence to back your allegations?.
â€” ZuyA (@ayuz_yuz) August 14, 2019

the insensitive speculations will re-traumatise and re-victimise them. So, keep quiet. Donâ€™t spout any theories to them, including on social media. Donâ€™t hurt people with your own belief system. Because as a human being when we see someone feeling pain, we feel their pain too.
â€” Nazrin (@meetnazrin) August 14, 2019

Before you say something bad to orang asli, better you stand front Mirror and think with smart brain! Do you ever see and watch about orang asli Rape! In news ??? Don’t judge like you know all about that! Wait for police confirmation!
â€” XinRie (@XinRie) August 15, 2019

The case is being classified under Section 233 of the Communication and Multimedia Act 1998 for making false and offensive statements on social media and Section 505 of the Penal Code for creating public distress.
Nora Anneâ€™s remains were found by Search and Rescue teams 10 days after her disappearance and autopsy results pointed out that the teenager had died due to starvation.


Serious Incidents Reported In 0.0027% Of Covid-19 Vaccine Cases

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In case you are still mulling over the safety of the Covid-19 vaccine, it has been reported that serious incidents happened after people got vaccines…
…in 0.0027% of cases.
These claims of serious incidents follwoing the Covid-19 vaccine, medically known as Adverse event following immunization (AEFI), have been a fear since the vaccines were introduced.
However, the country has administered 64,697,715 doses of Covid-19 vaccines by 11 February 2022.
The total number of AEFI cases from this number is 1,747. You have better chances of getting a stroke from your regular lifestyle (0.013%) than getting AEFI from the vaccine.
It goes without saying that the Covid-19 vaccines are 99.99% safe from AEFI. So do be sure to check your MySejahtera app for your booster shot appointment if you have not gotten it already! (Or buy a vaccine and claim your tax refund!)
READ MORE: Covid-19 Test Kits & Vaccinations Are Tax-Deductable For Year 2021
Setakat 11 Feb, 65,356,763 dos vaksin telah diberikan1,747 laporan AEFI serius diterima drpd pemberian vaksin ini27 daripada 1 juta. 0.0027%99.99% dos diberikan tanpa laporan AEFI seriusNota: Laporan ini termasuk yg belum disabitkan kausaliti drpd vaksinVaksin selamat.— Anas Alam Faizli (@aafaizli) February 16, 2022

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Only 9% Of Malaysians Are Happy Here & More Want To Emigrate

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Are Malaysians unhappy with how things are here in the country?

An online survey on the r/malaysia Reddit page showed a majority that is actually unsatisfied with life here in Malaysia and would consider moving far, far away if they could.
Polling the opinions of some 3,200 people, the survey asked Malaysians who are living here in the country as well as those who had moved abroad on their thoughts about the homeland and how life might be different in other parts of the world.
The poll showed that only 9% of the respondents agreed that they were happy living here in Malaysia and wouldn’t think about leaving, while another 28% say that they have thought about immigrating to other countries but would most likely stay.
However, 44% of the respondents say that although they feel that life here in Malaysia was fine, they would still like to emigrate away if possible, while the other 18% totally feel unhappy in the country and would definitely move away when they can.
(Credit: u/brandonczw via Reddit)
Read More: Malaysians Returning From Overseas Not Too Happy With Jobs Here
Greener on the other side?
Poking through the comments, it would appear that many had listed better employment opportunities and an improvement on the quality of life abroad for their reasons for wanting to move away.
Sharing their experiences of either travelling, studying or working overseas, Malaysians seem to agree that they had enjoyed more freedoms and opportunities abroad.
People also compared Malaysia’s high cost of living to the dismal wages that an average person would stand to make here in the country.
Credit: Hari Anggara/Malay Mail
Many also expressed political fatigue, bad governance as well as their disdain for racism and religious issues as reasons why they were so tired and unhappy.
However, many still felt deep love and patriotism for their country and placed high hopes on its possible bright future.
Some also tell stories of having moved away to other countries but are not as better off as they would like to be, and were either looking to return home or wished they hadn’t left in the first place.
Though opinions on the matter vary, a lot of people seem to agree however that Malaysia had the potential to become a welcoming place to live if given a chance.
Malaysia needs talent, but the talents are leaving
In 2000, it was found that an average of one out of every 10 Malaysian graduates are emigrating in search of better opportunities.
Malaysians also made up around 2% of high-skilled workers in the European Union (EU) as of 2006.
By 2010, it was estimated that more than one million Malaysians left the country for greener pastures, and currently, 1.7 million Malaysians (which amounts to about 7X the entire population of Perlis) are known to be employed in countries like Singapore, Australia, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US).
(Credit: Firdaus Latif via Malay Mail)
Lack of career opportunities has been credited as among the many reasons why Malaysians are choosing to move abroad to places where their skills are actually valued and they can earn a decent living.
To put things into perspective, it is said that fresh graduates in countries like our neighbours Singapore can earn more than RM100,000 annually compared to an optimistic average of only RM30,000 a year for entry-level jobs here in Malaysia.
Read More: Malaysian Fresh Graduates Are Barely Making Minimum Wage In 2020
This ‘brain drain’ effect where our educated and skilled citizens are moving away has been noted to cost the nation much in our efforts to become a high-income nation and will continue to impede us in the future.
Meanwhile, even the people who had chosen to migrate here to Malaysia were reconsidering their decision as the nation continues to struggle through a political, economical and public health crisis.
Read More: Thousands Of Expats And Foreign Investors Set To Leave Malaysia Under MM2H New Requirements

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Source:
Structural reforms needed to prevent brain drain in Malaysia
EFFECTS OF MIGRATION ON SENDING COUNTRIES: WHAT DO WE KNOW?
MALAYSIA ECONOMIC MONITOR - Brain Drain


Kuching Division Now A Yellow Zone

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The Kuching Division is now a yellow zone after recording less than 40 cases daily in the last 14 days, according to Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah.
Made up of Kuching, Padawan, Sematan, Bau and Lundu districts, the Kuching division was declared a red zone in March after more than 100 cases were recorded in the area.
Now the state is free from Covid-19 red zones with the latest announcement.
In terms of number of infections in the state, Sarawak has recorded 544 positive cases as of May 15.
The first case recorded in the state was on March 13 that stemmed from the Sri Petaling congregation.

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Car rental service SOCAR expands to Penang, JB with 2,000 vehicles

Malaysia’s largest car-sharing company SOCAR has just announced a broader service area, expanding to cities such as Penang and JB with 2,000 cars.
You may only know SOCAR for their provocative (and admittedly intriguing) advertising on the highway billboards, but the car-rental company proves itself a reliable service, with over 500,000 members nationwide in just 22 months.

CEO Leon Foong wants you to unlock your desires.(Picture credit: TRP)

CEO Leon Foong positions SOCAR as the solution to giving you the convenience and pleasure of having a car without the commitment and hassle of owning one.
To make things easier for their users, SOCAR now has a door-to-door car delivery service called SOCAR2U with an expanded service area in the Klang Valley.
Users can have their desired car picked up and returned to their preferred location for a small fee of just RM10.

Picture credit: TRP

SOCAR users can also choose from 26 different car models, including the Volkswagen Polo, Mazda CX-5, Perodua Alza, and BMW 330e.
There are now over 1,000 SOCAR zones across the Klang Valley, Penang, and Johor. Which simply means that you’re likely just a stone’s throw away from driving the car of your dreams.
So whether you want to go on a fancy date night, or impress your boss, or just take a joy ride to Genting, you can always get a SOCAR.

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